Exhibition giant AMC is moving into distribution for the first time to handle the release of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour after the singer-songwriter announced the concert film in a surprise post on social media on Thursday.
Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour will open on Friday October 13 and play through Sunday October 15, followed by the Thursday-Sunday periods of October 19-22, October 26-29 and November 2-5.
Swift, the biggest pop star on the planet, has been on her Eras Tour in the US since March and will play international dates into late 2024. The tour is expected to reach a record-breaking $1bn in sales, according to reports.
AMC has announced that it will screen the two-hour and 45 minute film at least four times per day in each of its US locations. It also secured deals with rival chains Cinemark in the US and Cineplex in Canada and Cinepolis in Mexico. Variance Films has been brought on to book other exhibitors in the US.
According to one report pre-sales had already surpassed a lofty $10m by Thursday afternoon, less than eight hours after cinemas tickets went on advance sale.
“The Eras Tour has been the most meaningful, electric experience of my life so far and I’m overjoyed to tell you that it’ll be coming to the big screen soon,” Swift said on Instagram.
Universal reacted quickly to the threat posed by the film’s release and brought forward the release of Blumhouse Pictures’ The Exorcist: Believer by one week from October 12 to October 6. “Look what you made me do,” quipped Jason Blum on social media, signing off with the hasthag #TaylorWins.
Anticipation for the concert film will be music to the ears of AMC and its partners heading into a patchy autumn release calendar. The impact of SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America work stoppages have dampened industry excitement surrounding what could become a $4bn North American summer season, an impressive marker which indicated a much-needed box office rally after lengthy cinema closures during the pandemic.
With stars unable to promote films during the strikes, Sony has pushed Kraven The Hunter from October 6 to August 30 2024 and Warner Bros has moved Dune: Part Two from November 3 to March 15 of next year. MGM had already moved its R-rated Zendaya tennis romance Challengers from September 15 to April 26, 2024.
Earlier this week Apple confirmed an October 20 wide global release with Paramount for Martin Scorsese’s Cannes hit Killers Of The Flower Moon after scrapping the previously announced October 6 limited portion of the roll-out.
Scorsese’s epic tentpole is likely a good fit for Imax screens, as is Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour, and it remains to be seen what will happen there. Apple had not responded to a request for comment as of the time this article was written.
Samwrench directed Taylor swift According to reports, the film was able shoot during the strike, and would have received a SAGAFTRA interim contract, most likely under a different title. Screen
has reached out to the union for a comment. This week Selena Gomez deleted a post about the upcoming Season 3 of Hulu’s Only Murders In The Building after followers pointed out she was in violation of strike rules.Tickets at AMC for Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour
will cost $19.89 for adults and $13.13 for children and seniors plus tax for all screenings except on branded large screen formats. AMC will not accept free movie passes nor will AMC Stubs A-List members use their membership to reserve tickets.The world’s largest exhibitor said that in anticipation of high demand for Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour
it has upgraded its website and ticketing engines to handle more than five times the largest demand it has ever experienced (it did not specific which film that was).A glance at the company’s website showed that presentations for the opening weekend were nearly sold out in multiple locations around the country.Pablo Larrain on Venice premiere ‘El Conde’: “Pinochet’s impunity made him eternal and has broken my country”
