‘People were crying singing along’: readers on Taylor Swift’s Eras concert film

“I wasn’t looking forward to it, but it was healthy and sweet”
I took my son, who is a fan, and he wasn’t looking forward to seeing it, especially because it was so long. That said, I enjoyed the cheesy outfit changes, the ambitious staging, and marveled at Swift’s stamina. My favorite part of the show was during the Mystical Folklore section, when the teenage Swifties at the front held hands and formed a circle, slow dancing around and around. Everything was very healthy and sweet. Melanie Seddon, West SusSєx

‘A perfect summary of Taylor’s career across all genres’
You’ll really feel like you’re at a concert, thanks to theaters eliminating rules against singing and dancing and the enthusiasm of the audience. I was surprised by how overwhelmed I felt being in a theater full of people who love Taylor as much as I do. The Swifties have inside jokes that the entire audience tells or sings, which they did throughout the movie perfectly in sync. As a lifelong fan, there is a sense of nostalgia and even pride in seeing her work across decades of her discography. The highlight was Illicit Affairs – it’s completely different from the studio version and she only sings the bridge. It shows her vocal talent but also a deep emotion from her. Everyone was on their feet singing during that little moment; is definitely a fan favorite. Arabella, 25 years old, London

‘We scream every word of All Too Well’
I went with some friends I used to work with at a record store. Every time a Taylor Swift album came out, the day would fly by and we would play it over and over again. The concert film was a mix of hits and deep cuts for fans. We stood up, sang, and although our performance wasn’t too busy, we had a great time. A group of young girls next to us were having fun, but considering they were the target market, they didn’t seem to know some of the non-singles, unlike the four 30-year-old indie rock fans in the corner, screaming every word to Everything too good (the 10 minute version). The strongest moments seemed to be when Taylor paused to let the crowd sing. The close-ups of her face in those moments were those of a human being in the midst of everything: it is easy to forget that she is a person too. As far as concert movies go, it was one of the most epic, but would it change a non-fan’s opinion of it? Probably not. It’s the force of the fandom, us Swifties, that made the movie what it was and Taylor would probably agree. Mateo, 30 years old, London

‘I fell asleep’
I’m not a Swiftie, but the recording and transitions were done well and she put on an incredible show. I also fell asleep at one point. Maybe it’s because I’m not a big concert fan, but I don’t understand why people pay a lot to attend such a live experience. However, $20 a ticket was acceptable to me for a night out and my wife enjoyed it. It was a smart move by Swift’s promoters to get this into theaters so quickly when there was so much demand. I’ve certainly paid more for less entertaining shows. Anonymous, 47, Chicago, Illinois

‘The show is short, but it’s full of great moments’
Perhaps Taylormania has not reached every corner of the planet. I had the entire auditorium to myself to watch the opening night screening at 11.15pm at the Vue cinema in Birkenhead. It was great for me to be sitting in the middle of the last row. The show is quite fragmentary in nature and does not have the flow or staging aesthetic of the 1989 films or the Reputation tour. Although it is full of great moments. The highlight was an absolutely convincing performance of All Too Well. Sing with complete conviction; All the countless sets and magnitude of the concert evaporate. You are faced with 10 minutes of emotional clarity and honesty, the camera almost exclusively on his face. The setting for Evermore’s songs was also vivid and memorable. So was the wild fun and color of the Karma concert, where everyone on stage can let loose a little. I’ll be keeping an eye out for resale tickets so I can see the show live at Anfield next year, if prices ever become affordable. John Keogh, Birkenhead

‘A surreal cinema experience’
I bought tickets with my friend with whom I will go to the concert next year. We do not accept the encouragement to dress up or hand out friendship bracelets, which we will save for the concert itself. At first it was announced that we could sing, dance and be as loud as we wanted. It was impossible not to get into the rhythm and it turned out to be emotional. Taylor Swift was intertwined with many of our upbringings over the past 15 years, making this a unique experience. The movie was almost three hours long, but it flew by. When Tolerate It started, some people were crying while singing; Each song meant something different to different people, so with each transition someone else stood up. We had a family (a mom, a dad, and an older daughter in front of us) all holding hands to listen to some of her older songs from the Fearless album. Sophie, 25, London

‘You are dragged’
I saw this at the Cineworld Imax in Leicester Square with my 15 year old son. I thought the movie was magnificent. Although this concerto doesn’t overtly tell a story, there is a magnificent flow of humor, rhythm, and theme with no jarring moments. Despite the length of the film, you get carried away. Crucially, the live version of some songs transforms them into something new: Champagne Problems reveals new glories here, and August’s performance is so impressive that it seems as if it were designed to be a centerpiece. Like many concert films, it probably won’t do well on the small screen, but in the cinema it’s tremendous. Jeremy Reynolds, 57, London