Concert film

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Taylor Swift performing at the Eras Tour in 2023
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2023) is the highest-grossing concert film of all time—a feat recognized in the Guinness World Records.[1]

A concert film or concert movie is a film that showcases a live performance from the perspective of a concert goer, the subject of which is an extended live performance or concert by either a musician[2] or a stand-up comedian.[3]

Early history

Poster for Concert Magic in 1948 at the Towne Cinema in Toronto, Ontario

One of the earliest-known concert films is the 1944 film Adventure in Music.[4] Another early film is the 1948 picture Concert Magic. This concert features virtuoso violinist Yehudi Menuhin (1916–1999) at the Charlie Chaplin Studios in 1947. Together with various artists he performed classical and romantic works of famous composers such as Beethoven, Wieniawski, Bach, Paganini and others.[5]

The earliest known jazz concert film is the 1959 film Jazz on a Summer's Day. The film was recorded during the fifth annual Newport Jazz Festival.[6] The earliest known rock concert film was the T.A.M.I. Show, which featured acts such as The Beach Boys, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, and the Rolling Stones.[7]

One of popular music's most ground-breaking concert films is Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii (1972), directed by Adrian Maben, in which Pink Floyd perform a short set of songs inside the amphitheatre of Pompeii without an audience (save for the recording crew).

Examples

Rockumentary

The term "rockumentary" was first used by Bill Drake in the 1969 History of Rock & Roll radio broadcast and is a portmanteau of "rock" and "documentary".[8][9] The term was subsequently used to describe concert films containing appearances by multiple artists.[10][11] Then, in 1976, the term was used by the promoters of the live musical production Beatlemania which documented the evolving career of The Beatles.[12] The 1984 mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap notably parodied the rockumentary genre.[13]

Others

Other examples of this type of film include

Merida, Venezuela
) with movie scenes and a plot, while the latter follows Duran Duran as they travel around Canada and the United States doing concerts and actual tourism.

Highest-grossing concert films

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2023), which has grossed $261.7 million worldwide,[14] is the highest-grossing concert film of all time; the previous record for the concert film was held by Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011).[15][16]

 Background shading indicates films playing in the week commencing 22 March 2024 in theaters around the world.
Highest-grossing concert films[17]
Rank Title Year Performer Type Worldwide gross
1 Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour 2023 Taylor Swift Music $261,627,796
2 Justin Bieber: Never Say Never 2011 Justin Bieber $99,034,125
3 Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert 2008 Miley Cyrus $70,712,099
4 One Direction: This Is Us 2013 One Direction $68,233,799
5 Eddie Murphy Raw 1987 Eddie Murphy Stand-up $50,504,655
6 Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé 2023 Beyoncé Music $44,389,684
7 The Original Kings of Comedy 2000
D.L. Hughley · Cedric the Entertainer · Bernie Mac
Stand-up $38,236,338
8 Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip 1982 Richard Pryor Stand-up $34,970,309
9 Woodstock 1970 Various Music $34,699,266[18]
10 Katy Perry: Part of Me 2012 Katy Perry $32,700,439
12 Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain 2013 Kevin Hart Stand-up $32,327,255
13
Metallica Through the Never
2013 Metallica $31,900,000
14 Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience 2009 Jonas Brothers Music $30,428,831
15 BTS: Yet to Come in Cinemas 2023 BTS $29,291,883
16 Madonna: Truth or Dare 1991 Madonna $29,012,935
17 U2 3D 2008 U2 $26,170,402
18 Kevin Hart: What Now? 2016 Kevin Hart Stand-up $23,591,043
19 Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat 2002 Martin Lawrence $19,184,820
20 Glee: The 3D Concert Movie 2011 Glee Music $17,462,398
21 Richard Pryor: Here and Now 1983 Richard Pryor Stand-up $16,156,776
22
Christmas with the Chosen: The Messengers
2021 The Chosen Religion $13,388,000
23 You So Crazy 1994 Martin Lawrence Stand-up $10,184,701
24 Burn the Stage: The Movie 2018 BTS Music $9,881,954
25
U2: Rattle and Hum
1988 U2 $8,600,823
26 Live Broadcast from Buenos Aires 2022 Coldplay $8,421,265[19]
27 Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain 2011 Kevin Hart Stand-up $7,712,436
28 Mayday Life 2019 Mayday Music $7,272,220
29 The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall 2012 The Phantom of the Opera Stage production $7,106,631
30 Prima Facie 2022 Prima Facie $6,646,622
31 BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in Seoul 2019 BTS Music $6,587,004
32 Stop Making Sense 1984 Talking Heads 5,694,759
33 Hamlet 2015 Hamlet Stage production $5,350,452
34 Divine Madness 2018 Bette Midler Music $5,318,098
35 Les Misérables: The Staged Concert 2019 Les Misérables Stage production $5,042,935
36 IM Hero: The Final 2023 Lim Young-woong Music $4,514,656
37 National Theatre Live: The Audience 2013 The Audience Stage production $4,330,068
38 Romeo and Juliet (Secret Cinema 2018) 2018 Romeo and Juliet $4,282,983
39 André Rieu 2018 Maastricht Concert 2018 André Rieu Music $3,869,719
40 André Rieu: 70 Years Young 2020 $3,788,405
41 Miss Saigon 25th Anniversary Performance 2016 Miss Saigon Stage play $3,720,532
42 Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams 2018 Coldplay Music $3,500,000[20]
44 André Rieu 2019 Maastricht Concert 2019 André Rieu $3,495,372
44 National Theatre Live: Frankenstein 2011 Frankenstein Stage production $3,351,486
45 Let's Spend the Night Together 1983 The Rolling Stones Music $3,282,561
46 Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor 2017 Floyd Mayweather Jr. · Conor McGregor Sports $3,250,019
47 André Rieu's 2016 Maastricht Concert 2016 André Rieu Music $3,220,727
48 The Winter's Tale 2015 The Winter's Tale Stage production $3,097,621
49 André Rieu's 2017 Maastricht Concert 2017 André Rieu Music $3,097,621
50 The Met: Live in HD – Aida 2013 Aida $2,943,797

