History of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in Timeline

2020

According to media outlets, the terms of its distribution and financing were dictated by Swift rather than AMC. Industry personnel considered the fixed pricing model and unacceptance of theater loyalty programs as highly unconventional and outside norms. No exhibitors or distributors except AMC were aware of the film's release plans until the morning of Swift's announcement; this frustrated executives, as distributors are expected to keep each other informed of their release schedules as a gesture of good faith. Business Insider stated that since the Paramount Consent Decrees "were terminated in 2020", the distribution agreement was legal. Puck journalist Matthew Belloni reported that "disappointing" talks with the major film studios had led Swift to instead negotiate a distribution deal with Aron. As part of the agreement, 43 percent of the box-office earnings will go to theaters, while Swift and AMC's distribution arm will split the remaining 57 percent. Additionally, theaters will retain all concession revenue and can screen the film for up to 26 weeks, although Swift has the option to send the film to streaming services after 13 weeks. The Hollywood Reporter wrote in late October 2023 that "practically every major service" was looking to secure subscription video on demand (SVOD) rights to The Eras Tour following its theatrical run.

2023

In 2023, Swift commissioned a recording of the Eras Tour to be theatrically released as a feature film. Sam Wrench, who previously helmed Billie Eilish: Live at the O2 (2023) and Lizzo: Live in Concert (2022), was hired as director, and the film was recorded at the first three of six Los Angeles shows of the tour from August 3 to 5, 2023, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Swift's in-house production company, Taylor Swift Productions, produced the film independently in collaboration with Silent House Productions. Forgoing the involvement of major American film studios allowed Swift to reduce expenses; Puck estimated that the film cost $10–20 million. It was able to be produced, released, and promoted amidst the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike because it received special approval from SAG-AFTRA as a non-AMPTP production that met "the same standards the unions are seeking in their negotiations with the studios". SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland stated that Swift "came to [them] and said she wanted to do this, but only if she could do it the right way under a union contract". Swift announced the concert film on August 31 through her social media accounts and during an appearance on Good Morning America on ABC. Tickets went on sale the same day in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. On September 26, Swift announced that the film would be released globally.

2023

Media publications believed Swift and AMC's partnership "[had] the potential to rewrite the rules" of film distribution. Billboard noted the "unusual deal" could influence AMC and other exhibitors to expand their distribution operations to include other concert films. On October 1, 2023, American singer Beyoncé announced Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, a concert film of her Renaissance World Tour, in the advent of The Eras Tour's release. Renaissance had the same distribution deal "forged by AMC and [Swift]" without the involvement of the major studios. Beyoncé later attended The Eras Tour's premiere. Ray Nutt, CEO of live entertainment content provider Fathom Events, opined that a "post-Eras concert film boom" is imminent, with studios "reaching out in earnest, looking for partnership" and artists "already making calls and taking cues from Swift's Eras deal." AMC Entertainment CEO Adam Aron said, "The phone has been ringing off the hook since they have announced Eras tour concert film release, and a significant number of the world's best artists would like to explore doing things with AMC, after the success of Swift's deal." Sarah Whitten of CNBC named the film "one of the most important of the year, for recreating a staple experience of attending live concerts." Variety also remarked that "the concert film rewrote the box office rules in 2023 by changing concert film experience."

2023

On September 1, 2023, AMC announced that The Eras Tour had grossed $26 million within three hours on its platform, marking the highest-ever single-day advance ticket sales in the company's history, surpassing the previous record of $16.9 million by Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Wanda Gierhart Fearing, chief marketing officer of Cinemark, reported they had booked an "unprecedented number of auditoriums" to meet demand. Hence, AMC and Cinemark added more showtimes. IMAX sold out more than 250 screenings of the film in one day, a number similar to that of "a blockbuster tentpole feature". Fandango reported that The Eras Tour had set a platform record for the highest first-day ticket sales in 2023, comparable to No Way Home, Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). Deadline Hollywood reported that the film had earned over $37 million in first-day pre-sale revenue across the U.S., surpassing The Force Awakens' $20 million and marking the second-highest pre-sale tally ever, behind Endgame's $50 million. By September 15, the film's pre-sale revenue had reached $65 million, surpassing Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)'s $60 million and The Batman (2022)'s $42 million.

March 2023

The Eras Tour began in Glendale, Arizona, in March 2023, and concluded in Vancouver, British Columbia, in December 2024. Each show spans three and a half hours, with a set list of 44 songs divided into 10 distinct acts that conceptually portray Swift's studio albums. The tour was a commercial success and received critical acclaim. It became a cultural and economic phenomenon, bolstered by globally unprecedented ticket demand and fan frenzy.

August 2023

Filming took place in August 2023 across three shows at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, with a budget of $10–20 million and SAG-AFTRA permitting production to proceed amidst its 2023 strike. Swift announced the film later that month, catching studios off guard and causing the release dates of several films that had been set for release on or near October 13 to be moved. The unconventional release strategy was a topic of media discourse; many journalists and industry personnel praised Swift's move to bypass the studios to partner with theatres and opined that the move defied the traditional producer–distributor–exhibitor model of releasing films.

