Swifties who fought and failed “The Great War” to obtain tickets for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour were in luck during the month of October. A film featuring the tour premiered in theaters on Friday, October 13. Hundreds of thousands of Taylor Swift’s fans flocked to local theaters to experience the magic of the Eras Tour for the first time.
The Eras Tour has sparked widespread popularity and fame over the course of the eight months since its opening night on March 17, 2023. Eager fans waited for hours to try to get tickets before the concert, only to end up listening outside of the stadium during the show. Thousands of people traded friendship bracelets and dressed in meticulously themed colorful outfits. Particularly creative Swifties created projects such as dresses made out of ribbon and a colorful blanket to commemorate what surprise songs Swift sang that night. This tour was, in every way imaginable, a cultural and social reset. So, of course, it came to the silver screen. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour was an enjoyable experience that was almost as memorable as going to the actual concert.
To start, the atmosphere in the movie theater was as energetic and fun as that of the original concert. People came dressed up in colorful outfits, brought movie-themed friendship bracelets to trade, and guessed what their surprise songs would be. Walking into the movie theater was exactly how it felt walking into the stadium, and this atmosphere set the experience up on a high note. Small details in the theater, such as movie trailers using Swift’s song, and hearing snips of her previously unreleased vault tracks of “1989,” made the experience all the more enjoyable.
Once the concert began on the screen, energy was high. Even having been at the concert, many features were out of sight, depending on where one’s seat was. For example, fans who were not in front of the stage would not have been able to see Swift’s giant display screen, which added to the overall concert experience. Getting to see all the small details missed during the actual concert was very exciting and interesting. During the movie, Swift’s facial expressions, dances, and demeanor were incredibly fun and charming. It felt as if she was celebrating with her fans in the theater.
“I thought it was so good. Taylor Swift is just such an icon. It was amazing; I loved it!” said sophomore Nicholas Sferrazza. Junior Danielle Ramsammy said she loved the “choreography, the background dancers, the setup, and of course, the music.”
Having gone on opening night, the anticipation of other viewers in the theater was high. Young fans ran around and danced, which, depending on opinion, is either cute or annoying. People used their phone flashlights when applicable, and even sang and danced along. It did not feel like watching a movie; it felt like an experience, and an extremely fun one at that.
“I thought it was fantastic!” said long-time Taylor Swift fan and senior Nora Kane. Kane was so excited that the movie lived up to the experience of the concert.
Some popular songs such as “The Archer,” “Long Live,” and “Cardigan” were cut, which disappointed many fans, but Swift made up for it by providing theaters everywhere with a fun-filled, incredible show, one extremely accessible compared to the actual concert. Overall, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour is a must-see for both casual fans and die-hard Swiftie.
