On Oct. 13, Taylor Swift released a movie worldwide, titled “The Eras Tour Movie,” for all her fans. But, the movie has sparked some debate over whether it follows movie theater etiquette or not.
Swift herself encouraged singing and sometimes dancing if appropriate, trying to give the movie a surreal experience, almost like a real concert. While some are enjoying this experience, others believe it to be unfair how they “bend the rules.”
Some fans have also been showing some crazy reactions to the movie. While he’s not a fan, a video of Taylor Lautner doing a whole backflip during the movie has been circling the internet, people using it now as a reaction video. Some have been having reactions others aren’t very happy with, like screeching the lyrics to Swifts songs in someone else’s ear.
The movie is something called a ‘concert film,’ which is a film that showcases a live performance from the perspective of a concert goer, the subject of which is an extended live performance or concert. It features special transitions in between eras, such as a large snake circling the stage before the “Reputation” era.
The impact the movie has had on fans and non-fans is large. Some are glad that they get the experience of the actual concert, without having to spend all the money. Others are angry for a multitude of reasons. For example, They see the concert as unnecessary, and the fans reactions to it as absurd.
The movie managed to generate over $100 million in advance ticket sales globally. Throughout the U.S. leg of her tour, Swift grossed an estimated $13 million in ticket sales per night, attracting an average of 72,000 spectators per concert. While this isn’t anything new for Swift, freshman Katherine Alexander says, “I don’t think I’d be able to handle all the fame she deals with. It’s totally crazy.”
The movie has already been shown in 8,500+ cinemas, along with more than 100 countries overall. It even made $150 million in its release weekend, holding first place for highest grossing film concert, followed by “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never,” released in 2011. The concert features all the songs on the Eras Tour setlist, though they ended up cutting out a couple of songs to lengthen the movie down to just under three hours. Not to mention, the heavy use of her lucky number, 13, commonly amongst the ticket prices and all.
People are supposedly saying the movie overtook all the other movies during screenings, with seats being sold out, while other films were practically empty. Swift has had a heavy impact on all her fans, causing strong emotions at both the actual concert and the movie. Junior Tiffany Chan, who saw the movie herself, says, “The movie surely is a surreal experience in itself. I wonder how jawdropping it is in person, too.”
However, some are disappointed at the fact that the movie will not be available on streaming services until the actors strike ends, if not later. Though the movie still has not stopped screenings yet, meaning it is still available to see for now.
While the movie is supposed to be fun and enjoyable for all, some need to be cautious of other viewers. They want to be able to hear the singer, not the person who is sitting next to them. Sophmore Kendyl Cayce says, “No matter how much I love a singer, I would never scream so loud that someone else couldn’t enjoy it too.”
Some people do not see the hype of the concert, and why Swift has gained so much more popularity from it, while others are spending money left and right just for a guaranteed ticket. While I see why someone would want to go to the concert more for a more personal experience, the movie is a better alternative that is cheaper and easier to attend.
The movie somehow manages to become one of the most profitable movies of the year, in just under a month too. With a budget of $15 million, the recording of her soldout tour, directed by Sam Wrench, is now one of the most profitable movies from 2023. It is completely jawdropping that only one singer can manage all this fame and money, yet Swift never takes her fame for granted. She always mentions how grateful she is for her fans, Swifties, and how they have managed to get her this far now.
Her first professional concert was at Ford Field in 2011. But the superstar singer’s first performance at Ford Field was in November 2006, when she played the National Anthem at the Detroit Lions’ Thanksgiving game as a young up-and-coming artist, less than a month shy of her 17th birthday.
Senior Molly Bliss says that, “Even if I’ve never been a big fan of her music, I can appreciate how far she’s come. Imagine getting yourself a whole movie about your concert!”
Swift’s always had a good amount of talent, and even those who have been fans of her since 2006 and after have been able to tell. This is what causes such emotional reactions from her fans, and what made her movie get sold out in many theaters all around the world.
