The Beatles: Get Back is a three-part original documentary series directed by three-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson. Constructed entirely from almost 60 hours of never-before-seen footage that has been brilliantly restored by Jackson himself, the fly-on-the-wall film will take audiences back in time to the band’s January 1969 recording sessions at Twickenham Studios where they were faced with a seemingly impossible task of having to write 14 new songs in less than a month. 

Essentially a diary that chronicles the days leading up to their first live concert in two years, the nearly eight-hour-long docuseries will not only offer an honest glimpse into the creative process of The Beatles but also showcase unbelievably intimate moments between John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—these cutting-room floor snippets include George surprising his bandmates with an acoustic rendition of a Bob Dylan outtake, Paul playing ‘Strawberry Fields Forever' on the piano as John is hunched over his guitar nearby, and Ringo uncharacteristically defending the dissolution of the band.  

While the premise of Get Back may be centred around the composition of their bittersweet album Let It Be and the lead-up to their last live performance as a group on London’s Savile Row, the film is not just about that—it is more so, about the camaraderie shared by the Fab Four who, even with their backs against the wall, can always rely on their friendship and telepathic connection to get them through most anything. 

In that sense, Get Back tells a different story to its predecessor documentary Let It Be which, if anything, was more focused on the brief departure of the band, as opposed to the poignant scenes shared between the members themselves. While the latter ended on a sour note through its offering of a more sombre, and melancholic depiction of the band, the former leaves an indelible mark on fans of The Beatles who would have to admit that, perhaps, they didn’t know quite as much about the pivotal 1969 recording session as they originally thought. 

But that’s not to say that Jackson’s revelatory version is all rainbows and smiles either because in Get Back, you do see how the faltering bond between the four begins to inevitably crumble when faced with adversities and tribulations—this acrimony, however, does not stop them from persevering on, and setting aside their differences to face the looming deadline that is fast approaching. Plans might derail and The Beatles might be engaged in conflict with one another but one thing’s for certain, their resilience as a single unit has birthed some of their most iconic songs as seen in their second-to-last studio album, Abbey Road. 

What it comes down to is, at the heart of everything, The Beatles will always be the same lads who started the band simply because they had undeniable chemistry and enjoyed creating music with one another. This is especially evident when they finally perform during the rooftop concert at the denouement of the documentary; you can see a spark ignite within each and every one of them when they’re performing songs like ‘Get Back,’ ‘Don’t Let Me Down,’ and ‘Let It Be’ as both The Beatles and the audience know that, somehow, one way or another, they’ve found their way back to each other, and that is all that truly mattered at that moment in time.

When John Lennon passionately wails “It’s a love that lasts forever” during ‘Let It Be,’ I felt that, even though the song was written by Lennon as a heartfelt expression of his love for Yoko Ono, it might as well have been a love (or maybe even farewell) letter to his bandmates, as this would come to be the penultimate chapter in their story. 

The Beatles: Get Back is now available for streaming on Disney+. 

Platform advisory: Shot in 1969, The Beatles: Get Back provides unprecedented access into the creative process and relationships between the Beatles. The three-part docuseries includes never-before-seen, restored footage that at times includes explicit language, mature themes, and smoking. Viewer discretion is advised.