By Todd Spangler
NY Digital Editor
Taylor Swift has set a new record with the premiere of her “Eras Tour” concert film on Disney+.
“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)” had 4.6 million views on Disney+ in its first three days of release — making it the No. 1 music film ever on the platform, according to the company. Swifties watched 16.2 million hours of the blockbuster three-and-a-half-hour concert film on Disney+ over this past weekend. Disney+ defines a “view” as total stream time divided by runtime.
“The Eras Tour” debuted on Disney+ worldwide on Thursday, March 14, at 6 p.m. PT. The newly expanded version of the film includes five bonus songs: “Cardigan,” from “Folklore,” plus four acoustic songs: “Death by a Thousand Cuts,” “Maroon,” “You Are in Love” and “I Can See You.” (Those four, plus “Our Song” and “You’re on Your Own Kid,” are in the 26-minute Acoustic Collection extra.) The film was shot at the first three L.A. shows of the Eras tour last August.
Other music films and specials currently available on Disney+ include Swift’s own “Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions,” “Elton John: Farewell From Dodger Stadium,” “Black Is King: A Film by Beyoncé” and “The Beatles: Get Back.”
Disney reportedly paid more than $75 million for worldwide streaming rights to “The Eras Tour” concert film, which Swift’s company produced.
In its theatrical release, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” generated $261.7 million at the global box office after its Oct. 13 debut, making it the highest-grossing concert film to date. The film was released digitally via Universal Pictures on Dec. 13, Swift’s birthday, with three bonus songs not in the theatrical release — “Wildest Dreams,” “The Archer” and “Long Live” — which are also in the Disney+ version.
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