John Lennon & Yoko Ono’s ‘Power to the People’ Concert Film Returns to Cinemas

A remastered version of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1972 concert film, Power To The People, will be shown in cinemas worldwide beginning April 29 and May 3. The film documents the “One To One” concerts held at New York’s Madison Square Garden on August 30, 1972, and represents Lennon’s final full-length concert performance [1].

Last Concert and Charitable Cause

The two performances – a matinee and an evening show – were a benefit concert for the Willowbrook State School for Retarded Children in New York, raising over $1.5 million (equivalent to $11.5 million in 2026) at the request of Geraldo Rivera [1]. The concerts featured over 40,000 attendees and included performances by Lennon and Ono, as well as Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Melanie Safka, and Sha Na Na, though the film focuses solely on Lennon and Ono’s sets [1].

Restoration and Remixing

The restored and re-edited film, officially titled Power To The People: John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with Elephant’s Memory and Special Guests – Live at the One To One Concert, New York City, 1972, has been physically and digitally cleaned by a Grammy-winning team led by Sean Ono Lennon [1]. The film was originally captured by director Steve Gebhardt.

Lennon’s Reflections on the Concert

John Lennon described the Madison Square Garden performance as having a similar energy to his early gigs at The Cavern and in Hamburg, stating in 1972, “That Madison Square Garden gig was the best music I enjoyed playing since The Cavern or even Hamburg. It was just the same kind of feeling when The Beatles used to really secure into it.” [1]

Sean Ono Lennon on Preserving His Father’s Legacy

Sean Ono Lennon expressed the significance of the restoration, noting that the concert held “legendary status” in his mind as his father’s last concert. He added, “It was a concert that had a legendary status in my mind, since it was my dad’s last concert… It’s a very cool thing he was doing that was very against the grain.” He also highlighted the unique nature of the performance, contrasting it with the slicker productions of the early 1970s, and emphasized his father’s desire to return to a raw, spontaneous rock ‘n’ roll sound [1].

Tickets and Anniversary

Tickets for the screenings will go on sale on March 20, coinciding with John and Yoko’s 57th wedding anniversary. Fans can sign up for more information about screenings [1].

Part of a Larger Retrospective

The film release follows the October release of a 123-song box set of rarities and unreleased tracks from John and Yoko’s time in New York City, chronicling their most politically active period. Yoko Ono described the “One To One” concert as embodying their belief in “Rock for Peace and Enlightenment” [1].