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Paul McCartney: Man on the Run

Play trailer 0:50 Poster for Paul McCartney: Man on the Run R Feb 2026 2h 7m Documentary Music Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 61 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
What happens when you wake up the morning after leaving the most important rock band of all time? In April 1970, Paul released his first solo album, McCartney, alongside a shocking press release that announced the beloved band had split. When asked what he'd do next, he said his only plan... was to grow up. Man on the Run captures Paul's transformative decade in the wake of The Beatles' break-up. Through stunning archival footage, Linda McCartney's exceptional photographs, and interviews with Mick Jagger, Chrissie Hynde, Sean Ono Lennon, Mary and Stella McCartney, all the living Wings members, and of course Paul himself, the film examines this time through a uniquely vulnerable lens.
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Paul McCartney: Man on the Run

Paul McCartney: Man on the Run

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Critics Consensus

Chronicling Paul McCartney's time spent in the creative wilderness through when he regrew his wings, Man on the Run is a lovely testament to the musical genius and his romantic partnership with Linda McCartney.

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Critics Reviews

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David Bianculli NPR Mar 3
Man on the Run is more about the man than it is about his creative process. But his music runs all through the documentary, and it all adds up to an impressive, inspirational second act. Go to Full Review
Matt Zoller Seitz RogerEbert.com Mar 2
2.5/4
This one tells an involving story (for fans, anyway) but serves mainly as advertising and image maintenance for its star, and an investment for him and various parties that represent the star’s music, past and future. Go to Full Review
Peter Travers The Travers Take Feb 27
3.5/4
In Morgan Neville’s intimate and insightful musical doc, Paul McCartney finds his musical wings without the Beatles but with wife Linda riding shotgun and teaching him about hard to reach places in the heart. Go to Full Review
Leonardo Garcia Tsao La Jornada 5d
Paul McCartney: Man on the Run isn't a groundbreaking documentary, and it basically confirms what we already know about its subject. As such, it only covers a small part of the career of an undisputed musical genius. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
John Stark Mac the Movie Guy 6d
79/100
A solid documentary for anyone, but certainly for Paul McCartney fans, as well as those looking to consume anything any Beatle ever made. Go to Full Review
Tom Meek Cambridge Day Mar 12
3/4
Neville’s post-Beatle portrait props up a McCartney who’s puckish and brash but also complex and vulnerable Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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mareschael T @Marsha948 2d This seemed to be nothing more than an attempt to change the impression of Lennon, and the public’s growing dislike of him! There was nothing about Cynthia or Julian, but a lot of Sean! When Paul released Ram, I remember John’s photo of him holding a pigs ears in the same fashion as Paul! This is typical of Paul worrying about the impression people may have and he’s aware that John has lost respect from a lot of people. It won’t work! This, I found to be a cheap attempt to erase Julian and John’s early life, and acting like it was only Yoko and John! It wasn’t and you can’t write your own history, my darling! I hope others see this and understand what he’s trying to do! Oh yes, Paul was also the executive producer! That helps to purchase the changes you’re trying to make! See more Pain D @TheDuderama 4d If you're not a McCartney fan, this will clearly not change your mind. If you are, what the $#@! is wrong with you? This 'documentary' (actually, it's a vanity piece. He's just so wonderful and regular a guy in it, everything is just so awesome and down to earth and .... wait, I think I just threw up a little in my mouth) runs about 3 times longer than it should, dragging out some of his worst 'music' while we learn about the disaster that was Wings but instead described in glowing terms. Never mind any bandmates that joined him were never given a moments consideration for writing a song, never mind they weren't paid a living wage to 'experience the wonderful family life' of this guy and his tone-deaf wife (God rest her soul). Tedious beyond belief, this thing will not make anyone a fan of this musician, who would have done best in writing ad jingles. At least, that's what this thing seems to suggest. See more Stephen C @bob25009 5d Real footage in 2 hours and 7 minutes. Rated R for Language. See more Leprechaun K @LeprechaunKing Mar 12 It is ok, not great. There is ample material to cover but it never really takes off. A lost opportunity. See more Hiroko W @eichi Mar 9 It's true that we didn't discover much that was new (which is to be expected, since it's Paul McCartney), but for those of us who didn't know him in real time, it made us realize once again how cool Paul was back then( at the time, it was considered uncool,.) See more Michael Shane B @KVD1969 Mar 9 Following the bitter 1970 breakup of The Beatles, Paul McCartney retreats to a remote Scottish farm to confront a personal and professional identity crisis. With the support of his wife Linda, he forms the band Wings, navigating public ridicule and creative self-doubt while attempting to build a family-oriented musical legacy from scratch. Through rare archival footage and intimate narration, the film chronicles his decade-long transformation from an "ex-Beatle" into a solo icon, culminating in the massive success of the mid-1970s. See more Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis What happens when you wake up the morning after leaving the most important rock band of all time? In April 1970, Paul released his first solo album, McCartney, alongside a shocking press release that announced the beloved band had split. When asked what he'd do next, he said his only plan... was to grow up. Man on the Run captures Paul's transformative decade in the wake of The Beatles' break-up. Through stunning archival footage, Linda McCartney's exceptional photographs, and interviews with Mick Jagger, Chrissie Hynde, Sean Ono Lennon, Mary and Stella McCartney, all the living Wings members, and of course Paul himself, the film examines this time through a uniquely vulnerable lens.
Director
Morgan Neville
Producer
Morgan Neville, Chloe Simmons, Meghan Walsh, Scott Rodger, Ben Chappell, Michele Anthony, David Blackman
Distributor
Trafalgar Releasing
Production Co
Tremolo Productions
Rating
R (Language)
Genre
Documentary, Music, Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 19, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 27, 2026
Runtime
2h 7m
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