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Taylor Swift appears poised to do for the British cinema industry what she did for the live entertainment industry: provide a much-needed cash injection.
The pop superstar’s Era Tour film – a highly produced showcase of her record-breaking world tour – opened at the top of the UK and Irish box office and secured unprecedented advance sales, with Vue Cinemas reporting the same success in Germany. Italy and the Netherlands.
Vue Cinemas boss Tim Richards reported on Saturday:
“Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour… has beaten the previous Event Cinema advance booking record by more than £1 million in box office receipts. We saw an incredible response from Swifties across the UK dressing up, singing along and dancing with other fans, with sessions selling out despite an unprecedented number of shows being planned so no one missed out.”
Swift attended the film’s premiere in Los Angeles last week, where the audience screamed, sang and danced throughout the nearly three-hour running time, and the BBC reports that fans in the UK are being encouraged to sing along to the music on screen.
An Odeon spokesman told the BBC Swifties could “definitely celebrate with singing and dancing” during the film, while Cineworld said fans were welcome to “shake it off and dance along” but would need “confetti and glitter” at home let.
The film, shot during three concerts at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in August, grossed over $100 million in advance sales a week before release and opened a day early in North America due to “unprecedented demand.” Critics were quick to praise the slickly produced film and congratulate Swift for allowing her fans to be up close and personal with her record-breaking live show, which features more than 40 songs from ten albums spanning Swift’s hugely successful 17-year career.