By Rebecca Rubin
Film and Media Reporter
“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” is towering over the global box office with estimates of $126 million to $130 million in its first weekend of release. It’s a seismic start for any concert film, but this is particularly impressive because it was announced just six weeks ago and unspooled on the big screen with minimal marketing dollars.
“The Eras Tour” which is produced by Swift and distributed by AMC Theatres, collected a projected $31 million to $33 million from 94 international markets. It ranked as No. 1 in the United States with estimates of $95 million to $97 million, as well as the United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, Germany and the Philippines.
Studios typically report a firmer number at this point, but AMC Theatres noted that “without clear comparisons, Sunday box office projections remain a range.” Already, “The Eras Tour” landed the biggest debut for a concert film in history, outpacing the previous record set by 2009’s “Michael Jackson: This Is It” with $74.25 million.
“Taylor Swift’s talent and persona are striking a powerful chord, and the film captures it,” says David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. “This is Taylor Swift’s time.
Initially “Eras Tour” was only going to play on the big screen in North America, where the pop star has already wrapped up the first leg of her domestic tour. But advance ticket sales were strong enough to encourage Swift and AMC to release the film simultaneously around the world. “The Eras Tour” will debut in Brazil, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong on Nov. 3, with more territories to be announced shortly, according to AMC.
AMC Theatres’ chief content officer Elizabeth Frank thanked Swift for bringing the movie to the big screen. “Her spectacular performance delighted fans, who dressed up and danced through the film,” she said in a statement. “With tremendous recommendations and fans buying tickets to see this concert film several times, we anticipate ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ concert film playing to big audiences for weeks to come.”
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