Disney+ is set to enrich its catalogue with the exclusive streaming of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version), starting 15 March, with five new additional acoustic songs. This move marks a significant addition to the platform, tapping into the vast fan base of Swifties.
The film, documenting Swift’s concert tour, not only broke box office records but also stands as the highest-grossing concert documentary of all time, amassing US$261.1 million worldwide against a modest US$15 million production budget.
Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, announced this strategic acquisition during the company’s earnings call, highlighting the enhanced version of the film that will feature the track ‘Cardigan’ and four other acoustic songs previously unavailable in its theatrical or VOD versions. “The Eras Tour has been a true phenomenon that has and continues to thrill fans around the world, and we are very excited to bring this electrifying concert to audiences wherever they are, exclusively through Disney+.”
This partnership with Swift isn’t new territory for Disney. In 2020, Disney+ hosted the intimate Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions, and more recently, Searchlight Pictures, a Disney-owned entity, announced collaboration on Swift’s feature directorial debut.
The choice to distribute The Eras Tour through Disney+ underscores a strategic pivot towards leveraging high-profile, exclusive content to attract and retain subscribers. Swift’s decision to bypass traditional studio distribution, opting instead for a direct release through AMC Theatres and other chains, demonstrated an innovative approach to film distribution, mirroring the tour’s groundbreaking success, which generated over US$1 billion in ticket sales alone.
Set against the backdrop of Swift’s 2024 tour commencement in Tokyo, the announcement serves as a precursor to Swift’s upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, further intertwining Swift’s musical milestones with Disney’s expansive entertainment ecosystem.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) will stream on Disney+ starting 15 March.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
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