Music comes in many forms and serves as a special force for connection. Recently, concert films have become increasingly more mainstream, transforming that shared experience into something that can be seen on a screen. A concert film compiles clips of an artist’s performances, often paired with other content such as interviews or behind the scenes moments, creating the experience shown in theaters. The first musical film, “Adventure in Music,” was released in 1944, but it was not until 2023 that this movie format began to skyrocket in popularity. With the release of movies such as “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” which was the highest grossing film in the history of its genre, many fans flocked to experience these newly discovered forms of entertainment.
“It was nice because it gave us a preview of the concert [that was] about a year later [from now],” FHS staff member Carmen Bliss, who attended “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” said.
Bliss took her daughter to see the movie and explained the activities the fans got to participate in specifically at the theater.
“They had all these billboards and then you could take pictures there,” Bliss said.
Along with photo opportunities at the event, fans dressed in the theme of albums and songs while exchanging handmade bracelets with one another, mimicking the culture and fan driven trends that took place during the traditional concert experiences. Audiences of other concert films adopted similar customs to their own original movie. Following the popularity of Swift’s film, films such as “Renaissance: A film by Beyoncé” and “Stray Kids: The DominATE Experience” became well-known and highly anticipated. FHS freshman Jazzmine Washington was one of the fans who attended the “Stray Kids: DominATE Experience.”
“I liked how loud everyone was in the movie theater, and everyone who was a fan felt like family,” Washington said.
In most concert movies, fans can be seen sporting their merchandise and handing out keepsakes to their fellow concert movie goers, recreating the strong sense of community as an original concert experience. The exclusive interviews, moments and behind the scenes footage with the artists in concert movies additionally offer fans a better insight into their idols that they may not have otherwise seen.
“I liked how we got to see what the members are feeling in their head before they get on [stage at a] concert,” Washington said.
Concert films allow for their own unique experiences, where rather than focusing entirely on the artist and their performance, they also provide a bonding opportunity for listeners.
“If you really can’t see the concert, because some of these tickets are very hard to get, it gives you an option of feeling like you’re there,” Bliss said.
For the enthusiasts who may not be able to attend a live show due to high costs and logistical challenges, concert films deliver an alternative accessible way to listen to music and experience the cultures of concerts. Numerous fans can create fond memories with others who share their interests and feel a deep sense of connection through sharing music.
