64
Metascore
6 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80NewsweekDavid AnsenNewsweekDavid AnsenA rousingly funny slapstick comedy about the day John, Paul, George and Ringo set off a tidal wave of adolescent hysteria in New York City. Surprisingly, nostalgia accounts for very little of the movie's charm. [01 May 1978, p.91]
- 75TV Guide MagazineTV Guide MagazineAfter slowly introducing the characters, the film accelerates pace. Directer Zemeckis handles comedy well.
- 75Slant MagazineDerek SmithSlant MagazineDerek SmithEverything in I Wanna Hold Your Hand is pushed right up to the breaking point of absurdity. The lunacy of pop-culture infatuation is lent the undying fervor of a fever dream.
- 70Washington PostGary ArnoldWashington PostGary ArnoldInconsistent but zestful, this farce about the fanatic reactions of a group of New Jersey high-school kids to the first appearance of The Beatles on Ed Sullivan's show is, however, an amiable promise of good times to come - a showcase for fresh, young talent, both behind and before the cameras.
- 60The New York TimesJanet MaslinThe New York TimesJanet MaslinSome routines work a lot better than others, but the whole film sparkles with a boisterous lunacy that's perfectly in keeping with the frenzy of the fans.
- 30Washington PostWashington PostDirector Robert Zemeckis has created a hodgepodge of amateurish, pie-in-the-face humor. The six young stars are untalented, unattractive and about as believable as characters from a Laverne and Shirley episode, and for a solid hour and a half they run around bumping into things. [28 Apr 1978, p.19]