It’s been a few months since Taylor Swift wrapped up the first US-leg of her beloved The Eras Tour, and fans are starting to reminisce on their memories of being at the show, watching TikTok live streams in anticipation of surprise songs, and making friendship bracelets to trade. However, it can be difficult to rely on a couple cellphone videos and a spotty memory to recall the true spectacle that every show of this tour was. Luckily, the timely release of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour provides a crystal clear recording of her SoFi Stadium shows that gives viewers the opportunity to experience and remember one more night of the tour.
The film is a whopping two hours and 48 minutes long, providing an impeccable recording of nearly her entire setlist (fan favorites such as “cardigan”, “The Archer”, and “Long Live” were cut out of the film), which spans Taylor’s ten albums and 17 yearlong career. When played on such a large screen, the cinematography makes viewers feel as if they’re truly experiencing the show all over again. If you didn’t have the chance to go to a show in person, this film is certainly worth watching, as it’s an extremely accurate depiction of what the night actually felt like.
Director Sam Wrench is a master with his camerawork, shooting close-up shots of Taylor and the ecstatic fans, as well as long shots of the crowd with their light-up bracelets. In this way, viewers are in the midst of the show, watching it from right on stage, while also being able to grasp the true magnitude of how many people were there.
There’s something magical about being able to see the subtlest facial expressions Taylor makes throughout the show, displaying just how moved she was by the response of her fans. It’s amazing to be able to see all the intricacies of her costuming, sets, and dances, and it really makes you realize how much thought was put into each and every show.
Above all, this movie is a love letter to Taylor Swift’s fans and what an outstanding community they are. It’s true that the movie exhibits the massive scale of Taylor’s success, as her ability to sell-out countless football stadiums for all 53 shows of the tour is astounding. However, her stardom would be impossible without the fans, and this movie shows that.
Despite the sound coming from the massive speakers around the stadium, it’s still possible to hear the crowd singing as you watch the movie, which is wildly impressive. As the camera focuses on certain fans, we get a sense of the diversity of Taylor’s fanbase, spanning from young children to grown adults of all genders. The close-ups reveal how much dedication the fans had when creating their own outfits for the shows, as well as showing the wide range of emotions felt by attendees, from outright sobbing to grinning ear-to-ear. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour gives a unique perspective allowing us to grasp the relationship between Taylor and her fans, and is something I’ll certainly be watching many times over.