The highly anticipated Taylor Swift: Eras Tour concert movie has made an impressive $2.8 million in Thursday night previews. This figure caught many by surprise, as initial estimates had predicted a lower turnout. The movie was shown in 2,700 theaters, with screenings starting at 6 p.m. local time. However, it’s important to note that these previews do not necessarily reflect the overall performance of the movie throughout the weekend. Projections still stand at $100 million+ nationwide, with the movie being screened in 3,855 theaters.
In a last-minute decision, Taylor Swift announced a change in her original release plan. Instead of premiering on Friday at 6 p.m., she opted for Thursday night previews. This shift allowed her to build anticipation among her fans and generate buzz around the movie. However, this also meant that advance tickets for the concert film were only available a few hours before showtime in some locations. Despite this, Swift’s dedicated fanbase eagerly purchased tickets to ensure they didn’t miss the much-awaited movie.
The success of the Eras Tour concert movie previews is difficult to compare to previous releases. Not only did Swift include Thursday previews at the last minute, but there haven’t been many wide release concert movies in recent years. This makes it challenging to find direct comparisons. However, looking back at Michael Jackson’s concert documentary, “This Is It,” we can draw some parallels. The midnight showings for “This Is It” made $2.2 million on a Tuesday night, eventually grossing $7.4 million on Wednesday and $34.4 million over five days. While the circumstances may be different, it shows that concert movies can still attract a significant audience.
Despite the introduction of the Eras Tour previews, it didn’t have a significant impact on the overall box office performance for other films. Universal, Blumhouse, and Morgan Creek’s “The Exorcist: Believer” earned an estimated $1.3 million on Thursday, a slight decrease of only 9% from Wednesday. This film has accumulated a total of $33.9 million in its first week. Similarly, Lionsgate’s “Saw X” saw a slight increase of 1% in revenue on Thursday, with $729,000 earned. The film has now reached a running total of $35.7 million. These results indicate that the Eras Tour previews did not overshadow the other releases in the autumn box office.
As the Eras Tour concert movie moves forward with its nationwide release, the $2.8 million earned in previews sets a positive tone for its performance. Taylor Swift has established herself as a powerhouse in the music industry, and it seems her success extends to the world of concert movies. With projections of over $100 million domestically, it is clear that her devoted fanbase will continue to support her and flock to theaters to experience the magic of her performances on the big screen.
The unexpected success of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert movie previews highlights the power of her fanbase and their eagerness to engage with her artistry. While the decision to shift the release date to Thursday night previews was a risk, it ultimately paid off. As the movie continues its run in theaters, it will be interesting to see how it fares against other box office contenders. Regardless of the final numbers, Taylor Swift’s influence and talent shine brightly in the world of both music and film.