In “The Beatles: Get Back,” the 2021 documentary produced by New Zealand film director Peter Jackson and released by Disney+, viewers are treated to a rare glimpse into the creative interactions among the members of a rock ‘n roll band widely considered be one of the most influential of all time – a feat made all the more impressive by the band’s brief tenure. The Beatles existed for only a decade, and its sole global tour lasted for only three years, from 1963 to 1966. (They are nonetheless musical history’s most covered artists.)
The eight-hour miniseries shows John, Paul, Ringo, and George – performers so famous that last names aren’t needed here – rehearsing for the band’s last studio album, “Let it Be.” With the input of the band’s long-time producer George Martin and the soulful piano chops of Billy Preston, the 35-minute 12-track album would quickly become a global hit, reaching gold and platinum status in several countries.
The album included two of the Fab Four’s top 25 biggest hits in their decade-long collaboration: “Let It Be,” which spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Top 100, and “The Long and Winding Road,” the band’s last single released while the Beatles were still active.
To determine the biggest pop hits by The Beatles, 24/7 Tempo reviewed performance data on the Billboard Hot 100 song. Songs were ranked based on an inverse score wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 100 points, a week at No. 2 worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth one point. Chart data is current through the week of August 20, 2022.
Click here to see the biggest pop hits by The Beatles
By far, the Far Four’s most successful singles were released during the peak Beatlemania years of 1964 and 1965. In those two electric years, The Beatles would release 14 of their biggest hits, four of which would be among its most popular ever. Two of these – “She Loves You” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand” -would reach No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100 within a week of each other in January 1964. (You won’t be surprised to learn that the artist with the most No. 1 hits is The Beatles.)
Five of the Beatles ten biggest hits were released after 1965, including “Hey Jude” in 1968 and “Come Together” in 1969. “Got to Get You into My Life,” became The Beatles’ last biggest hit when it was re-released on a compilation album and single in 1976, a decade after it appeared on the album “Revolver” and six years after the group’s breakup.
25. Eight Days A Week
> Entered Hot 100: Feb. 20, 1965
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10
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24. Paperback Writer
> Entered Hot 100: June 11, 1966
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10
23. Do You Want To Know A Secret
> Entered Hot 100: March 28, 1964
> Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11
22. The Long And Winding Road/For You Blue
> Entered Hot 100: May 23, 1970
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10
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21. Can’t Buy Me Love
> Entered Hot 100: March 28, 1964
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 5 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10
20. Revolution
> Entered Hot 100: Sept. 14, 1968
> Peak position on Hot 100: #12 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11
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19. All You Need Is Love
> Entered Hot 100: July 22, 1967
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11
18. Ticket To Ride
> Entered Hot 100: April 24, 1965
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11
17. Lady Madonna
> Entered Hot 100: March 23, 1968
> Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11
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16. Yesterday
> Entered Hot 100: Sept. 25, 1965
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11
15. Hello Goodbye
> Entered Hot 100: Dec. 2, 1967
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11
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14. I Feel Fine
> Entered Hot 100: Dec. 5, 1964
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11
13. Please Please Me
> Entered Hot 100: Feb.1, 1964
> Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 13
12. We Can Work It Out
> Entered Hot 100: Dec. 18, 1965
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 12
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11. Love Me Do
> Entered Hot 100: April 11, 1964
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 14
10. Got To Get You Into My Life
> Entered Hot 100: June 12, 1976
> Peak position on Hot 100: #7 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 16
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9. Get Back (with Billy Preston)
> Entered Hot 100: May 10, 1969
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 5 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 12
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8. Help!
> Entered Hot 100: Aug. 7, 1965
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 13
7. A Hard Day’s Night
> Entered Hot 100: July 18, 1964
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 13
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6. Let It Be
> Entered Hot 100: March 21, 1970
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 14
5. She Loves You
> Entered Hot 100: Jan. 25, 1964
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 15
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4. I Want To Hold Your Hand
> Entered Hot 100: Jan. 18, 1964
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 7 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 15
3. Come Together/Something
> Entered Hot 100: Oct. 18, 1969
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 16
2. Twist And Shout
> Entered Hot 100: March 14, 1964
> Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 26
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1. Hey Jude
> Entered Hot 100: Sept. 14, 1968
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 9 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 19
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