Music

The top 15 are among the highest-grossing concert films. André Rieu is the most frequent performance with 13 titles on the list.

 Background shading indicates films playing in the week commencing 22 March 2024 in theaters around the world.
Highest-grossing music concert films[17]
Rank Title Year Performer Worldwide gross
1 Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour 2023 Taylor Swift $261,656,269
2 Justin Bieber: Never Say Never 2011 Justin Bieber $99,034,125
3 Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert 2008 Miley Cyrus $70,712,099
4 One Direction: This Is Us 2013 One Direction $68,233,799
5 Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé 2023 Beyoncé $44,043,065
6 Woodstock 1970 Various $34,699,266[18]
7 Katy Perry: Part of Me 2012 Katy Perry $32,700,439
8 Permission to Dance on Stage – Seoul: Live Viewing 2022 BTS $32,600,000
9
Metallica Through the Never
2013 Metallica $31,900,000
10 Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience 2009 Jonas Brothers $30,428,831
11 BTS: Yet to Come in Cinemas 2023 BTS $29,291,883
12 Madonna: Truth or Dare 1991 Madonna $29,012,935
13 U2 3D 2008 U2 $26,170,402
14 Burn the Stage: The Movie 2018 BTS $20,347,513
15
U2: Rattle and Hum
1988 U2 $8,600,823
16 Live Broadcast from Buenos Aires 2022 Coldplay $8,421,265[19]
17 Mayday Life 2019 Mayday $7,272,220
18 BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in Seoul 2019 BTS $6,587,004
19 Stop Making Sense 1984 Talking Heads $5,694,759
20 Divine Madness 2018 Bette Midler $5,318,098
21 IM Hero: The Final 2023 Lim Young-woong $4,514,656
22 André Rieu 2018 Maastricht Concert 2018 André Rieu $3,869,719
23 André Rieu: 70 Years Young 2020 $3,788,405
24 Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams 2018 Coldplay $3,500,000[20]
25 André Rieu 2019 Maastricht Concert 2019 André Rieu $3,495,372
26 Let's Spend the Night Together 1983 The Rolling Stones $3,282,561
27 André Rieu's 2016 Maastricht Concert 2016 André Rieu $3,220,727
28 André Rieu's 2017 Maastricht Concert 2017 $3,097,621
29 The Met: Live in HD – Aida 2013 Aida $2,943,797
30 The Beatles Get Back: The Rooftop Concert 2022 The Beatles $2,881,726
31 André Rieu's 2015 Maastricht Concert 2015 André Rieu $2,862,599
32 André Rieu: Christmas with Andre 2016 2016 $2,809,890
33 André Rieu's Sydney Town Hall Concert – An Australian Celebration 2018 $2,806,603
34 Greatest Hits Live 2019 Take That $2,549,176
35 Depeche Mode: Spirits in the Forest 2019 Depeche Mode $2,442,030
36 André Rieu's 2014 Maastricht Concert 2014 André Rieu $2,190,155
37 Metallica & San Francisco Symphony S&M2 2019 Metallica · San Francisco Symphony $2,179,640
38 Billie Eilish Live at the O2 2023 Billie Eilish $2,117,195
39 André Rieu 2023 Maastricht Concert: Love is All Around André Rieu $1,897,239
40 André Rieu Live in Dublin $1,826,384
41 N'SYNC: Bigger Than Live 2001 NSYNC $1,808,679
42 Cliff Richard Live: 60th Anniversary Tour 2018 Cliff Richard $1,686,021
43 Rammstein: Paris 2017 Rammstein $1,658,090
44 Twenty One Pilots: Cinema Experience 2022 Twenty One Pilots $1,560,000
45 André Rieu: Christmas with André 2021 2021 André Rieu $1,559,304
46
Take That Live 2015
2015 Take That $1,553,608
47 Take That: Wonderland Live from the O2 2017 $1,422,889
48 Big Bang Made 2016 BigBang $1,404,745
49 André Rieu's: Magical Maastricht – Together in Music 2020 André Rieu $1,295,288
50 David Gilmour Live at Pompei 2017 David Gilmour $1,273,347

