TikTok convinced me I had seen the best of Taylor Swift's 'The Eras Tour.' Until I saw it in theaters.

Being of the age group that rarely set out to become a Taylor Swift fan, I unexpectedly found myself drawn into her world. When the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film hit theaters, I made sure to be there for the Sunday matinee.

I was one of the Ticketmaster casualties — among the 14 million people who attempted to snag tickets for Swift’s Eras Tour in November. Unfortunately, I missed out on attending the actual tour. Nevertheless, the concert film was not my initial introduction to The Eras Tour. It had already become a significant part of my daily routine over the six months prior, surfacing regularly on my FYP (For You Page) on TikTok. As part of my role as a digital culture reporter, I meticulously cataloged every surprise song for Mashable. I even engaged with fans outside MetLife Stadium for interviews. Thanks to my incessantly Swiftie-oriented algorithm, I consumed the show through numerous clips, including the famed “Vigilante Shit” chair choreography and Swift’s captivating performance of “August.” Consequently, I felt as though I had already witnessed the entire spectacle.

However, viewing the film proved to be an entirely distinct experience. As soon as Swift appeared on screen following “Lover,” with her adorned guitar, swaying to the opening notes of “Fearless,” I instantly realized that I had witnessed nothing yet. All the things the internet had convinced me to pay attention to — key changes, surprise songs, and the list of celebrities at each show — faded away. It was just me, Taylor, and all the eras we had shared. The film’s sheer scale amplified this feeling. The volume was so overpowering that I couldn’t discern if my fellow moviegoers were singing along, or if it was just me—and Taylor. (Though in many screenings, people indeed sang along and danced.)

Swift scarcely needed to address the crowd because her storytelling effortlessly forged an unbreakable bond with the audience. Yet, as she queried the tens of thousands of fans, “Are you willing to go back to high school with me?” I couldn’t help but cheer. And she transported me back in time. Fearless had imprinted itself on every adolescent fantasy I harbored about love, and its love songs represented a catalog of crushes.

It felt less like a viral moment and more like a celebration of her career.

When Swift seamlessly transitioned from the teenage Fearless era to the enchanting Evermore era — jerking me from elementary school to college — I was astounded that I hadn’t stumbled upon a single online clip of Swift cloaked in green, encircled by dancers flinging golden illuminated orbs. Nowhere on my TikTok feed was that to be found.

On my modest home screen, The Eras Tour was condensed into snippets primarily focused on Swift and her most beloved songs, but on the IMAX screen, the film captured every production detail and magnified the grandeur of her performances. It felt less like a viral moment and more like a celebration of her career.

The highlight of the nearly three-hour movie undoubtedly belonged to the Reputation era, particularly the mesmerizing shift from “…Ready For It” to a rock-infused rendition of “Look What You Made Me Do.”

During Folklore, akin to the Evermore era, the quieter, more intricately staged moments that had garnered little attention on social media, now gleamed on the screen. Such as the elaborate table setting (followed by climbing on it!) for “Tolerate It,” or the display of vibrant ball gowns for “The Last Great American Dynasty” — a scene reminiscent of the wedding during “Speak Now” on The Speak Now World Tour, my very first attended concert.

Despite the wave of nostalgia, the Folklore segment lagged, prompting me to turn to my roommate and lament, “When is 1989?!” Yet, Swift always knows the desires of her fans, and just as expected, the initial notes of “Style” reverberated through the IMAX speakers. During “Bad Blood,” the bass reached euphoric levels, akin to Oppenheimer‘s scale.

As a longstanding Swiftie, I was least engaged during the concluding era: Midnights. However, “Lavender Haze,” which saw Swift enveloped by glowing clouds on a raised platform, prompted a young girl in front of me to rise from her seat and dance. She mimicked Swift’s movements, down to holding an invisible microphone. Watching her was a transformative moment, one that couldn’t be justifiably captured on a phone screen, reigniting the Swiftie cycle within me.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour is now showing in theaters. Tickets are available for purchase at AMCTheatres.com and Fandango.com

Elena Cavender

Elena is a tech reporter and the resident Gen Z expert at Mashable. She covers TikTok and digital trends. She recently graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in American History. Email her at [email protected]or follow her@ecaviar_.