He walks through the fog toward a giant white mansion while “Imagine” plays. Then, you’re watching home movies, Beatles chaos, anti-war protests, and raw interviews all stitched together by Lennon’s own voice.
I also included this doc at #5 on my list of The 10 Best Documentaries on The Beatles.
Trailer for “Imagine: John Lennon”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- The documentary includes an unreleased 1979 acoustic demo of “Real Love.” Years later, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr would finish the song for “The Beatles Anthology.”
- Lennon openly admits the ideas behind “Imagine” partly came from Yoko Ono’s poetry and conceptual art books. The song later became hugely controversial because of the “no heaven” and “no religion” lyrics.
Watch “Imagine: John Lennon”
You can usually find “Imagine: John Lennon” on Prime Video and Apple TV.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 91/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 91/100 (Users); 91/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Andrew Solt directed this 169-minute documentary, which was commissioned by Yoko Ono in 1986. What makes it different from most Beatles docs is that Lennon himself effectively narrates the story through archival interviews instead of relying on modern talking heads.
Release Date: October 7, 1988
Other Unique Stuff
- The doc shows Lennon’s wild “lost weekend” in Los Angeles, where he split from Yoko, drank heavily, and partied with musicians like Harry Nilsson.
- You also see the political side of Lennon: FBI surveillance, anti-war protests, and the U.S. government trying to deport him during the Vietnam era.
- The filmmakers got access to private home movies, rehearsal tapes, and phone recordings from Yoko Ono that most fans had never seen before.
Wrap Up:
“Imagine: John Lennon” is probably the most intimate Lennon documentary ever made. If you love Beatles history, studio footage, or watching famous people trying to figure themselves out in real time, this one is essential viewing.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc