Taylor Swift has done it again—which was to be expected.
Taylor Swift has set yet again another record with Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film as the highest-grossing domestic concert film of all time–yes, surpassing Avatar, Avengers’ End Game and Infinity War, and Star Wars.
The movie amassed $92.8 million in its opening weekend in the United States and Canada. No one doubted the success, but everyone was anxious albeit excited about the experience.
And while it is almost everything that a Swiftie could ask for, a film was never going to be enough to quench the fans’ thirst for The Eras Tour.
The Expectations
If you’re going to the concert film this weekend, you have to remember that most fans are Eras Tour-deprived. We all have been only living vicariously through other fans who post their clips from the tour on TikTok.
So expect heavy traffic this weekend and long lines when going to the cinema—and come early. If you’re lucky, some venues organize their own little activity booths, merch stores, and gimmicks. Some fans even trade friendship bracelets, which is a very Switfie thing to do.
Recorded from August 3 to 5 during Taylor’s Los Angeles shows, this concert film is pretty straightforward and follows the setlist of the three-hour live concert. You may wonder how it all fits into a 2.5-hour movie. Well, it doesn’t. Unfortunately, a couple of gems did not make it to the final cut. The Archer, No Body, No Crime, the Seven interlude, Cardigan, and Wildest Dreams did not make it to the final cut. Long Live also didn’t make it, but plays over the credits.
If you’re expecting behind the scenes, interviews, storytelling, concepts, and production segments, you will have to wait until the documentary, which is most likely underway.
The Experience
The film starts with a countdown. Everyone, though still trying to read the room, let out a little bit of excitement with a not-so-subtle noise and quickly settled down in anticipation of the opening. Ahead of the premier, SM Cinema confirmed that standing, dancing, and singing were allowed in its showing of the concert film.
Not all cinemas are equal though—some fans expressed on social media how some cinemas did not allow taking of selfies and prohibited the audience from singing and dancing.
You may (needlessly) be able to hold back a little, but the effort will be in vain when Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince transitions to Cruel Summer, followed by The Man. Feel free to feel the moment until the Fearless era.
Lover
- Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince
- Cruel Summer
- The Man
- You Need to Calm Down
- Lover
Fearless
- Fearless
- You Belong With Me
- Love Story
The crowd tones down a little when Evermore starts with No Body, No Crime. This might be the best time to conserve your energy, appreciate the staging and cinematography more, and enjoy your popcorn. You will need the energy during the next part.
Evermore
- Willow
- Marjorie
- Champagne problems
- Tolerate it
Reputation easily picks up the energy with Ready for It? What follows is nothing short of a roller coaster ride. The longest and most recurrent goosebumps and butterflies-in-the-stomach kind of experience.
Reputation
- Ready for It?
- Delicate
- Don’t Blame Me
- Look What You Made Me Do
Speak Now
- Enchanted
Red
- Red
- 22
- We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
- I Knew You Were Trouble
- All Too Well
Folklore
- The 1
- Betty
- The last great american dynasty
- August
- Illicit affairs
- My tears ricochet
1989
- Style
- Blank Space
- Shake It Off
- Bad Blood
- Our Song
- You’re on Your Own Kid
Midnights
- Lavender Haze
- Anti-Hero
- Midnight Rain
- Vigilante Shit
- Bejeweled
- Mastermind
- Karma
Aside from the aerial shots of the stadium and Swift’s close up shots, the film also made sure that pockets of heartwarming moments give us, at the very least, secondhand thrills of the tour.
Some fans left the cinema and immediately planned their second screening, while others were more determined than ever to get their hands on The Eras Tour tickets.
Overall, the concert film is a good attempt to recreate the moments, emotions, and the overall phenomenal experience that is The Eras Tour. And it did give us a lifeline, but it also made us want more.
