In Lowestoft UK, Jack Malik is a frustrated musician whose musical career is going nowhere despite the faith that his friend/manager Ellie Appleton has in him. However, on the night Jack decides to give up, the whole world is momentarily hit with a massive blackout during which Jack is hit by a bus. Upon regaining consciousness, Jack learns to his astonishment that he is apparently now the only one who knows the music of the Beatles.
Realizing this improbable opportunity, Jack begins playing the music of one of the world’s greatest rock bands, claiming it as his own. It pays off quickly and Jack becomes a worldwide musical sensation. However, Jack finds himself drifting away from Ellie, only realizing his love for her when she has become intimidated by his success, which depends on a blatant plagiarization that no one could find out. Now, Jack must make a fundamental moral decision about his music to satisfy his conscience as he decides what he truly needs.
Yesterday is a 2019 romantic comedy film directed by Danny Boyle and screenplay by Richard Curtis, based on a story by Jack Barth and Curtis. The film, named after the song of the same name written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, stars Himesh Patel as a struggling musician Jack Malik, who, after an accident, finds himself the only person who remembers The Beatles and becomes famous after taking credit for their songs. The film also stars Lily James as the protagonist’s childhood friend and love interest, Kate McKinnon as his obnoxious manager, and Ed Sheeran as a fictionalised version of himself.
The project was announced in March 2018. Filming began the following month around England, particularly Norfolk and Halesworth in Suffolk. Photography also took place at Wembley Stadium, Principality Stadium and in Los Angeles. The filmmakers paid $10 million for the rights to use the Beatles’ music; although none of the members were involved, Boyle received approval for the project from them and their families.
Yesterday had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on 4 May 2019, and was released in the United Kingdom and the United States on 28 June 2019, by Universal Pictures. The film grossed $153 million worldwide against a production budget of $26 million. It received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for the premise, performances, and musical sequences, but criticism of the familiarity and not taking the concept further.
Yesterday (2019)
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Starring: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Kate McKinnon, Ed Sheeran, Ana de Armas, James Corden, Camilla Rutherford, Lamorne Morris, Joel Fry, Camille Chen, Ellise Chappell, Sophia Di Martino
Screenplay by: Richard Curtis
Production Design by: Patrick Rolfe
Cinematography by: Christopher Ross
Film Editing by: Jon Harris
Costume Design by: Liza Bracey
Set Decoration by: Cathy Cosgrove, Naomi Leigh
Art Direction by: Sophie Bridgman, Lorna Houlihan, James Wakefield, Chris Wyatt
Music by: Daniel Pemberton
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for suggestive content and language.
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release Date: June 28, 2019
Visits: 48
