Although she couldn’t reach the astronomical heights predicted for her concert film, Taylor Swift is still the reigning hero of the movie business.
The world’s biggest pop star had a weekend box office hit with her concert film “Taylor Swift: The Era’s Tour,” with an estimated three-day haul in North American theaters of $95 million to $97 million.
The PG-13-rated film, with a nearly three-hour run time, has given Swifties and non-Swifties, young and old, a reason to return to theaters at a time when theaters need it most. The current actors’ strike has prompted studios to postpone six major fall releases, including “Doon: Part Two” and Sony’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” a loss that analysts predict will cost the movie business $1.6 billion in global box office receipts.
And the North American box office is still recovering from its prepandemic highs, down about 17 percent from 2019, when 16 films were released in theaters.
The Taylor Swift movie, which cost around $15 million, opened in 3,855 theaters in the United States and Canada. (Mrs. Swift added a preview of screenings in 2,700 theaters on Thursday that grossed $2.8 million.)
The film grossed $31 million to $33 million in over 4,500 theaters in 94 international territories. It will expand to additional international locations in the coming weeks.
The film, taken from six nights he performed at Sophie Stadium in Los Angeles in early August, features around 40 songs and spans his past 10 albums. The entire film takes place on stage, with no behind-the-scenes or backstage scenes.
Ms. Swift bypassed the traditional studio system by partnering directly with AMC Theaters to distribute the film nine weeks after her domestic concert tour ended. The film had little traditional marketing support. Instead, Ms. Swift interacted directly with her 350 million social media followers. In February, he will begin his international tour in several locations where the film will run.
As part of the deal with AMC, Ms. Swift earns 57 percent of ticket revenue, meaning she walked away with about $55 million over the weekend, not including her cut from international sales. Tickets are $19.89 for adults (in honor of his birth year) and $13.13 for children ages 2 to 12 (his favorite number) and the film is still a boon to theaters for those 60 and older. principles, special licensed popcorn tubs, friendly bracelet making stands and some custom drinks. A theater in Boise, Idaho, selling Taylor Swift non-alcoholic beverages, Like a maple latte titled “All Too Well.” In honor of Ms. Swift’s 10-minute ballad.
“Eras Tour” is the biggest concert movie ever. The previous record holder was Paramount Pictures’ 2011 release “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never,” which grossed $41 million in its first three days in North American theaters, adjusted for inflation, and ended with $101 million in the U.S. and $138 million in Canada and worldwide.
“Michael Jackson’s This Is It,” released by Sony Pictures in 2009, set a record for gross ticket sales. Adjusted for inflation, its total North American run was $105 million and $380 million worldwide.
Beyonce has a similar deal with AMC, and her musical show “Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce” will open on December 1.
Many in the film industry are now marveling that Ms. Swift has confirmed her ubiquity Cameo appearance The season premiere of “Saturday Night Live” will keep his audience flocking to theaters.
“We expect the box office to double from here, but there’s no precedent; we’re in uncharted territory,” wrote David A. Cross, a film consultant who publishes a newsletter on box office numbers, in a recent study.
Adding to its uniqueness, the film runs only from Thursday to Sunday.
Elizabeth Frank, AMC’s executive vice president of programming, said in a statement Sunday that she expected the film to reach a “huge audience” because of “great recommendations and fans buying multiple tickets to see this concert film.” Weeks will come.”
Martin Scorsese’s three-hour epic “Killers of a Flower Moon” opens in more than 3,000 theaters next weekend. Still, the Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone-starring Western thriller is unlikely to see much of its audience with “Eras,” which, according to exit polls, swayed 78 percent of women. Marvel Studios’ “The Marvels” starring Brie Larson is the next blockbuster. Nov. Not open till 10.
