Yesterday | What If The Beatles Never Existed?
- Forgotten Cinema
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
This week on Forgotten Cinema, we revisit Yesterday, the musical romantic fantasy built around one irresistible question: What if The Beatles never existed?
For Butler, this one hits especially hard. Growing up a Beatles fan, he not only loves hearing those iconic songs reintroduced in a new context, but also watching how powerful they remain, even in a world that has somehow forgotten the band. It’s a concept that could have easily become gimmicky, but the film leans into the emotional and artistic implications instead.
The Music Still Works (Of Course It Does)
Himesh Patel anchors the film with a sincere and surprisingly strong performance, both as an actor and as a vocalist. He brings a grounded vulnerability to the role that makes the premise easier to buy. And Lily James shines as his longtime friend and love interest, delivering warmth and charm that make the central romance genuinely compelling.
That said, both of us agree it’s more than a little frustrating that Patel’s character can’t see what’s so clearly in front of him. The film leans heavily into the “oblivious romantic lead” trope, and while it works structurally, it does test your patience at times.
Fame, Industry, and the Satire Layer
Kate McKinnon is a blast as the sharp-edged manager once fame takes hold. She injects a layer of industry satire into the story, poking at the absurdity of marketing, branding, and the machine that often swallows artists whole. Her performance adds just enough bite to balance the sweetness of the love story.
No Explaining the Magic in Yesterday (And That’s a Good Thing)
One of the things we both really appreciate is that the film never over-explains or tries to undo the unexplained “magic” behind The Beatles not existing. There’s no convoluted sci-fi twist or third-act reset. The movie simply accepts the premise and moves on, focusing instead on bigger ideas about art, authenticity, love, and what it means to create in a world obsessed with fame.
At its heart, Yesterday isn’t really about a glitch in the universe. It’s about what art means, who it belongs to, and whether success is worth sacrificing who you are.
A Sweet, Sincere Crowd-Pleaser
With timeless music, a charming love story, and relatable creative themes, Yesterday remains an easy recommendation. It’s heartfelt, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful and it will almost certainly have you queuing up The Beatles long after the credits roll.
What would you do if the greatest songs ever written suddenly belonged to you?
Interested in hearing us butcher through a song? Check out our short film we did when we covered the movie, Oliver & Company.
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