Magical Mystery Tour (1967)

55% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
62% of users liked it
(7,348 ratings)

After the success of the Sgt. Peppers LP, the Beatles decided to hire a psychedelic bus, take a trip into the English countryside, and film the results, no matter how bizarre or boring. With a motley cast of characters, the group basically tramps about the landscape with occasional music cues to… More After the success of the Sgt. Peppers LP, the Beatles decided to hire a psychedelic bus, take a trip into the English countryside, and film the results, no matter how bizarre or boring. With a motley cast of characters, the group basically tramps about the landscape with occasional music cues to give the film a bit of flow. Though Magical Mystery Tour is an interesting document of the Beatles psychedelic period, its cinematic function is negligible. ~ John Bush, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr.
Directed By: George Harrison, Bernard Knowles
Written By: George Harrison, John Lennon
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts

In Theaters: Dec 26, 1967 Wide
On DVD: Nov 14, 1997

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
As 60 minutes of self-indulgent psychedelics, it's nearly impossible to watch.
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
A big, nasty, ugly, boring mistake. With killer musical numbers.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A must-see for Beatles buffs and anyone interested in how the '60s looked as they were happening (rather than in slick, retrospective recreations); others might want to take a pass.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Fun, psychedlic, and great Beatles music.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Cough.
Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
Here's a clue for you all...the Walrus was Paul!
Collin Souter, eFilmCritic.com
I would recommend a new generation of Beatle fans to put MMT: The Movie near the bottom of their to-do list, but never to scratch it off entirely. It remains a necessary curiosity item and slightly ahead of its time.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Bizarre, plotless, mishmash that still fascinates

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

The worst Beatles movie, of the Beatles movies which star the Beatles. The story is really much too silly, and stupid. Plus, the Beatles don't play a big enough role, which is weird. It has some funny moments, but overall it's just so-so.
moon r

okay...maybe the only proof you'll ever need that "this is yer brain on drugs" and "just say no"...okay, i admit it. i'll still sing-along with every song in this every time i see it, so eat that slowly (on an empty stomach and wait a half an hour...).
Burger S

Very campy at times. It's basically an early concept for MTV. They do videos for their songs from the album of the same name and try to string them together with a thin plot in between.
David S

Dear God, what a shambles! First off, I'm a massive Beatles fan. Always have been, always will be. But this has to definitely be their lowest moment (as a group) on screen. The whole thing beggers the question 'what were they thinking?'. I've seen student films… More
Dear God, what a shambles! First off, I'm a massive Beatles fan. Always have been, always will be. But this has to definitely be their lowest moment (as a group) on screen. The whole thing beggers the question 'what were they thinking?'. I've seen student films with better camera shots and editing. There is no story as such here, only a series of unrelated episodes that apparently go towards making a 'magical' mystery tour. However, since the whole trip looks cheaper than Del and Rodney's jolly boys outing to Margate in 'Only Fools and Horses' there doesn't appear to be any magic! What acting there is (and there isn't much. It almost appears to be a collection of home movie footage) is pretty laughable. The Beatles really aren't actors and when they try (as in the wizards scenes) they just embarrass themselves. Victor Spinetti at least attempts to bring a bit of (intentional) humour to the proceedings with his Sergeant Major but the scene doesn't go anywhere and is too long. The film (if it can be called that at 50 minutes) has a couple of decent scenes such as 'I am the Walrus' but these are only music videos inserted into an mess of a shoot. I've heard a few critis say that this is a surreal masterpiece. Don't believe a word of it! This is an hour of my life I will never get back and that makes me angry. Stick to the album and avoid this celluloid drivel!
Marion R

Not very good. Really neat cameo by Bonzo Dog Band.