2nd September 2023, Mumbai: Taylor Swift’s concert film, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” distributed by AMC, is making waves in the industry with record-breaking presale numbers. According to sources, the film has raked in over $37 million in its first 24 hours of presales across major theater circuits, including AMC, Regal, and Cinemark. This impressive figure has already surpassed the first-day presales of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which stood at $20 million.
Film’s opening weekend surges to staggering $70 million
The current projection for the film’s opening weekend is a staggering $70 million, making it a potential record debut for a concert movie. Box office experts estimate that presales often account for around 50% of a film’s opening weekend revenue. Swifties, as Taylor Swift’s dedicated fanbase is known, are showing their fervent support for the film, driving these remarkable presale numbers. What sets “The Eras Tour” apart from other concert films? Taylor Swift is undeniably one of the hottest acts in the music industry, with live concert tickets often selling out quickly. The film’s release during a break in her extensive Eras Tour adds to the excitement. It’s a rare opportunity for fans to experience Swift’s electrifying performances on the big screen.
The Eras Tour to Set New Records for concert movies
If the film reaches its projected opening weekend figure, it will set a new record for concert movies, surpassing notable releases like “Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert” ($31 million opening, $65.2 million final in 2008), “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” ($23.2 million, $72 million in 2009), and “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” ($29.5 million opening, $73 million). While it’s not confirmed, it wouldn’t be surprising if Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance at theaters or virtually during the film’s opening weekend. Swift’s tour schedule aligns conveniently with the film’s release, as she doesn’t have North American tour dates until October 2024.
Swifties Support
The first-day presales for “The Eras Tour” outperform the entire domestic grosses of Swift’s previous films, “Cats” ($27.1 million in 2019) and “Amsterdam” ($14.9 million in 2022), in which she had supporting roles. Wanda Gierhart Fearing, Cinemark’s Chief Marketing and Content Officer, expressed excitement about the film’s success in advance sales, highlighting the joy of experiencing incredible content in theaters. She noted that Swift’s tour’s popularity, combined with the immersive cinematic experience, drove substantial traffic to their website and app, and they are prepared to accommodate the demand from Swifties seeking to enjoy the concert film together in theaters.
With its groundbreaking presale numbers and high anticipation among fans, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” is poised to become a significant moment in the world of concert films, reaffirming Taylor Swift’s status as a global music phenomenon.
By Yashika Desai