Beatlemania is alive and well. On Jan. 30, 1969, The Beatles held their final live performance on the rooftop of the Apple Corps building in London's Savile Row. Commemorating the occasion, Disney and IMAX debuted a special theatrical version of Peter Jackson's documentary The Beatles: Get Back. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the film played to near-sellout crowds in nearly 70 IMAX theaters in North America and at the BFI IMAX theater in London. IMAX cited sold-out shows in major cities including New York, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Charlotte, St. Paul, Pittsburg, San Antonio, and Cleveland, grossing about $500,000.
This theatrical screening was condensed to a 60-minute show, featuring the 45-minute concert in its entirety. That footage was followed by a live Q&A with Jackson and BBC broadcaster Matt Everitt which was screened along with the concert. Footage from the Get Back docuseries was used to put together the movie, with the footage digitally remastered with proprietary IMAX technology. The Beatles: Get Back — The Rooftop Performance will play in select IMAX locations over the Feb. 11-13 weekend.
“Peter Jackson edited this together so that you can see the concert in its full glory,” IMAX Entertainment president Megan Colligan said. “And the turnout shows the power of coming together in a theater even though it’s on Disney+.”
“I’m thrilled that the rooftop concert from The Beatles: Get Back is going to be experienced in IMAX, on that huge screen. It’s The Beatles’ last concert, and it’s the absolute perfect way to see and hear it," Jackson said in a previous statement of the release.
Colligan added, “Ever since Peter Jackson’s beautiful and illuminating docuseries debuted, we’ve heard non-stop from fans who want to experience its unforgettable rooftop performance in IMAX. We are so excited to partner with Disney to bring Get Back to an entirely new stage and give Beatles fans everywhere a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch and hear their heroes in the unrivalled sight and sound of IMAX.”
The Beatles: Get Back Was Widely Acclaimed
The Beatles: Get Back provides a very raw look at the legendary group coming together to make the 1970 album Let It Be, which originally had the working title of Get Back. It's filled with never-before-seen footage of John, Paul, George, and Ringo, giving fans more of a genuine peek into all of their lives at that time than ever before. Critics widely praised the docuseries as did fans of the band.
Peter Jackson also fought back against Disney's requests for him to censor some certain elements to keep the docuseries more in line with other offerings on Disney+. This includes the use of foul language along with footage of the band members smoking cigarettes. Jackson insisted on keeping the raw footage as it was to best showcase what it was actually like to step into the recording room with the world's most famous band.
You can watch The Beatles: Get Back on Disney+. The Beatles: Get Back — The Rooftop Performance will return to movie theaters for the Feb. 11-13 weekend while the home video release of Get Back arrives on Feb. 8.