'How the Beatles Changed the World' review: A look at the 2017 documentary

How the Beatles Changed the World is a 2017 documentary that explores the profound cultural, musical, and societal impact of The Beatles. Directed by Tom O’Dell, the film delves into how the legendary British band not only revolutionized popular music but also influenced global culture in the 1960s and beyond. The documentary covers a broad spectrum of topics, and does so pretty well.

You get to lean the basics of The Beatles’ musical innovations. The film emphasizes how the band broke new ground with their music. Of course, that's in addition to general cutesy knowledge, such as how Lennon became known as "the smart one," McCartney "the cute one," Harrison "the quiet one," and Starr "the lucky one" (because, supposedly, he was the least musically skilled — a critique regularly applied to other minimalist drummers, such as The White Stripes' Meg White).

The movie examines their early hits, experimental phases, and how albums like Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band changed the way music was made and consumed. There's some insight into why they went from only "bubblegum pop" to a decidedly more "mature” sound. Their incorporation of various musical genres — ranging from Indian classical music to musical elements that became psychedelic rock — is adequately highlighted as evidence of their boundary-pushing creativity which is still making the charts today.

Sure, technically, Link Wray's "Rumble" from 1958 might be considered early psychedelic rock, or "proto-psych," so The Beatles technically might not be the first band to make psychedelic music. However, they were certainly one of the very first. (As a possibly annoying aside: If you really want to get into Indian psychedelic music, you might want to check out the Electric Psychedelic Sitar Headswirlers compilation series.)

How the Beatles Changed the World explores the cultural and social impact of The Beatles ("Beatlemania")

How the Beatles Changed the World makes it clear that The Beatles weren’t just musicians; they became cultural icons during "Beatlemania," and in many ways beyond. The documentary discusses their role in shaping the 1960s counterculture, promoting peace, challenging societal norms, and inspiring the "I ran away to join a commune" trope. The film also covers how their influence extended into fashion, film, and politics, contributing to movements such as the rise of youth culture and the anti-war protests.

Personal transformations of the band are also explored. Each member of The Beatles is profiled, showing their individual artistic and personal growth throughout their careers. The film also focuses on how John Lennon’s political activism and George Harrison’s spiritual journey played important roles in their public image and legacy.

Media revolution

How the Beatles Changed the World explores how The Beatles used mass media to their advantage, from pioneering the modern music video format to their influence on television and radio. As one quote in the film notes: "The Beatles were the most commercial band on Earth. But they were also the most avant-garde and experimental." The film examines how they captured the world’s attention and became part of the broader conversation about culture and society (also known as the "zeitgeist").

The documentary includes interviews with journalists, historians, and cultural critics, along with archival footage of The Beatles during key moments in their career. It provides both die-hard fans and casual viewers with a deep understanding of the band’s wide-reaching influence. Sure, the film doesn't cover literally every aspect of the band, and we live in a world where it's often cool to say "so and so sucks." Still, if you're interested in The Beatles’ role in shaping 20th-century culture, this documentary provides a reasonably comprehensive look at their legacy, and you may just respect the band a bit more.