In 1964, six teenagers from New Jersey run off to see The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) in the hope of meeting their idols. However, they don't have tickets. Along the way, ... Read allIn 1964, six teenagers from New Jersey run off to see The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) in the hope of meeting their idols. However, they don't have tickets. Along the way, they learn new things about friendship and growing up.In 1964, six teenagers from New Jersey run off to see The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) in the hope of meeting their idols. However, they don't have tickets. Along the way, they learn new things about friendship and growing up.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDirector Robert Zemeckis' feature debut, as well as his first of many collaborations with producer Steven Spielberg. Despite the film's relatively modest budget (approximately $2.8 million), Universal Studios were uneasy with Spielberg's choice in hiring the unproven director. To prevent Zemeckis from being fired, executive Ned Tanen made Spielberg agree that if Zemeckis was doing a markedly poor job, Spielberg would step in and direct the film himself. This way, Universal could hardly lose: they would either have given a new whiz-kid director his first chance, or they would have gained another Spielberg film to release.
- GoofsThe Höfner bass guitar used in the movie was a right handed version. Paul McCartney is left-handed.
- Quotes
Ed Sullivan: And so, I want you to be prepared for excessive screaming, hysteria, hyperventilation, fainting, fits, seizures, spasmodic convulsions, even attempted suicides. All perfectly normal. Merely means that these youngsters are enjoying themselves.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Some Jerk with a Camera: Back to the Future: The Ride - Part I (2015)
- SoundtracksI Want to Hold Your Hand
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Performed by The Beatles
Courtesy of EMI Records Limited
I am a big Beatles admirer, but I wasn't around for this particular time period (I grew up with them during the 70s instead). But this film was sure a fun treat to watch! Delightful slapstick, lots of times completely unbelieveable, but who cares? The fun is in watching these very likeable characters (except that annoying nerd who was goofy and funny but not likeakle, and the Beatle-hater who tries to axe the show... LITERALLY) go through their exciting and silly adventure in their attempts to get tickets.
I was really laughing HARD while watching this one, and highly recommend it!
Out of all the characters, the one whom I fell in love with the most was the one young girl who wanted more than anything else in the world to see her beloved Paul McCartney. Long dark hair, just *slightly* chubby, having cute puppy dog eyes and wearing a sweet little pink bow in her hair, I felt so sorry for her. She wanted SO much to see Paul, and it was both funny and terribly heartbreaking at the same time to watch her rush into a phone booth to call the radio station with the correct answer for a Beatles trivia contest and be so anxious with her handful of dimes that she practically *THROWS* them at the phone.
My favorite lines declaring the Beatles one of life's happiest pleasures come at a scene when the bride-to-be is driving with her future husband (who gives the impression with his short onscreen time that he'd be a real CREEP to her!). Check this scene out and listen to her lines, they're priceless to Beatle fans everywhere.
I'm afraid I'm not a good judge concerning whether or not non-Beatle admirers will react so favourably to this one... but if they dig slapstick and watching people go berzerk over such ridiculous things as the everyday napkins celebrities use, they just might. I mean hey, I love the Beatles, but I would NEVER go for the nonsense that goes on here! So for both Beatle fans and non-fans, I think it's safe for me to say that this movie works as both a fun piece of nostalgia and a satirical look of human nature gone wild and how crazy some will go when it comes to beloved icons.
Oh, and I'm sure Paul finds it VERY flattering as well! Hee hee...
- San Franciscan
- Apr 1, 2002
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Beatlemania
- Filming locations
- Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA(hotel alley and interiors)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $2,700,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,944,682
- Gross worldwide
- $1,944,682
- Runtime1 hour 44 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1