Taylor Swift joined by Beyoncé for The Eras Tour film premiere

The world premiere of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” in Los Angeles saw the attendance of several notable celebrities, including Beyoncé, Rachel Zegler, and Adam Sandler. Taylor Swift, donning an elegant Oscar de la Renta full-length blue gown, graciously posed with her fans and fellow stars on the red carpet. She expressed her enthusiasm for her music career, remarking, “I’ve always had fun doing this. I can’t believe I get to do music as a career. That’s crazy.”

Swift described “The Eras Tour” as the most electrifying experience in her career, emphasizing the incredible enjoyment she derived from it. She stated, “I’ve never had this much fun in my life as I have had on The Eras Tour. We did this show rain or shine, in sickness and in health, regardless of what was happening in our lives. And we did it with a smile on our faces because of what awaited us on the other side.”

The film was captured during three concerts at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium in August and features a comprehensive setlist spanning Swift’s entire career. However, the extended four-hour live performance has been edited for its cinema release, leading to the omission of fan-favorite tracks like “Wildest Dreams,” “The Archer,” and “Cardigan” from the final lineup.

The film is set to release in the UK on Friday, with Swift announcing last-minute “early access screenings” for U.S. fans due to “unprecedented demand.”

Leading up to Wednesday’s premiere, a veil of secrecy surrounded the event, with a select group of fans receiving exclusive, invitation-only tickets for the opening night via Spotify. The venue, a 14-screen cinema situated in an upscale shopping center in Hollywood, was entirely closed to accommodate the numerous fans.

Despite the premiere being just hours away, it remained unconfirmed whether Taylor Swift would make an appearance. The crowd of fans erupted with excitement as the star made a surprise entrance just moments before the event commenced.

Notably, the movie had already amassed over $100 million in global ticket sales before its release. This remarkable figure positions it as the most successful concert film in history, surpassing the record set by Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never,” which earned $99 million in 2011.

Taylor Swift’s three-hour cinematic event will be available in theaters exclusively on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with an anticipated limited run of approximately four weeks. The intention is to ensure that the film is experienced by full and enthusiastic audiences, akin to a live concert, rather than having sparsely filled theaters on quiet weekday afternoons.

True to Taylor Swift’s style, even the ticket pricing aligns with her personal symbolism. In the United States, ticket prices for adults, before tax, are set at $19.89, which pays tribute to her album title and the year of her birth. Tickets for children are priced at $13.13, a reference to her famous lucky number, 13.

Security measures at the premiere held on Wednesday were notably stringent, encompassing multiple checks for identification and tickets, metal detectors, and bag searches. However, Swift’s devoted fans, clutching their tickets, displayed unwavering patience. For instance, 21-year-old Kate McGovern, who had journeyed nearly three hours from San Diego to Los Angeles after taking the day off from work and college, conveyed her immense excitement and the mix of emotions she felt while waiting, stating that she had no specific expectations for the evening but was simply thrilled to be present.

Caroline Schneider, a local resident of Los Angeles, only discovered on Monday that she had won tickets to the event. Expressing her excitement, she mentioned, “I can’t believe this is happening because it’s so unusual for music artists to release a concert film in this manner. Moreover, having an event like this where hundreds of fans are invited to relive the concert together is truly special, isn’t it?”

Taylor Swift’s popularity is nearly unparalleled, even within the music industry accustomed to drawing immense devotion to its biggest stars. According to Sanjay Sharma, a business professor at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Swift embodies the archetype of the new mega star. Not only is she a successful artist with a vast global following, but she is also an astute businesswoman. The phenomenon associated with her concerts and related activities has even been coined “Taylornomics.”

Mr. Sharma estimates that Swift’s six performances in Los Angeles contributed a 1-2% boost to the local economy. This is because Taylor Swift fans aren’t just purchasing concert tickets; they’re also booking flights, hotel accommodations, dining out, and shopping for outfits. Local businesses are capitalizing on this trend by organizing Taylor Swift-themed events with pop-up bars and karaoke nights.

Nonetheless, the triumph of her tour and the film largely stems from her music and an incredibly dedicated fan base. Elizabeth Scala, who teaches a college course on Swift at the University of Texas in Austin, explains that Swift has an audience that includes those who were unable to secure tickets and those who attended the concerts and want to relive the experience. She believes that the primary audience for the film consists of these passionate fans rather than those simply curious about it.

As for Taylor Swift’s fans, often referred to as Taylormania, their devotion seems everlasting. Many of the fans who gathered in Los Angeles on Wednesday shared the common goal of catching a fleeting glimpse of their beloved artist. For them, such a moment would be a dream come true, as expressed by Kate McGovern, who confided, “That would make my dreams come true, and I’d probably die happy that way.”