Taylor Swift’s blockbuster concert film The Eras Tour was recently praised by none other than Christopher Nolan at a City University of New York event where the director and his producer wife Emma Thomas were interviewed by author Kai Bird. It was Bird’s book “American Prometheus” that Nolan adapted into “Oppenheimer,” the highest-grossing biopic in film history with $942 million at the worldwide box office.
The CUNY discussion took place on October 11, just days before Swift’s “The Eras Tour” hit theaters and grossed $92.8 million in North America and $123.5 million worldwide, by far its biggest Debut concert film ever. It’s also the second-highest-grossing October premiere in history (behind “Joker” at $96 million) and the seventh-biggest opening weekend of 2023. The release was unusual because Swift bypassed the major Hollywood streamers and studios and went straight worked with AMC Theaters to distribute the film. Nolan praised Swift for the business move.
“Taylor Swift is about to hit the studios because her concert film is being distributed not by the studios but by a theater owner, AMC, and will make a huge amount of money,” Nolan said. “And that’s the thing, [theatrical exhibition is] A format and a way of seeing things and sharing stories or experiences that is incredibly valuable. And if [the studios] I don’t want it, someone else will. So that’s just the truth.”
As Variety reports, Swift produced the film herself and negotiated a deal with AMC Theaters in which she takes home about 57% of ticket sales, with theaters keeping the remaining revenue and AMC receiving a small distribution fee. The film is not available. Not exclusive to AMC venues; It opened in 3,855 theaters in the United States and Canada and 4,527 venues worldwide. Thanks to the AMC deal, Swift is expected to earn over $60 million.
Both “Oppenheimer” and “The Eras Tour” becoming blockbusters prove that the theater business is far from dead and depends on new and exciting experiences for moviegoers.
“Any time a movie succeeds that you didn’t expect to succeed, it’s an encouraging thing for Hollywood and for filmmakers,” Nolan said at the CUNY event as he asked about the huge “Oppenheimer.” -Gross was asked. “In Hollywood there is a tension between what is familiar and what is supposed to make money. That’s the be-all and end-all of how studios stay in business and the audience’s desire for something new, something fresh.”
“Any time a film fails to deliver and we have far exceeded our highest expectations for the project, it is encouraging for the studios and the filmmakers,” Nolan added. “That tension, that reality…between commerce and art, that formula never changes in Hollywood.”
“Oppenheimer” will be available on digital platforms starting November 21st. Watch Nolan’s full performance at the CUNY event in the video below.