October 09, 2023

AMC reported $100 million earned in global pre-sales a week before the film's release, surpassing Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011; $73 million) to become the highest-grossing concert film of all time. As of October 9, 2023, around 4200 showtimes of the film in the U.S. were sold out, outpacing Barbie (2023), which had 500 sold-out shows in the same timeframe. In Mexico, during the first days of pre-sale, the film sold a record 292,500 tickets at Cinépolis theaters, surpassing that of Avengers: Infinity War (2018). In Australia, the film grossed more than $300,000 within the first 12 hours of pre-sales at Hoyts, tripling the first-day pre-sales of Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). In the United Kingdom, the film broke the Vue record for the highest first-day and first-week pre-sales for a concert film, surpassing BTS: Permission to Dance on Stage (2022).

October 11, 2023

The Eras Tour had its world premiere on October 11, 2023, at the Grove at Farmers Market, an open-air mall complex in Los Angeles, California, with early preview showings on October 12. The Eras Tour's premiere at The Grove was attended by celebrities, journalists, Swift's family, her personnel, and over 2,200 invited Swifties. The mall and surrounding area of West Hollywood were closed for the premiere, with increased police presence. Swift delivered a welcome note in each of the mall's AMC theaters before the screening.

October 11, 2023

The film premiered at the Grove in Los Angeles on October 11, 2023, and was released to theaters worldwide on October 13. It was met with significant ticket demand, amassing a record $37 million on its first day of pre-sales in the U.S. and over $100 million in total global pre-sales. The Eras Tour became the highest-grossing concert film of all time, earning $267.1 million in its limited theatrical run worldwide. It received acclaim from critics, most of whom praised the direction, spectacle, energy, and Swift's artistry and showmanship. An extended cut of the film, subtitled (Taylor's Version), includes performances withheld from the theatrical edit and was released on the streaming service Disney+ on March 14, 2024.

November 03, 2023

The film marked the first, official Swift-related activity in India, where the film was released on November 3, 2023, and was met with fan frenzy, "delightful chaos", "loud cheers", group singing and dancing. India Today reported that the theatre staff across India were unprepared for the energy and excitement of Indian Swifties. Local media drew comparisons with prominent Indian actors such as Salman Khan and Vijay, while internet users were critical of "the love Indians were showering on an American pop star, saying they were obsessed with Western culture." Indian Swifties on social media argued that "if it was acceptable for fans to stand outside Shah Rukh Khan's house to watch him wave at them for a few minutes, they should not be criticised for enjoying the theatre experience they paid for." According to journalist Chingkheingambi Mayengbam, Swift and her concerts "provide a space for celebration without conflict—she's not fighting goons, revelling as the anti-hero, but fighting her own demons. Fans feel empowered without suppressing others, and her music serves as a medium for catharsis and emotional expression." In China, where the film was released on December 31, 2023, it was met with "jubilation and frenzied planning—as thousands of fans have mobilized across the country", as per The Washington Post. The Chinese messaging platform WeChat reported an influx of groups in various cities dedicated to purchasing tickets before they sell out. In Beijing, people "scoured Imax theaters to secure commemorative popcorn cups and drinkware printed with Swift's face" ahead of the theatrical release.

December 13, 2023

On December 13, 2023, her 34th birthday, Swift released an extended version of the film in collaboration with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, featuring performances of "Wildest Dreams", "The Archer" and "Long Live". It was available to rent on video on demand services in select territories for a limited period.

December 31, 2023

It received a worldwide theatrical release in more than 100 countries and territories on October 13, two weeks before the release of 1989 (Taylor's Version), while some countries and territories had a later premiere date of November 3, and in China on December 31, 2023. In the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Australia, the film was screened for four consecutive weekends beginning on October 13.

December 31, 2023

Trafalgar Releasing handled the film's global distribution and negotiated the release of the film in China, with Alibaba Pictures and Wanda Cinemas securing the deal. The film was later approved for release in China on December 31, 2023, which The Washington Post called a "rarity" due to the "stringent vetting process for foreign films released in China", which it attributed to Swift's status as the most popular foreign artist in the country with a dedicated fanbase and a favorable reception among Chinese media outlets.

March 14, 2024

A longer, unabridged edit of the film, subtitled (Taylor's Version), was released to Disney+ on March 14, 2024. It includes the extended performances of "Wildest Dreams", "The Archer", and "Long Live", a performance of "Cardigan", and an acoustic collection featuring six surprise songs, namely "I Can See You", "Maroon", "Death by a Thousand Cuts", "Our Song", "You're on Your Own, Kid" and "You Are in Love". Disney+ purchased the film's exclusive streaming rights for reportedly more than $75 million in a bidding war with Netflix and Universal, negotiated by Swift's brother Austin. To coincide with the launch of the film, the platform temporarily revamped its homepage and genre categories to titles inspired by Swift's eras. Variety reported the film garnered 4.6 million views in its first three days of availability, breaking the record for the most-viewed music film in the history of Disney+. On August 10, 2024, the Disney+ edit of the film was aired for free on the Austrian public television channel ORF 1, after the cancelation of the Eras Tour's three Vienna concerts due to a terrorist plot.

December 2024

A second concert film, titled Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour: The Final Show, was released on December 12, 2025, through Disney+. It was recorded at the final show of the tour in Vancouver in December 2024, and features The Tortured Poets Department act from the tour's revamped set list. Directed by Glenn Weiss and produced by Taylor Swift Productions in collaboration with Silent House Productions, the film was released on the same day as the first two episodes of the six-episode behind-the-scenes docuseries, The End of an Era.

December 08, 2024

A second concert film recorded at the tour's final show on December 8, 2024, in Vancouver, was also released on Disney+ on December 12, 2025. Subtitled The Final Show, the film was directed by Glenn Weiss and featured The Tortured Poets Department act that was incorporated into the tour's setlist after Wrench's film was released.