Don’t ever underestimate Taylor Swift’s fanbase as the Swifties are a force to be reckoned with.
The Lover singer, 33, released the film of her record-breaking The Eras tour on Thursday and it is already the second-biggest October opening of all time.
The concert film took in $39 million on its opening day from 3,855 screens in North America alone and that includes $2.8 million from special Thursday previews.
The film was originally slated to debut on Friday the 13th – an important number in Swift’s world – but got moved up one day to Thursday after a star-studded premiere in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The Eras movie just barely missed the record for the best October opening day as Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker raked in $39.3 million in 2019.
Second-biggest: Taylor Swift released the film of her record-breaking The Eras tour on Thursday and it is already the second-biggest October opening of all time; seen Wednesday
The concert film took in $39 million on its opening day from 3,855 screens in North America alone and that includes $2.8 million from special Thursday previews
Weekend box office projections place Swift’s film in the $100 million range but are unlikely to reach $125 million.
The film is playing in the large format theaters that come with a higher ticket price and also benefits from the fact that it is a limited run.
The Eras tour movie is only playing in theaters until Monday but it will be back next weekend starting on Thursday.
AMC Theaters is treating the film like its a real live concert and encouraging audiences to snap photos and dance and sing along with the Bad Blood singer.
The concert documentary will end up on the list of the top 10 highest-grossing opening weekends of 2023, likely landing somewhere from number five to seven on the list.
Currently Ant-Man 3 ($106 million), The Little Mermaid ($95 million) and Oppenheimer ($80.5 million) occupy those spots.
The Swifties’ takeover of theaters is a sight for movie exhibitors’ sore eyes as they haven’t seen a box office weekend finish higher than $100 million in the last two months after experiencing more than one after the release of Barbie and Oppenheimer.
Swift hand-picked the audience for the world premiere at the AMC Theater at The Grove in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
On Top: The Eras movie just barely missed the record for the best October opening day as Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker (pictured) raked in $39.3 million in 2019
Celebration: Swift held a lavish premiere in Los Angeles on Wednesday ahead of the concert film’s release
Pop stars: It was attended by a slew of celebrities, including fellow pop superstar Beyonce
Weekend box office projections place Swift’s film in the $100 million range but are unlikely to reach $125 million; seen Wednesday
Concert film: The Eras tour movie is only playing in theaters until Monday but it will be back next weekend starting on Thursday
Swiftie: AMC Theaters is treating the film like its a real live concert and encouraging audiences to snap photos and dance and sing along with the Bad Blood singer
Celebrities in attendance included Beyoncé, Flava Flav, Simu Liu, Maren Morris, Mariska Hargitay and Hayley Kiyoko.
The Lavender Haze singer stopped in each theater at The Grove to give a short speech before the film started.
‘I can’t believe I get to do music as a career,’ she told the crowds.
‘That’s crazy. I’ve always had so much fun doing it. I’ve never had this much fun in my life as I have had on The Eras Tour. It is far and away just the most electric experience of my life.’