Stand-up

Highest-grossing stand-up concert films[17]
Rank Title Year Performer Worldwide gross
1 Eddie Murphy Raw 1987 Eddie Murphy $50,504,655
2 The Original Kings of Comedy 2000
D.L. Hughley · Cedric the Entertainer · Bernie Mac
$38,236,338
3 Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip 1982 Richard Pryor $34,970,309
4 Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain 2013 Kevin Hart $32,327,255
5 Kevin Hart: What Now? 2016 $23,591,043
6 Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat 2002 Martin Lawrence $19,184,820
7 Richard Pryor: Here and Now 1983 Richard Pryor $16,156,776
8 Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy 1994 Martin Lawrence $10,184,701
9 Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain 2011 Kevin Hart $7,712,436
10 The Fluffy Movie 2014 Gabriel Iglesias $2,827,393
11
Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic
2005 Sarah Silverman $1,324,244

Stage production

 Background shading indicates films playing in the week commencing 22 March 2024 in theaters around the world.
Highest-grossing stage production concert films[17]
Rank Title Year Performance Worldwide gross
1 The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall 2012 The Phantom of the Opera $7,106,631
2 Prima Facie 2022 Prima Facie $6,646,622
3 Hamlet 2015 Hamlet $5,350,452
4 Les Misérables: The Staged Concert 2019 Les Misérables $5,042,935
5 National Theatre Live: The Audience 2013 The Audience $4,330,068
6 Romeo and Juliet (Secret Cinema 2018) 2018 Romeo and Juliet $4,282,983
7 Miss Saigon 25th Anniversary Performance 2016 Miss Saigon $3,720,532
8 National Theatre Live: Frankenstein 2011 Frankenstein $3,351,486
9 The Winter's Tale 2015 The Winter's Tale $3,097,621
10 Billy Elliot the Musical Live 2014 Billy Elliot the Musical $2,815,788
11 The London Palladium: The King and I 2018 The King and I $2,692,907
12 George Balanchine's The Nutcracker 2011 The Nutcracker $2,119,994
13 National Theatre Live: Present Laughter 2019 Present Laughter $2,033,526
14 A Little Life 2023 A Little Life $2,033,043
15 Kinky Boots – The Musical 2020 Kinky Boots – The Musical $1,997,631
16 National Theatre Live: A View From the Bridge 2015 A View From the Bridge $1,943,723
17 Met Opera: Porgy and Bess 2020 Porgy and Bess $1,913,398
18 National Theatre Live: Follies 2017 Follies $1,842,192
19 Met Opera: La Boheme 2018 La Boheme $1,774,848
20 National Theatre Live: One Man Two Guvnors 2011
One Man Two Guvnors
$1,714,891
21 National Theatre Live: All About Eve 2019 All About Eve $1,710,659
22 Met Opera: Madama Butterfly 2019 Madama Butterfly $1,696,923
23 National Theatre Live: Good 2023 Good $1,674,053
24 National Theatre Live: Of Mice and Men 2014 Of Mice and Men $1,664,500
25 Royal Opera House: The Nutcracker 2017 The Nutcracker $1,635,459
26 National Theatre Live: The Lehman Trilogy 2019 The Lehman Trilogy $1,531,395
27 Royal Opera House: The Nutcracker 2018 The Nutcracker $1,512,712
28 Met Opera: Turandot (2018) Encore (2018) 2018 Turandot · Encore $1,500,000
29 Met Opera: Der Rosenkavalier 2017 Der Rosenkavalier $1,498,974
30 The Nutcracker Royal Ballet 2015 The Nutcracker $1,494,137
31 All My Sons 2019 All My Sons $1,454,828
32 Met Opera – Agrippina 2020 Agrippina $1,453,796
33 No Man's Land – NT Live 2016 2016 No Man's Land $1,380,144
34 Allelujah! 2018 Allelujah! $1,347,137
35 De Club van Sinterklaas & Het Grote Pietenfees 2020 De Club van Sinterklaas $1,336,192
36 National Theatre Live: Hansard 2019 Hansard $1,318,622
37 National Theater Live 2017: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead 2017 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead $1,245,590
38 NT Live: Yerma 2017 Yerma $1,238,299
39 Branagh Theatre Live: Romeo & Juliet 2016 2016 Romeo and Juliet $1,223,663
40 National Theatre Live: Twelfth Night 2017 Twelfth Night $1,210,769
41 National Theater Live: Cyrano de Bergerac 2020 Cyrano de Bergerac $1,195,764
42 The Nutcracker – Royal Opera, London 2016 The Nutcracker $1,188,225
43 National Theatre Live: Small Island 2019 Small Island $1,180,476
44 National Theater Live Amadeus 2017 Live Amadeus $1,151,772
45 NT Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses 2016 Les Liaisons Dangereuses $1,135,686
46 Royal Opera House Swan Lake 2018 Swan Lake $1,131,961
47 Royal Opera House The Sleeping Beauty 2020 Sleeping Beauty $1,097,859
48 National Theater Live Hedda Gabler 2017 Hedda Gabler $1,085,982
49 National Theatre Live: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 2018 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof $1,071,526
50 Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake 2019 Swan Lake $1,068,862

