The Beatles Anthology
It is, of course, a story told by many, heard a thousand times over, but Geoff Wonfor and Bob Smeaton’s 1995 series The Beatles Anthology told the tale in a way no other previously had. A series of sit-down interviews with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were vividly brought to life in a masterpiece of editing, taking the viewer on a first-hand ride through time to behold the rise and fall of one of the greatest bands in history. The series has now been remastered and is to be released by Disney+ with the addition of one extra chapter containing never-before-seen footage of the later years of the remaining band members, reconvening to make Free as a Bird and Real Love.
The Beatles’ adventure began in Liverpool, passed through Hamburg and resulted in the conquering of the world. With each chronological episode, we get to be a part of the voyage and embark on a magical journey through history, told by the four men themselves. An abundance of real footage makes this series transportive, while talking head interviews craft an intimate experience that makes you feel as though you’re sitting in the room having a cup of tea with band members. What sets The Beatles Anthology apart from any rival documentaries is this level of access and openness because it shows the band’s personalities in all their glory, reminding people once again that it wasn’t just their music that made them so popular, but the men behind it.
The addition of the brand-new episode is surely the primary selling point of remastering and rereleasing this series, and you can be forgiven for assuming that reselling this project is a cash grab, but in all honesty, rewatching every episode again before indulging in a never-before-seen addition is as much a joy today as it was 30 years ago. Every inch of the series stands the test of time because the story remains interesting and the contributors insightful. The Beatles’ story will forever remain engaging because they were a phenomenon, achieving so much in such a short amount of time. It truly is extraordinary that the musicians were only together as the “Fab Four” for seven years, and that is magnified in The Beatles Anthology.
It comes as no surprise that the 2025 release of the series is just as wonderful as before. In 1996, the team behind the project won a British Academy Television Award for Best Sound, and once again, the imperfections are few and far between. For fan and layman, The Beatles Anthology is one for all to enjoy and celebrate, and even if some band members recall key events slightly differently from others, doesn’t that just add to the intrigue behind one of the most legendary groups of all time?
Guy Lambert
The Beatles Anthology is released on Disney+ on 26th November 2025.
Watch the trailer for The Beatles Anthology here:
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