Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- surreal
- classic movie night
- beatles listening session
What critics said
Critics broadly recognize the Beatles' infectious charm and Richard Lester's lively visual style, while finding the episodic farce less consistently funny than A Hard Day's Night.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Richard Lester uses vivid settings, exaggerated compositions, and brightly theatrical production design to turn the Beatles' pursuit into a 1960s pop-art fantasy.
The Beatles are pursued by a sacrificial cult, mad scientists, and Scotland Yard while the film continually redirects peril into comic set pieces.
The stuck sacrificial ring motivates the cult's pursuit, the scientists' interest, and the Beatles' attempts to protect Ringo.
John, Paul, George, and Ringo play heightened versions of themselves while their celebrity personas fuel the film's humor and musical interludes.
Films like Help!, and why
A Hard Day's Night
madcap musical comedy, pop-star ensemble charm, and fast-moving farce
Magical Mystery Tour
surreal musical comedy driven by an iconic band and playful visual invention
The Monkees' Head
absurdist comedy, musical performance, and anarchic chase energy
The Beatles: Yellow Submarine
eccentric ensemble farce with surreal gags and comic pursuit
Movie Details
- Director
- Richard Lester
- Release Date
- 1965-07-29
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (360)
Cast
- John Lennon
- Paul McCartney
- George Harrison
- Ringo Starr
- Leo McKern
- Eleanor Bron
- Victor Spinetti
- Roy Kinnear
- John Bluthal
- Patrick Cargill
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Help! about?
- The Beatles turn a stuck sacrificial ring into a brightly colored, absurdist chase across 1960s Britain and beyond.
- What is Help! like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Help! as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Help! violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Help! as mild.
- What did critics think of Help!?
- Critics broadly recognize the Beatles' infectious charm and Richard Lester's lively visual style, while finding the episodic farce less consistently funny than A Hard Day's Night.
- Which films are like Help!?
- Films with a similar feel include A Hard Day's Night, Magical Mystery Tour, The Monkees' Head, and The Beatles: Yellow Submarine.
- How long is Help!?
- Help! runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch Help!?
- In United States, Help! is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store.
