Taylor Swift's new movie enjoyed the biggest concert film opening weekend ever, the New York Times reports. It is estimated that Taylor Swift The Eras Tour generated $126 million in global ticket sales after screenings began on October 12.
$95 million of that overall figure came from North American theater, with the further $31 million coming via the 94 international territories the film is also currently screening in. Swift, working without a studio, struck an exclusive deal with AMC theaters that meant she took home 57% of ticket revenue from North America. This works out at $55 million dollars. It is reported that the movie had a budget of $15 million.
The previous biggest opening weekend for a concert film was Justin Bieber's 2011 effort Never Say Never, which took the equivalent of $41 million in North American theaters and $138 million worldwide. Swift's next target will be Michael Jackson, whose 2009 film This Is It $380 million worldwide during its time in movie theaters.
Swift held a premiere for The Eras Tour at The Grove in Los Angeles last week where she was joined by Beyoncé. This December she, too, will release a live concert film in theaters. Renaissance is scheduled to arrive in early December.