The 2019 romantic comedy Yesterday, directed by Danny Boyle and written by Richard Curtis, airs on BBC3 tonight at 11.20pm. The film is also available to stream free on BBC iPlayer.
Film plot and cast
Yesterday centres on a struggling musician who wakes up in an alternative reality where he is the only person who remembers The Beatles. As he performs their songs, he rises to global fame but soon questions whether the life of celebrity and wealth is what he truly wants.
The film stars Himesh Patel in the lead role, with Lily James, Joel Fry, and Kate McKinnon in supporting roles. Ed Sheeran and James Corden also appear in the production.
Music rights and box office success
The filmmakers spent 10 million dollars to secure the rights to The Beatles' music catalogue, with approval from the artists' families or surviving members. The film grossed 154.6 million dollars worldwide against a production budget of 26 million dollars.
Audience and critical reception
One cinema-goer said on Rotten Tomatoes: "I didn't expect to like the movie as much as I did. I was having 'an off day' and just wanted to see something mindless that didn't require a lot of brain cells. This movie left me leaving the theatre in a happy, uplifting mood! It was light-hearted, sweet, and a real mood lifter."
Another viewer posted: "What a pleasant surprise. It's a genuinely delightful, wholly original film supported by earnest performances from a talented young cast. One particular scene (the scene) will put tears in the eyes of the deepest cynic. A beautiful 2 hours well spent at the movies."
