‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ film reviews: Swifties are ‘front and center’ as the superstar ‘dazzles, amazes and enchants’

Vincent Mandile
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AMC and Cinemark Theatres launched “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” on October 13, giving fans an up-close look at the singer-songwriter in a concert film directed by Sam Wrench. The movie documents the superstar’s 2023-24 concert tour where she celebrates her entire discography. Swift struck an unprecedented distribution agreement with AMC Theatres and Cinemark Theatres.

The film’s premiere shut down the streets surrounding The Grove in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, and the guest list included Beyoncé, who will launch her own concert film, “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” on December 1. Critics are heaping praise on Swift’s documentary, which holds a perfect 100% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Read our full review round-up below. 

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Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter writes, “What a concert it is — and what an experience it makes, even in the relatively modest confines of a movie theater.” Han continues, “Swift never seems to tire throughout the entire three hours. She opens her marathon set with the eminently sing-along-able ‘Cruel Summer’ and rides that energy all the way up through the buoyant finale, ‘Karma.’ Were it not for the most superficial signs of exertion — her hair growing increasingly wavy with sweat and movement, her mascara smudging ever so slightly — you’d never know three hours of nonstop singing and dancing had transpired in between.”

Katie Campione of Deadline states, “There are so many moments audiences will be grateful to take in the spectacle that is The Eras Tour from all angles. You’ll see every detail on every bejeweled outfit Swift wears throughout the show, as well as the tiny details on her instruments — like the sparkling 13 on the already bedazzled guitar she plays during the Fearless era. As promised, the film puts Swifties front and center plenty of times as well. Filmed over three of her six nights at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ radiates the same energy that reverberated through the stands each night, complete with the deafening sound of the crowd. Expect to leave the theater with your ears ringing.” 

Melissa Ruggieri of USA Today praises the film, stating, “By the time the show-closing ‘Karma’ rolled out, the atmosphere felt like the encore at a concert, a joyful encounter full of love that indicated Swift isn’t the only one having a blast at her shows.” 

SEE ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ can save the fall box office, but will it top ‘Barbie’s’ opening?

Kristen Lopez of The Wrap notes, “Whether you were at the concert or seeing it for the first time, Swift put on a show that dazzles, amazes and enchants. Swift plays nearly all the songs included in the Los Angeles shows, minus a few here and there. Hits like ‘Shake It Off’ and ‘Cruel Summer’ are present and accounted for, but it’s wonderful to get to see how Swift plays with her audience and plays different characters during the performance. Case in point, a sequence during her ‘Evermore’ set where she performs ‘Tolerate It.’ Like a mini-play Swift and a dancer act out an estranged couple with all the emotion of watching an actual movie.”

Tim Grierson of Screen International says, “Filled with both spectacle and strikingly intimate moments, ‘The Eras Tour’ is almost too much of a good thing — so many hits, so many memorable set pieces, so many peaks.” He concludes, “Director Sam Wrench (‘Billie Eilish Live At The O2’) and editor Dom Whitworth keep the proceedings humming along, resisting the urge to employ gimmicky quick cuts to artificially goose the excitement. Instead of going through her 10 albums chronologically — her self-titled 2006 debut contributes only one track — Swift has sequenced the setlist around shifting tempos, segueing back and forth between high-energy numbers and more contemplative tunes.”

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