One to One: John & Yoko Release Date, Storyline, and Everything You Need to Know

One to One: John & Yoko Release Date, Storyline, and Everything You Need to Know

One to One: John & Yoko, a groundbreaking new documentary, is set to be… Co-directed by notable filmmakers Kevin Macdonald (One Day in September) and Sam Rice-Edwards, the immersive documentary focuses on unseen footage of what would become Lennon’s only full-length performances post-Beatles while bringing to life the couple’s 18-month experience living in Greenwich Village between 1971 and 1973.

One to One: John & Yoko (Extended Edition) Release Date

Produced by the festival-oriented folks behind the 2015 film “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week,” “One to One: John & Yoko” follows a carefully planned, festival-focused release strategy to maximize critical exposure and international reach before its wide theatrical and digital release. With standing ovations in Venice and an eagerly awaited IMAX bow, the film has been painstakingly calibrated for global glory.

Release Schedule Table

Release Phase	Date(s)	Details
World Premiere	August 30, 2024	Venice Film Festival — received a standing ovation and critical buzz
Festival Circuit	September 2024	Telluride Film Festival screening
	January 2025	Sundance Film Festival presentation
	March 21–23, 2025	Red Lorry Film Festival (India) — Asian premiere as closing night film
North American Theatrical	April 11, 2025	IMAX release via Magnolia Pictures
International Theatrical	April–May 2025	Phased release via Dogwoof (dates vary by country)
Digital/Streaming	Late 2025 (TBA)	Expected streaming release (platform/date to be confirmed)
Physical Media	Holiday Season 2025	It is a special edition Blu-ray/DVD with bonus content

By modern-day IMAX’s standards, the film met a specific quarter-release strategy that puts its IMAX theater chain in line with the spring’s cultural calendar, bearing direct anticipation of not being crowded out by major blockbusters while also making room for something resembling prestige documentary events.

The release also comes in an era of renewed interest in ’70s nostalgia and a renewed appreciation for Lennon and Ono’s peace activism during the current politically charged climate. Magnolia Pictures secured North American distribution rights in January 2025, contributing to an expedited release schedule. The film was taken to audiences sooner than anticipated while building on strong festival buzz.

Synopsis: John And Yoko–One-to-One Storyline

One to One: John & Yoko covers an 18-month window that epitomizes one of the most creatively fruitful and politically engaged periods in John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s life together. This is how the documentary tells the story:

The movie begins with John and Yoko unpacking at their Greenwich Village apartment in early 1971, two years after they’d put down roots in New York City following the breakup of the Beatles.

Their home on Bank Street in Manhattan becomes both a creative workshop and the headquarters for their growing political activism. Through intimate footage, we see their daily lives, innovative processes, and how television became their portal into American culture and politics.

As the couple grows more vocal in their opposition to the Vietnam War, they attract the notice of the Nixon administration. The documentary chronicles their intensifying surveillance by the F.B.I. and the government’s efforts to silence them with deportation proceedings. Instead of backing down, they double down on their activism, organizing multiple peace campaigns and protest rallies.

The signal is when John and Yoko hear about the horrific conditions at the Willowbrook State School, a school for children with developmental disabilities on Staten Island. Having been deeply moved by television reporter Geraldo Rivera’s exposé of the facility, they dedicate themselves to using their platform to help these vulnerable children.

Resulting in that one-to-one benefit concert at Madison Square Garden in August 1972. The film chronicles the lead-up to the historic show, followed by the exhilarating performances (including Lennon serving up some of his most potent post-Beatles work) alongside Yoko’s avant-garde expressions.

After the concert, the documentary explores how this experience strengthened their social consciousness while highlighting how difficult it is to be public figures with scrutiny directed toward them at all times. The story ends with their move from Greenwich Village in 1973 and how this transformative period defined their lives and legacy.

As the story unfolds, updates on the drama in the film’s present tense add expansive historical narration about the era of America in the early 1970s, focusing on the anti-war movement, Nixon’s presidency, and changing cultural attitudes that both accepted and resisted the couple’s apocalyptic vision.

One to One: The John & Yoko of the Cast Members

Featured in Archival Footage

Creative Team & Production

Role	Name	Notable Work
Co-Director	Kevin Macdonald	The Last King of Scotland, Whitney
Co-Director / Editor	Sam Rice-Edwards	Music docs and feature editing
Audio Production	Sean Ono Lennon	Music restoration and archival oversight
Cinematography	David Katznelson	Visual documentation and new interview footage
Producers	Peter Worsley, Alice Webb	Historical documentaries, cultural productions

Greenwich Village Days: A Peek Inside Their Creative Home

Outside the concert hall, “One to One” transports viewers directly into John and Yoko’s private world in their Greenwich Village days. The filmmakers built a replica of the couple’s Bank Street apartment, recreating the locale from which so much creativity and activism emanated.

