Why are Taylor Swift concert movie tickets so expensive?

Taylor Swift may be the defining artist of a generation, thanks to the massive commercial and emotional power she wields. Though many fans expected her to fade away in the aftermath of the Reputation era or when she broke out of her break-up song standard in Lover, her monumental rise after the surprise releases of Folklore and Evermore proved that she was not stopping any time soon.

The biggest proof of this was the announcement of her Eras Tour concert, which broke Ticketmaster, earned billions, and even caused a small earthquake. The concert tour was marketed as a celebration of Swift’s entire career—no small feat for a 33-year-old—and fans poured their time, energy, and money into experiencing the phenomenon.

On August 31, Swift announced that the tour would be coming to theaters in October 2023, giving fans who couldn’t attend an opportunity to be a part of the biggest concert event ever. This announcement came with just as much success as the tour itself, earning more than $26 million in pre-sales on the first day alone.

While that is certainly an impressive figure, part of the reason for it is that the ticket prices for the Eras Tour movie are significantly higher than the average cost for a movie ticket. Keep reading for more information on the ticket prices and why they are so high.

How much do Taylor Swift Era’s Tour movie tickets cost?

Swifties know that Taylor Swift loves to play with numbers and easter eggs in her career, which have more than earned her the “mastermind” title she claimed in her recent Midnights album. Fittingly, the ticket prices are based on important numbers to Swift’s career.

The standard ticket price for the Eras Tour movie (excluding taxes) is $19.89, an obvious reference to her fifth studio album, which will be re-released on October 27, just 14 days after the Eras Tour movie comes out in theaters. In addition, the price is a reference to her birth year, a fitting number for a concert celebrating her life’s accomplishments.

For children from 2-12 and seniors 60 years and older, the ticket price is $13.13. This is no surprise either, as 13 is Swift’s favorite number and was notably written on her hand during her Fearless Era. Swift loves the number so much because it is the day of her birth: Dec. 13, 1989.

Those who want a heightened concert experience may choose to purchase tickets in one of the higher-quality presentation formats. For an extra $3, fans can see the concert film in BIGD or CinemaxXD. For an extra $5, they can view it in Dolby Cinema or IMAX. Other options may be available based on location.

Why are Taylor Swift concert movie tickets so expensive?

Usually, movie ticket prices vary by film, location, and time, but all of the tickets for the Eras Tour follow the same general pattern, which has caused a lot of questions about why it costs so much.

According to The Numbers, the average movie ticket in 2023 is $10.53. For Taylor Swift to charge double that amount of money is being viewed by many fans as greedy, particularly given how much money Swift has already made from this tour. According to TIME, the tour is expected to prompt $5 billion of spending in the US alone.

There are a couple of factors to look at here. First, Taylor Swift advised fans to bring their Eras Tour energy to the theaters. If the movie can capture the experience of the tour, then this price is minimal, compared to the average concert ticket cost of $455.78 (the average resale price was $1,607).

In addition, this is a very high-quality production, meaning it should be compared with visual treats like Avatar: The Way of Water and Oppenheimer, not the average movie ticket. Both of these films had inflated prices, and IMAX screenings of Oppenheimer were even being resold for hundreds of dollars apiece.

With these factors in mind, the prices don’t seem that extreme. Many Reddit users pointed out that other movies had similar costs in their areas, and while it might be high for more rural areas, it is certainly cheaper than anything else Taylor Swift has to offer at this point.

As explained by Dan Fleetwood, the President of QuestionPro Research and Insights:

"“If Taylor Swift were an economy, she’d be bigger than 50 countries; if she was a corporation, her Net Promoter Score would make her the fourth most admired brand, and her loyalty numbers mimic those of subjects to a royal crown. It’s all a testament to her focus on the fan experience.”"

Fans are completely within their rights to complain about the cost of these movie tickets, but the fact is that they are very reasonable compared to similar experiences. Taylor Swift has become a global force, and her concert movie tickets are little more than a drip in the bucket.

Taylor Swift’s Era’s Tour movie will be in theaters starting Oct. 13, 2023.