Review: Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

In true Taylor Swift fashion, Swift’s The Eras Tour concert film (2023) was released worldwide in cinemas on October 13^th. The film finds us during the 2-month break that follows the North America and Mexico legs of the tour to maintain excitement amongst fans before the tour resumes in November with the international shows. Converting The Eras Tour into a cinema screening allows fans to relive the tour or enjoy it for the first time by offering a more accessible and affordable alternative, especially for those living in countries where Swift isn’t taking the tour.

The release and production of the concert film involves an interim agreement with the actor’s union, SAG-AFTRA, which Swift herself is a part of, as she agreed to the union’s requests, including higher pay. This comes as no surprise when Swift is known for treating her employees with respect and compassion, as seen with the $100,000 bonuses she gave her truck drivers for their work during the North America shows of The Eras Tour.

With The Eras Tour branded cups and popcorn buckets for sale at cinemas, free posters for ticket holders, and Swift herself encouraging singing and dancing at the screenings, The Eras Tour was more than just a film, it was an experience designed and curated for the fans and is a testament to the bond Swift shares with them.

Watching The Eras Tour on a cinema screen was immersive and captivating thanks to the enthused atmosphere and shared moment of pure joy with fans. The energetic camera work (albeit with occasional overly frequent cuts between shots) gave viewers the chance to enjoy the show from a variety of audience perspectives, understand Swift’s view of the crowds, and see up-close shots from on stage that make you feel like one of her tour dancers. Speaking of the dancers, they consistently gave the performance of a lifetime, which is a detail often overlooked when seeing the tour live due to the intense emotion and star-struck feeling, so it was wonderful to see it captured in such detail. It shows how Swift values those she works with.

Speaking of the dancers, they consistently gave the performance of a lifetime

The magical translation of the tour into the film is thanks to Sam Wrench’s directing. Wrench is no novice when it comes to concert videography, and this is explicitly evident in The Eras Tour. Not only does the film show breath-taking shots of Swift on stage with her face plastered across screens bigger than you can believe, but it also captures the reality of the tour and Swift’s likeability, with shots showing emotive and expressive fans, Swift’s chipped The Eras Tour themed nail varnish, her increasingly curling hair, and slight scuffs to the stage from choreography.

With 44 songs in the setlist that lasted over three hours, adjustments had to be made to cut the film down to just over 168 minutes. This involved replacing transitions between the eras with animated title screens specific to the album to introduce each era set, which meant faster pacing in the film compared to the live show. A special mention goes to the graphics and editing for Swift’s Reputation album (2017) introduction as, without saying too much, the snake motif will forever be the perfect amount of drama to capture the album, as well as the performances shown in the film. There were, unfortunately, some heartbreaking losses felt as a few songs were devastatingly removed, potentially due to the film length or lack of shots to use from the three Los Angeles shows that were filmed.

Something that the film offers […] is being able to hear Swift’s vocals crisp and clear

Something that the film offers, which the live show does not, is being able to hear Swift’s vocals crisp and clear. The spectacular production isolates Swift’s singing and music so that viewers can really feel and appreciate the artistry and emotion of Swift’s songs without a choir of devoted and passionate fans rightfully screaming the lyrics at the top of their lungs when seeing Swift live. This feature makes the film a must-watch as the experience becomes much more intimate and personal, turning the performance from one to tens of thousands of fans, to what feels like Swift singing directly to you.

Verdict:

Swift has beautifully captured the Eras Tour magic and bottled it for cinema showing. If you were unable to secure tickets for the record-breaking tour or simply want to participate the grand spectacle for a lower price, be sure to check out The Eras Tour concert film in cinemas now as it undeniably shows why Swift’s Eras Tour has had such an impact on pop culture and explains her position as a pop sensation. It is a cinematic splendour full of detail and magnificence that should not be missed.