Man on the Run

Post-Beatles Paul McCartney seems a little like a boy who’s been let loose in a sweet shop: frazzled, overwhelmed, unsure what to eat next. It is this childlike essence that guides the plot of Man on the Run – a poignant and immersive documentary that repackages the artist’s later career from a media-defined flop to one marked by enviable and innovative talent.

It tracks his musical journey through the 70s in a fuzzy timeline, from the release of his first solo album, McCartney, to the formation of his new band Wings in 1971, and its eventual breakup in 1981. The documentary ends after the release of his number one charting solo album, McCartney II.

But at its core, Man on the Run is the love story between Paul and Linda, shot through their own eyes – the documentary is predominantly made up of the couple’s 16mm home footage, stylistically filled with lingering close-ups. Filmmaker Morgan Neville imparts his aesthetic influence with the scrapbook-like transitions between scenes, as images tear away into others. The rest feels a private invite into their tender and intimate tale.

Linda is finally painted as more than just a megastar’s sidekick. The criticism she received for being a part of Wings (she can’t sing, can’t play – it’s hardly difficult to imagine, given the era) is embarrassing in the enlightening context of both her pivotal musical and familial role. We learn that throughout all the Wings tours (with two, then three, then four children), she did all the cooking, cleaning, and feeding with no help. She was a 1970s housewife, muse and rockstar all in her own right. Although as much as Morgan wants to 3Dify Linda, she feels sturdier (certainly), but still slightly incomplete in her depiction. Perhaps it’s as far as he could get with her limited public interview footage.

It’s also a love letter to McCartney’s musical roster, featuring 70 songs from Ram, Wings and McCartney I, among others. Morgan himself is a mega Wings fan, and that feels evident in the glowing portrayal of the artist’s life in music. The documentary spotlights the musicians’ vilification during the Beatles’ breakup, making clear that it was Lennon who instigated the band’s split (not McCartney), despite the original media depiction of events.

The emotional turmoil experienced by a man wanting – and needing – to continue doing what he loves, yet fearing to and failing to live up to the world’s expectations, is palpable. Clips of interviewers interrogating him about Beatles reunions are fused together in an all-consuming, stark reminder of the elephant he could never escape. Lennon describes the Beatles’ breakup as a divorce. McCartney’s early solo career is akin to living in the same block of flats as your ex, constantly bumping into them on the stairs – all facets of your new life directly and vividly comparable to the one you left behind.

Morgan named Man on the Run after McCartney’s quest to escape the Beatles’ shadow. The result is a fan story of an underdog – a confusing notion given the songwriter’s obvious stardom – who, through album after album, finally found peace.

Hattie Birchinall

Man on the Run is released nationwide on 25^th February 2026.

Watch the trailer for Man on the Run here: