Insider sources reveal that the advance ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s highly-anticipated concert movie, ‘The Eras Tour,’ have soared past the $65 million mark. This notable achievement includes sales from prominent U.S. circuits (AMC, Regal, and Cinemark), Canada’s Cineplex, and Mexico’s Cinépolis. Surpassing this milestone a month before its October 13th release, ‘The Eras Tour’ has already outperformed advance ticket sales of major superhero films like ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ ($60 million) and ‘The Batman’ ($42 million)—numbers recorded just before those films’ premieres. However, it falls short of the pandemic-era record set by ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ which garnered an astonishing $120 million before its opening day.
Expectations of a Blockbuster Opening
Industry insiders are buzzing with the possibility of ‘The Eras Tour’ achieving a staggering $100 million opening at the box office. The key question remains: how front-loaded will the movie be? This pertains to the tendency of female moviegoers to attend initial showings in groups. Moreover, there is speculation about the potential for repeat business, a phenomenon seen in successful films like ‘Barbie.’ Taylor Swift Taylor Swift Taylor Swift
A Triumph for Concert Films
Even if ‘The Eras Tour’ doesn’t reach the $100 million milestone, surpassing $70 million would still be an impressive feat for a concert film. Notably, Swift’s devoted fanbase, known as the Swifties, is poised to surpass the entire domestic box office runs of previous concert films such as ‘Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert’ ($65.2 million in 2008), ‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ ($72 million in 2009), and ‘Justin Bieber: Never Say Never’ ($73 million).
Strategic Scheduling and Market Impact
Several film studios have strategically adjusted their release schedules, steering clear of any direct competition with ‘The Eras Tour.’ There’s a sense of anticipation for a Marvel-sized impact on the fall box office. Previews for the concert film commence on October 12, with the movie scheduled to run for four consecutive weekends (excluding weekdays), including Halloween night. Competing films that lose showtimes on weekends hope to make up for it during the week, when Swift’s concert film is not on the screen.
Swift’s Promotional Potential
In a significant development, ‘The Eras Tour’ secured a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement, giving Taylor Swift the green light to actively promote the movie. While the specifics of her promotional plans remain under wraps, there is speculation about surprise appearances at theaters during the opening weekend or the possibility of live Q&A sessions. This move echoes the success of the Talking Heads reunion event at TIFF for the 40th anniversary of A24’s ‘Stop Making Sense,’ which grossed over $640,000 at 165 IMAX locations, marking the exhibitor’s most successful live event.
Strategic Timing
Remarkably, Taylor Swift is not currently on tour and won’t resume her ‘Eras’ live shows until November 9 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, adding intrigue to the timing of the concert movie’s release.