The Eras Tour, the latest concert sensation from music icon Taylor Swift, is set to be an unforgettable cinematic experience starting this Friday. The film of her opening night performance at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on March 17, 2023, is imbued with a sense of anticipation and excitement that has fans eagerly lining up for tickets.
The concert film invites audience participation on a grand scale. Patrons are encouraged to swap friendship bracelets, don shimmering crystals, mark their hands with Swift’s lucky number 13 and engage in spirited dancing. AMC Entertainment and other movie theater chains have given the green light for singing and dancing in the aisles, as long as the revelry doesn’t obstruct others’ views of the screen or involve dancing on seats.
In an unusual move, theaters are even allowing phone use during the screening – provided it’s not used for recording the concert film. Fans can look forward to taking countless selfies during this nearly three-hour event. However, AMC urges attendees to respect other patrons enjoying the concert film or other movies at their theaters.
Venues may have individual rules, hence audiences are advised to check with their local theater beforehand. Despite this caveat, it’s anticipated that most cinemas will relax traditional etiquette rules for these special screenings.
The atmosphere is predicted to resemble that of cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” where viewers actively take part in chants and rituals. Swifties should prepare to shout “One, two, three, let’s go b—-!” at the beginning of “Delicate” and participate in a double clap during the bridge of “You Belong With Me.”
Ticket sales have skyrocketed since Swift announced her tour film’s theatrical release. AMC reported presale figures exceeding $100 million last week alone, with projections indicating that the opening weekend will easily surpass this amount.
Past taped concerts have been screened in theaters but none have generated such a fervor as Swift’s The Eras Tour. The anticipation is palpable, with movie theaters offering specialty popcorn buckets, crafting boutique cocktails, and setting up friendship bracelet-making stations. This hype evidences a growing demand for enhanced and memorable movie theater experiences.
This trend is likely to continue with the upcoming release of a documentary on Beyonce’s “Renaissance” album and tour in December. Both Swift’s and Beyonce’s films are marketed as premium experiences, commanding higher ticket prices. The Eras Tour film tickets start at $13.13 for children and $19.89 for adults, with premium formats such as IMAX and Dolby priced higher. For comparison, the average adult ticket price for standard format films in 2023 ranges between $11 and $14.
The concert film “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” will be screened on weekends through November 5th.