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Paul Angelis, Peter Batten, Beatles The, John Clive, Geoffrey Hughes ... see more see more... , Lance Percival , Dick Emery , George Harrison , John Lennon , Paul McCartney , Ringo Starr

Yellow Submarine is an animated meandering journey filled with puns and dry British humor, where psychedelic music videos take precedent over any linear story. What little there is of a plot, however,... read more read more... concerns a vibrantly colored place called Pepperland that resembles the album cover for Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band come to life. The swirling animation is a mixture of pop-culture images and modern artistic styles brought loosely together with a naïve antiwar message and some clever political commentary. The Blue Meanies take over Pepperland, draining it of all its color and music, firing anti-music missiles, bonking people with green apples, and turning the inhabitants to stone by way of the pointed finger of a giant white glove. As the only survivor, the Lord Admiral escapes in the yellow submarine and goes to London to enlist the help of the Beatles (voiced by actors). The charming and innocent boys travel through strange worlds and meet bizarre characters, including the tagalong Nowhere Man. Several blissed-filled musical sequences and drug references later, the Beatles drive out the Blue Meanies and restore Pepperland to tranquility armed with only music, love, and witty remarks. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Flixster Users

81% liked it

45,695 ratings

Critics

96% liked it

46 critics

G, 1 hr. 27 min.

Directed by: George Dunning, Dick Emery, George Dunning III

Release Date: May 10, 2012

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DVD Release Date: September 14, 1999

Stats: 2,668 reviews

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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967 Hey Jeremy! What do you know about holes? Blue Meanies Yellow Submarine Yellow Submarine Movie Poster Geoffrey Hughes
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Flixster Reviews (2,668)

  • 366weirdmovies
    October 7, 2012
    366weirdmovies
    The Beatles sail through surreal seas in a Yellow Submarine to save Pepperland from the anti-music Blue Meanies in this animated fantasy that blurs the line between fairy tale and acid flashback. A psychedelic pop-art version of a children's storybook, with the Beatles singing an... read mored punning their way through the rare quiet moments. The animation is anarchic, witty, and highly influential, and (besides a weak ending and weaker coda) the film's biggest downside may be that there's so much going on in absolutely every frame of the film that it's almost exhausting to watch!
  • fb791220692
    August 28, 2012
    fb791220692
    Yes, it's weird. Yes, it looks old. Yes, its pretty much an acid trip on your TV. But the Beatles' classic cartoon is still great, due mostly to its playfulness, witty humor, and way out-there "what am I looking at now?" visuals.
  • fb712836066
    October 25, 2011
    fb712836066
    Amazing illustration, and let me repeat, AMAZING ILLUSTRATION. The animation pervades the film and grants us the psychedelic experience of a lifetime accompanied by the timeless music of The Beatles and a very trippy plot. Sadly, the plot is more suited to young children and th... read moreose who are influenced by hallucinogenic drugs and lacks actual voice acting by The Beatles themselves, who merely make a last minute live action appearance which is all too brief and only leaves us wishing for more of the actual fab four. If you are looking for great hand-drawn animation, a trippy plotline, and an AMAZING soundtrack and love The Beatles then you have something for you here.
  • cosmo313
    July 9, 2011
    cosmo313
    I don't mean to sound trite, but they should just rename this film "Drug Trip: The Movie" and be done with it. Seriously.

    Ok then, with that out of the way, I must say, this is a bit of a hard film to really rate or review. Obviously I'm gonna have to do just that, but it is a b... read moreit difficult for me.

    This fantasy centered around The Beatles going out to stop a bunch of creatures caleld Blue Meanies who have taken over a place called Pepperland combines the terrific music of The Beatles with really cool and unique art disrection and visual styles to create a film that is really just an otherworldlt experience. Just so you know, I didn't see this high, but I did have a couple of drinks. I really cn't say what would be the best way to experience this film. I leave that up to you.

    There's a story, but it's pretty much just a thin clothesline to hang some great tunes and trippy visuals on. This will probably not appeal to some people, but, I at least got something out of it, even if I don't truly know how I feel about this film-hence why my rating is mainly a formaility.

