AMC is fostering an atmosphere of singing, dancing, and camaraderie in its theaters , but with a friendly request: “Please do not dance on our seats.”
When Zoe King, a 13-year-old Taylor Swift fan, and her sister Wrenna, aged 11, were unable to secure tickets for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Massachusetts last spring, they shared the same frustration as about one in four Swift fans. Zoe’s dad, Pat, decided to take matters into his own hands when he discovered that the concert would be shown in movie theaters. He quickly purchased seats for his family and some of the kids’ friends at a nearby Cinemark theater in Hadley, Massachusetts, to spare them the ordeal of trying to buy concert tickets.
Zoe dressed for the screening with a nod to Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” album, donning dark blue attire, while Wrenna painted the numbers “1989” on her cheeks. Zoe was a vision of glitter and charm wherever she went, complete with a shawl and bright red lipstick to pay homage to her favorite artist.
The King family is among the enthusiastic audience contributing to the potential record-breaking $100 million domestic opening of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” at the box office this weekend. This diverse group of moviegoers includes fans who attended the Eras tour live and wish to relive it, those who missed the live show but desired to experience it, and the parents who support their Swift-loving children. The concert film is being shown in 3,855 cinemas in North America and 4,326 overseas, earning an A+ CinemaScore from its predominantly female audience and a perfect 100 percent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Some of the Friday night screenings resembled live concerts more than traditional movies. At the 6 p.m. showing at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, fans danced in the aisles, sang along, waved their cell phone lights, and wore outfits inspired by different eras of Taylor Swift’s career. One fan paid homage to Swift’s “Evermore” album by carrying an illuminated globe, while another sported a cardigan reminiscent of Swift’s “Folklore” album. camaraderie in its theaters
Cinematographer Daphne Daniels, 24, attended the film after having seen the live concert at SoFi Stadium. She noted that, although they had a good view at the stadium, they couldn’t fully appreciate all the choreography. She and her two friends, also in their 20s and working in the entertainment industry, were present at the Friday night screening simply out of their love and support for Taylor Swift.
Two young fans, Rose (7) and Ruby (9), who hadn’t witnessed the concert live, attended the screening with a group of friends and parents. They spent most of the 2-hour, 48-minute screening on their feet, with Rose expressing her favorite song as “Blank Space,” and Ruby appreciating the dancing.