Birth of the Beatles (1979): cast, story & where to watch
1979 · Film · ★ 7.2
Released in 1979, Birth of the Beatles is a drama and music film directed by Richard Marquand, running about 104 minutes. “The excitement of being there when it first happened!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The early days of the Fab Four are traced from their bleakest hours as unknowns on Penny Lane in Liverpool to their triumph on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
Who’s in it. Birth of the Beatles stars Stephen MacKenna as John Lennon, Rod Culbertson as Paul McCartney, Ray Ashcroft as Ringo Starr and John Altman as George Harrison, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.2/10, Birth of the Beatles has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Birth of the Beatles page.
If you liked it. Fans of Birth of the Beatles tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Birth of the Beatles (1979)?
- In GB, Birth of the Beatles is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Birth of the Beatles worth watching?
- Birth of the Beatles holds an audience score of 7.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and music. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Birth of the Beatles?
- Birth of the Beatles stars Stephen MacKenna, Rod Culbertson, Ray Ashcroft, John Altman and Michael Ryan.
- When was Birth of the Beatles released?
- Birth of the Beatles was released in 1979, with a runtime of about 104 minutes.