An introverted setting provides space to learn more about the couple’s off-stage routines. Using never-before-seen home movies and private phone calls, the documentary grants unprecedented access to conversations, creative sessions, and quiet moments shared between two of the 20th century’s most influential artists.

“Their apartment was not just a residence — it was where the art, politics, and life all converged,” says Rice-Edwards. “This space being rebuilt gives viewers a sense of being right there with John and Yoko through this time in their lives.”

The movie shows how television had taken center stage in their lives, the couple constantly soaking up news and popular culture that informed their activism. This method allows the documentary to place their story within the more significant social and political upheaval rocking America in the early 1970s.

Their Greenwich Village period marks a significant period of creative rebirth for the artists—Lennon seeking to find a solo voice, Ono forging ahead to break the boundaries of art. During that period, their relationship shows two people equally dedicated to personal and social revolution.

Artistic Partnership: Recasting The John And Yoko Relationship

Maybe most importantly, “One to One” challenges long-held narratives about Ono’s influence on Lennon and her role in the breakup of The Beatles. Through intimate footage and previously unheard conversations, the film reveals a more even-handed portrait of their creative partnership.

“We wanted to represent how collaborative they were,” Rice-Edwards explains. “Yoko as an influence on John is not an accurate portrayal of two artists who had always inspired and challenged each other.”

The documentary also explores Ono’s work as an artist and Lennon’s active role in supporting her experimental vision. Their dynamic becomes an actual meeting of equals, unlike the tidy storyline we usually get from music history.

Shooting their working moments candidly, they get to know how they operated—sometimes in concert, sometimes in contention—but always motivated by common artistic and political ends. This nuanced portrayal finally acknowledges Ono’s contributions properly but still shows Lennon as an active participant in their joint vision.

The film tackles the public criticism they received and shows how they created a protective bubble around their relationship. This close look at their dynamic brings new angles even for longtime fans accustomed to their public personas.

Critical Response: How Reviewers Are Responding To The Film

Premiering at Venice in August 2024, One to One: John & Yoko has been well received. It boasts a 78 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, an average score of 7.2/10, and 82 on Metacritic (interpreted as universal acclaim).

The Guardian gave it four stars, lauding its “fun, fierce” approach that breathes new life into Lennon’s image. Variety described it as “the most accomplished” of recent Lennon documentaries, commenting on how the music informs the film. The Hollywood Reporter flagged its exploration of generational change through a particular lens for others.

Sean Ono Lennon, the son of Yoko Ono and John Lennon, also offered this as part of his endorsement of the film, highlighting the film’s fresh insights into his parents’ drive for peace at a time of great unrest.

International Footprint: Festivals + Global Release

After its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, “One to One: John & Yoko” went on to screen at festivals like Telluride and Sundance. The Asian premiere of the film was also the closing selection of India’s second Red Lorry Film Festival.

The festival’s director, Ashish Saksena, commended the documentary for its “bold artistic vision and cultural significance.” In January 2025, Magnolia Pictures acquired the film for North American distribution.

It is set for an April 11 release in IMAX theaters and then on streaming soon after. “Our goal is to get ‘One to One: John & Yoko’ out to the world,” explains Macdonald, explaining the film’s broader audience beyond fans. According to Rice-Edwards, the documentary captures the explosive creative chemistry between the two artists during a few cusp moments in their lives.

FAQ

When and where does “One to One: John & Yoko” stream?
The movie opens in IMAX theaters around the United States on April 11, 2025. It was released in the United States in October 1982. A timeline for streaming releases has yet to be announced; it will be coming later this year.

How long is the documentary?
The 100-minute film mixes concert footage with historical context and tender moments from John and Yoko’s lives.

Is this just another Beatles documentary?
No, this is a film narrowly focused on John Lennon and Yoko Ono as they lived in Greenwich Village (1971-1973), well after The Beatles had broken up. It focuses on their political activism and creative partnership at this time.

What sets this documentary apart from previous ones about John Lennon?
“One to One” includes newly restored concert footage and never-before-seen personal archives, including private phone calls and home movies. It also has the advantage of Sean Ono Lennon being involved in audio production, and it takes a relatively even-tempered view of John and Yoko’s creative partnership.

Is the film suitable for younger audiences?
This year, the most anticipation (and resistance) among the broader public has surrounded “Oppenheimer.” The film is rated R — but not for explicit material. However, its complicated themes about the era’s breathtaking (and occasionally debasing) history and politics are likely best understood only by teenagers and adults.

Final Thoughts

As the exhibition “One to One: John & Yoko” gets ready to open, it promises more than just a hit of nostalgia; it’s also a historical document of a time where art and activism intertwined.

The movie gives longtime fans unfettered access to private moments and remounted performances while introducing younger viewers to Lennon and Ono’s revolutionary spirit. In a world of war, social inequality, and division, the documentary illustrates that the fight for peace never ends, and for those who wish for change, art is a weapon—just as Lennon and Ono wielded.