First released thirty years ago, The Beatles Anthology—the landmark eight-part documentary- redefined what a music biography could be. Rather than relying on outside commentators or traditional documentary narration, the series broke new ground by allowing John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr to narrate their own saga in their own voices. Their reflections, layered with honesty, humour, and sometimes conflicting memories, offered an intimate portrait of the band that had already reshaped popular culture. For many viewers, especially younger generations encountering the group for the first time in the mid-1990s, Anthology became a gateway into the Beatles’ world, sparking a renewed wave of global fascination that still echoes through today’s music landscape.
Across its original eight episodes, the series traced the band’s extraordinary evolution, from the formative years in Liverpool and Hamburg, where their identity was forged in sweat-filled clubs, to the dizzying ascent of Beatlemania and their historic arrival in the United States. It charted their fearless artistic experimentation in the studio, their influence at the heart of the 1960s cultural revolution, their spiritual journey to India, and the growing personal and creative tensions that culminated in their breakup. Threaded through every chapter was the constant that defined them then and still defines them now: the music, always the music, inventive and profoundly human.
The newly remastered edition of the first eight episodes of The Beatles Anthology delivers an unprecedented level of clarity, depth, and historical detail. Seeing and hearing the “Fab Four” revisit their journey, from their modest beginnings in Liverpool to the band’s emotional split, is both captivating and deeply moving. Much of this rare footage exists thanks to Neil Aspinall, the Beatles’ longtime confidant and Apple Corps manager, who began collecting concerts, interviews, and television appearances as early as 1970 with the vision of creating a definitive Beatles documentary. His early archival work laid the foundation for what would become The Beatles Anthology. Denis O’Dell, then head of Apple Films, and Let It Be director Michael Lindsay-Hogg also played pivotal roles, contributing essential material and behind-the-scenes insight that helped shape the project.
The all-new Episode Nine builds on archival elements from the original 1995 release, offering fans a powerful look at the creative process behind the Beatles’ final songs. Viewers get rare glimpses into the unfinished John Lennon demos that Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr worked on during the Anthology sessions. While “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love” reached audiences in the mid-90s, a third track—“Now and Then”—was shelved due to technical challenges. Nearly thirty years later, the song was finally completed by McCartney and Starr using Harrison’s 1995 guitar recordings, demonstrating how the band’s artistic spirit continues to endure even after the loss of two of its members.
The Beatles Anthology 2025 stands as the ultimate deep dive into the band’s legacy, told through the voices and memories of John, Paul, George, and Ringo themselves. Whether you’re discovering The Beatles for the first time or returning to their extraordinary story, this expanded Anthology offers a rich, immersive experience. It is, without question, a journey worth revisiting.
“The Beatles Anthology” premieres on Wednesday, November 26th, only on Disney+ in Canada.
