- Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour" movie has sparked a new discussion on movie theater etiquette.
- Videos on social media show Swifties singing, dancing, and acting generally chaotic during screenings.
"Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" concert film has arrived in theaters around the world and brought with it fresh discourse on how people should act in movie theaters.
A viral video shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, by fan account @TheSwiftSociety, shows a group of fans crowding between the screen and seats in one theater to dance, sing, and, at various points, fall to their floor in exhaustion and emotion.
The post — which has been viewed about 20 million times — was captioned, "Swifties enjoying 'The Eras Tour' film in a cinema." However, it immediately sparked criticism from some who feel the behavior of those in the video went beyond what is considered acceptable behavior in movie theaters.
—The Swift Society (@TheSwiftSociety) October 13, 2023
"This is so disrespectful," one user wrote on X. "If you want to do this you do it in your house when it's on digital, but if you go to the cinema you respect others and don't create such a spectacle."
Someone else commented on another video of similar scenes at another showing: "Acting like this at a concert, feel free. In the CINEMA, absolutely not."
Another video shared by @catchfireswift showed fans reacting similarly at a screening in the UK. "I'm at the worst screening ever can't even hear Taylor," they captioned the clip, before asking for a refund from the theater chain in a follow-up post.
—ellie (@catchfireswift) October 13, 2023
Others pointed out that recording in the theater is illegal while shining your phone torch, as many fans were doing during some of Swift's ballads, impedes others' view of the action.
Over on TikTok, creator Francis Dominic shared a video from his experience seeing the tour movie at an AMC theater. It showed him dancing and singing along in his seat with other fans as the movie played.
The video likewise divided fans, but Dominic defended his behavior in a reply to someone who commented that they would be "complaining" if people weren't acting that way during their showing.
@francisdominiic There’s literally no better movie going experience than dancing with a bunch of swifties during the eras tour movie premiere.. wow!! #TStheErasTourFilm #ErasTourMoviePremiere #TaylorSwift #ErasTour #ErasTourMovie #TheGrove #LosAngeles #AMC #AMCTheaters #TaylorNation #Swiftie ♬ original sound - Francis Dominic
"I wouldn't go to opening weekend or go to an early show," he wrote.
The debate over what's appropriate seems to have stemmed from Swift herself who, in her announcement about the release back in August, declared that "Eras attire, friendship bracelets, singing and dancing encouraged" at showings.
AMC echoed this in their guidelines specifically made for attendees of the "Eras Tour" movie, which differ significantly from what the theater normally allows.
"We encourage dancing and singing throughout this concert film event," their statement read. "But please do not dance on our seats or block other guests from viewing, safely walking or exiting the auditorium."
As for the use of phones, their policy is that audiences are "free to take selfies and group photos," but must "not record the concert film on our big screen."