References

  1. ^ "Highest-grossing concert or performance film at the global box office". Guinness World Records. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  2. . Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  3. ^ Bailey, Jason (4 April 2016). "Glenn Ligon Deconstructs Richard Pryor's Stand-Up". Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  4. ^ Wickham, Ina (October 15, 1944). "Catching the Beat in Music World Today". Quad-City Times. p. 30. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  5. ^ "Yehudi Menuhin and Alma Trio Player Scheduled to Appear in New Concert Film". Los Gatos Times-Saratoga Observer. December 17, 1948. p. 8. Retrieved October 17, 2023. Gordon...reports that the success of "Concert Magic", the first full length concert film to be produced, prompted plans for the filming of the second picture.
  6. ^ Eil, Philip (29 July 2016). "This 1960 Jazz Film Shaped Concert Documentaries as We Know Them | NOISEY". Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  7. ^ Richards, Kevin (16 December 2009). "Legendary T.A.M.I. Show Featuring James Brown, The Rolling Stones, and More Coming To DVD « American Songwriter". Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  8. ^ "The Reel Top 40 Radio Repository - The History of Rock and Roll Demo". Reelradio.com. Archived from the original on 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  9. ^ Hopkins, Jerry (April 5, 1969). "'Rockumentary' Radio Milestone". Rolling Stone. No. 30. p. 9.
  10. ^ Aletti, Vince (August 31, 1972). "Our Latin Thing". Rolling Stone. No. 116. p. 42.
  11. ^ Landau, Jon (July 19, 1973). "'Let the Good Times Roll' indeed". Rolling Stone. No. 139. pp. 62–63.
  12. ^ Spires, Shari (December 26, 1980). "A 'Rockumentary' About the Beatles Comes to Sunrise". The Palm Beach Post.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ Lewis, Randy (9 May 2013). "'This Is Spinal Tap' LP to be reissued June 11 -- on black vinyl". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  14. ^ "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  15. ^ "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour — Financial Information". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Moreau, Jordan; Lang, Brent (2023-10-13). "Box Office: 'Taylor Swift: Eras Tour' Kicks Off With $2.8 Million in Previews". Variety. Retrieved 2023-10-14. The movie has already made $100 million in advance ticket sales, according to its distributor AMC Theatres. That makes it the highest-grossing concert film ever, surpassing Justin Bieber's "Never Say Never" ($99 million).
  17. ^ a b c d "All Time Worldwide Box Office for Concert/Performance Movies". The Numbers. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  18. ^ a b "Woodstock". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Worldwide Box Office – Weekend Ending October 30, 2022". Comscore. 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Documentary Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams Takes $3.5M Box Office in One Night for Trafalgar Releasing". Deadline. November 15, 2018. Archived from the original on October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.