How Taylor Swift Shook Off Hollywood With Her Own Movie Deal and Had Beyoncé at the Premiere

Taylor Swift is no stranger to breaking records and making history. The pop superstar has done it again with her Eras Tour movie, which is set to hit the theatres on October 13, 2023. The movie, which is based on her record-breaking concert tour, will also be available to stream on Netflix from November 26.

But what makes this movie special is not just the dazzling footage from Swift’s shows across the world, or the behind-the-scenes glimpses of her life on the road. It’s also the fact that Swift and her team, led by her father Scott Swift, decided to finance and distribute the movie themselves, without partnering with any major studio.

This means that Swift and her team have full creative control and rights over the movie, and that they will be the sole beneficiaries of the movie’s profits. They also avoided giving up any share of the box-office revenue or any say in the marketing and release strategy to the studios, who usually demand such concessions from filmmakers.

Swift and her team also negotiated directly with AMC, the world’s largest theatre chain, and Cinemark, another leading exhibitor, to screen the movie in more than 4,000 screens nationwide. They also worked with sub-distributors such as Cineplex Events and Variance Films to book the movie in other theatres around the world .

Moreover, Swift and her team were able to secure an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors and performers, before filming the movie, which means they can promote it without crossing any picket lines during the ongoing strike .

Swift’s fans, who call themselves Swifties, are ecstatic about the movie, which has already broken records for pre-sales, grossing over $100 million in its first 24 hours and beating Spider-Man: No Way Home. They are eagerly waiting to see their idol on the big screen, performing songs from all of her nine studio albums, from her country debut Taylor Swift to her latest surprise release Evermore . The movie will showcase Swift’s musical evolution, as she changes her outfits and stage design for each era.

However, not everyone is happy about Swift’s move. Some Hollywood studios are reportedly furious that they were not given a chance to bid for the movie or get a heads-up from the theatre chains about Swift’s deal. They feel that Swift has disrupted their position of power and leverage in the industry, especially amid the strike that has stalled many of their projects. They are also worried that Swift’s movie will take away screens and audiences from their own releases .

Some industry insiders have praised Swift for her boldness and ingenuity, saying that she has shown the power of celebrity and talent over the traditional system. They have also applauded her for giving a boost to the theatre business, which has been struggling due to the pandemic and the rise of streaming services. They have compared her to other artists who have challenged the status quo and innovated new ways of reaching their fans .

Taylor Swift: Eras is expected to be a huge hit, both critically and commercially. It will also be a testament to Swift’s vision and independence as an artist. As she sings in one of her songs: “I’m doing better than I ever was.”