By: Alex Gilbert
On October 13, 2023, Taylor Swift will be releasing Taylor Swift the Eras Tour across theaters in North America. Swift’s summer tour was a cultural phenomenon, smashed concert ticket records, crashed online ticketing websites, and is now changing the game of the cinematic experience.
The film, distributed by AMC Entertainment rather than a traditional movie studio, is described as a “theatrical concert experience” that provides viewers with a cinematic view of the concert. The Eras Tour combined songs from all ten of Swift’s albums and was a smash hit for fans nationwide. With the high level of demand, the original concert tickets sold out quickly, but now it’s being made accessible again with a movie format.
The concept of turning concerts into movie format has been done before, but with the vast popularity of the Eras Tour, it can change the game of cinema. For example, in the past, Swift has opted to release her concerts and other content onto streaming services, but now she’s reaching for the big screens with massive success.
Taylor Swift The Eras Tour movie tickets charge fans $19.89 for a regular digital film plus additional online ticketing fees. In comparison, regular movie tickets cost moviegoers around 10 to 14 dollars, depending on the showtime. Add in exclusive Taylor Swift-themed popcorn buckets and collectible cups or an upgrade to an XD theater, and it turns into an extremely pricey outing. However, with theaters rapidly selling out across the country, people proved willing to pay the price.
AMC reported that Taylor Swift’s upcoming film broke the record for the most single-day presale ticket sales, surpassing the earnings of 2021’s big superhero blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home. Swift’s film racked up a whopping 26 million dollars, crushing No Way Home’s revenue of 16.9 million dollars.
The record-shattering success of Swift’s new film changed the game of cinema by showcasing that expensive ticket prices and event-based film experiences can triumph over the most hyped blockbuster films. Marvel superheroes used to dominate the theaters with heavy-hitting Avengers and Spider-Man movies, and now the records are being beaten by a music artist’s recording of a concert.
Will fans’ willingness to pay the money for Swift’s movie tickets increase regular movie prices across the country? Will more concerts be recorded and played at movie theaters? If it’s proven that one large fan base is willing to pay for it, popular franchises such as Marvel or Star Wars could also decide to increase their ticket prices, similar to Swift.
The surprise success of a cinematic concert experience, even with pricier tickets, could change the game of the movie industry, possibly with more big event movie theater experiences and raised ticket prices.
