Dominating social media throughout the summer, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has now come to the big screen. The cultural phenomenon swept the nation off its feet and is projected to generate $5.7 billion in revenue. From Swift’s nostalgic country albums all the way to her most recent album Midnights, the concert took viewers on a journey through the eras of Swift’s musical career.
Controversy surrounded the tour as the tickets reached record-high prices. The “historically unprecedented demand” of tickets caused the site to experience many issues and left fans scrambling. While original tickets were priced in the mid hundreds, they quickly sold out, and the average price for a resold ticket climbed to $3,801.
However, Swift has now made it possible for anyone to experience the Eras Tour by releasing “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” which premiered in theaters on Oct. 13. Fans are now able to watch the magic unfold for $19.89 for adults, a hint to Swift’s birth year and fifth studio album, and $13.13 for children and seniors, a reference to Swift’s favorite number 13.
The movie was filmed during Swift’s six sold-out Los Angeles concerts. The film opens with an aerial shot of SoFi Stadium, and the wide view of the audience illustrates the sheer enormity of the iconic pop singer’s fandom. While the film highlights Swift’s talent and creativity, I really enjoyed the appreciation it gave to fans.
The opening numbers from the Lover album kickstarted the movie in a fun, bright way. The close-up camera angles accentuated the colorful dresses of Swift’s backup dancers and the overall spirit of the performance.
Some critics have said that the sudden camera movements are distracting and feel choppy. However, I think that the camera angles work to bring viewers into the crowds’ experiences at the concerts. Shots of fans screaming, crying, laughing, and singing allow their emotions to seep through the screen.
While this movie was put into the concert category, it felt more theatrical to me. The film flowed through Swift’s songs seamlessly, which I believe is a different experience than seeing it live in a stadium. For example, director Sam Wrench creatively transitioned the film into the Folklore Era by animating the lights from the live shot of the stadium to spell “folklore.”
While theaters have been preaching that moviegoers must maintain typical theater etiquette during the film, it has become a trend to dance along with the songs. People on social media have been criticizing those who join in. However, I particularly enjoyed the laid back vibe throughout the movie. Since it is nearly three hours long, people felt free to restock on snacks or use the restroom without the typical shame. Some people went on their phone to text during breaks between songs or just tracks they weren’t interested in.
When I saw the movie, the theater was full of young children wearing incredible Taylor Swift-inspired outfits. During “Shake it Off,” about fifteen kids and their parents got up and danced away.
While some people may be annoyed by this innocent act, I reminisced on my childhood and felt lucky to watch these kids create lifelong memories.
If you’re not inclined to visit the theaters, the movie will soon be available for at-home screening in the U.S, Canada, and additional countries on December 13th.
you are the besttttt
i and also the bigest taylor fan you will ever meet
i would also love T.S TICKETS