    I do think this should be seen though, because it is entertaining, and there's some wild stuff going on, even if it does get a bit too self indulgant with the psychedelia. At least there's the music and some subtle, dry humor to make the film more than just trippiness.
  • ajv2688
    December 11, 2010
    ajv2688
    The Beatles' animated fantasy adventure movie is a must see for any fan, or if you just love animated movies. It's very fun, and I really liked it.
  • hobster1
    July 22, 2008
    hobster1
    Cinematically dazzling tale of the Beatles who save Pepperland from the Blue Meanies with their music. Joyous!
  • puffchunk
    October 4, 2007
    puffchunk
    I wish it were better, but i still like some of it.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 13, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Music and motion and color are made into Beatle's art. I loved it. The story was great fantasy, which kids could delight in. The songs were powerful and catchy. I liked the experience of it all, with its unique style of animation and imaginative plotline. They've crafted fitting ... read moreimages and scenes for each of the Beatles tunes chosen. A 60's classic storybook tale.

    Favorite Scenes: Eleanor Rigby music synchronization with the classic black and white people photos - and the "Nowhere Man" song when the Beatles are singing on a rotating disc and stepping through an archway of colors; everything seems so meant-to-be and awesome.
  • garyX
    February 22, 2007
    garyX
    An interesting snapshot into the time and mentality of when it was made. Overly self-indulgent and psychadelic in places, but you can't argue with the songs.
  • stuartb1234
    January 9, 2007
    stuartb1234
    An interesting if odd little tale

View All Yellow Submarine Reviews

Critic Reviews

September 4, 2008
TIME Magazine

If the result seems less a coherent story than a two-hour pot high, Submarine is still a breakthrough combination of the feature film and art's intimacy with the unconscious. Full Review

Variety Staff
September 6, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

Here are all the ingredients of a novel entertainment. Full Review

Lisa Alspector
September 6, 2007
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader

This 1968 Beatles musical gets somewhat plot heavy near the end, but it's a marvel of innocence and free association, blending several animation techniques in a loose narrative full of gentle bad puns... Full Review

Dave Kehr
September 6, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

The animation is imaginatively conceived, but stiffly executed. Full Review

June 24, 2006
Time Out

There's such a wide disparity of graphic styles from sequence to sequence. Some of them, though, still look terrific. Full Review

Renata Adler
May 20, 2003
Renata Adler, New York Times

Yellow Submarine is a family movie in the truest sense. Full Review

Richard Harrington
January 1, 2000
Richard Harrington, Washington Post

Almost 20 years after its release, this charming fable chronicling the Beatles' battles to save Pepperland from the Blue Meanies is one of the best testaments ever to the redeeming value of good music. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A music-based animated film for the ages. Full Review

Michael Sragow
January 1, 2000
Michael Sragow, Salon.com

The movie's boggling matter-of-factness is a key to its enduring -- no, its deepening -- charm. Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.
June 22, 2012
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed

A unique and often brilliant animated film that pictures the Beatles as towering and often god-like gentlemen who have the power to change worlds... Full Review

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Facts

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    • Ringo/Chief Blue Meanie: First time I saw that nowhere man, that nobody, I knew he was somebody.
    • Ringo/Chief Blue Meanie: It must be on of those unidentified flying cupcakes.
    • George: Hey, that's a funny place to leave a goldfish bowl.
    • Ringo/Chief Blue Meanie: *sleepy* The hillls are alive..
    • Max: WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC!
    • Ringo/Chief Blue Meanie: Are you sure you're Bluish? You don't look Bluish.
    • Ringo/Chief Blue Meanie: He's so smart he doesn't know what he knows.
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Yellow Submarine Trivia

  • This colour submarine is a Beatles song and movie   Answer »
  • In the Beatles film "Yellow Submarine", who is the first Beatle we see?  Answer »
  • What London landmark appeared in both the Beatles movies Help! and Yellow Submarine?  Answer »
  • The Beatles voiced themselves in the film Yellow Submarine.  Answer »
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