No Hamburg, No Beatles (2024): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2024, No Hamburg, No Beatles is a documentary and music film directed by Roger Appleton, running about 55 minutes.

What it’s about. “We were born in Liverpool but grew up in Hamburg”, John Lennon once said. This feature documentary seeks to find the truth in those words. The long and winding road that the Beatles took to worldwide fame passed through Hamburg, Germany in the early 1960s. Only a couple of years before they became household names, the former Quarrymen were cutting their musical teeth on nightclub stages in the city. Hamburg had become the vice capital of Europe after World War Two, its neon-lit streets home to sailors, sex workers, drug dealers, gangs and low life. Meanwhile, the English band was still developing, still young and virtually unknown. By the time of their last German visit in 1966, the Beatles were an international phenomenon. 'No Hamburg, No Beatles' explains how learning their trade in this fascinating city helped propel them to global stardom.

Who’s in it. No Hamburg, No Beatles stars Frank McDonough as Self, John Lennon as Self (voice) (archive footage), Paul McCartney as Self (voice) (archive footage) and Pete Best as Self, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.5/10, No Hamburg, No Beatles has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch No Hamburg, No Beatles page.

If you liked it. Fans of No Hamburg, No Beatles tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.