A Hard Day's Night

United Kingdom, 1964

Musical

Synopsis

It’s 1964 and four young lads from Liverpool are about to change the world. John, Paul, George, and Ringo play cheeky comic versions of themselves in a film that captured the astonishing moment when they officially became the singular, irreverent idols of their generation and changed music forever.

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A Hard Day's Night Directed by Richard Lester

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Awards & Festivals

Academy Awards

1965 | 2 nominations including: Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen

BAFTA Awards

1965 | Nominee: Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles

Viennale

2000

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Cast & Crew

Articles from the Notebook

Critics reviews

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Lester clearly aligns with anarchy, reflecting it in the film’s still-enlivening sense of “anything goes” stylistic play: the whizz-bang editing, the roving camerawork, the use of fast motion. It’s the Beatles themselves, however, that remain the main draw of A Hard Day’s Night. Whatever you think of their off-stage antics in the film, there’s no doubt about the sheer innocent joy they radiate, whether as musicians or as actors.

Kenji Fujishima

March 22, 2017

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A Hard Day’s Night turned me on to the Beatles as it did for countless others, and the opening sequence goes a long way in establishing why. There’s an instant rush in watching hordes of British youths rapt in Beatlemania chasing their idols, while the film’s title track adds to the joyous fervor of their pursuit. Every time I’ve watched this sequence I immediately get swept away by its momentum…

Kevin B. Lee

February 28, 2015

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The screaming fans . . . are the movie’s visible, beating heart — the literal manifestation of the awe and adoration that Richard Lester and his cinematographer Gilbert Taylor lavish on the Beatles. What makes A Hard Day’s Night more than an exhilarating, cinematically alive comedy, what makes it a profound statement of belief in the transcendent possibility of art, is looking at those screaming girls and thinking, "That’s me.

Charles Taylor

August 09, 2014

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What are people saying?

Ethan's rating of the film A Hard Day's Night
Ethan

With this film and Help! Richard Lester basically invented the style of the music video as we know it. A perfect blend of music and comedy.
April 01, 2016 16:33
- 1
- 0
Scott Lucas's rating of the film A Hard Day's Night
Scott Lucas

Christ, all those raging teenage hormones. So good it hurts.
August 18, 2014 23:02
- 2
- 0
AKFilmFan's rating of the film A Hard Day's Night
AKFilmFan

Revitalizing the rock n' roll musical, this landmark film captures not only the beginning of Beatlemania but also the battle between innocent fun and the restraining life of fame. While it does share the plotless nature of Yellow Submarine (and lacks the visual wonder of it during the songs), this film is a joyous experience with a plethora of cinematic techniques that dazzle.
January 24, 2019 17:46
- 3
- 0
El Biffo's rating of the film A Hard Day's Night
El Biffo

They actually did get their hair cut like every other day, so it would look like that. Squares used to ask them why don't they cut their hair but actually they cut it all the time so they would look perfect.
January 24, 2019 17:43
- 7
- 0
comeandsee's rating of the film A Hard Day's Night
comeandsee

its the bloody beatles, and plus its a pretty insightful look at the obsession with idols in culture.
November 08, 2010 16:23
- 2
- 0
NICOLE86's rating of the film A Hard Day's Night
NICOLE86

It was cute for about 30 minutes than I wanted to tear the head off of John Lennon. Lennon and his pseudo bad boy image was annoying. The best thing about this was the music and Brambell playing McCartney's grandfather.
January 24, 2019 17:51
- 2
- 1
Christopher R. Smith's rating of the film A Hard Day's Night
Christopher R. Smith

The Beatle's first feature film is more than just an extended music video - in fact, the musical numbers are the least interesting part of the film. A rollicking, free-form absurdist comedy full of hilarious dry British humor. Director RIchard Lester keeps the comedic energy moving with breezy camerawork and great black and white cinematography. A wholly original classic.
September 17, 2009 21:44
- 1
- 0
Wee Hunk's rating of the film A Hard Day's Night
Wee Hunk

This is the best movie ever made with a band. It's not a concert film, and it's not an ordinary film. Such cheeky boys!
December 07, 2015 01:27
- 1
- 0