Two Taylor Swift Films Dominate The Top Grossing Concert Films Of All Time, But It Was #5 That Surprised Me The Most

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It’s no surprise that Taylor Swift dominates the list of highest-grossing concert films. Her latest movie, *Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl*, is currently ranked #7, and her 2023 film, *Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour*, earned over $180 million – significantly more than the #2 film, *Justin Bieber: Never Say Never*. What’s most surprising is that the classic 1970 concert film *Woodstock* still ranks as high as #5 on the list.

Woodstock Has Earned $50 Million At The Box Office

When it came out, the movie was a big success and broke new ground for concert films. It helped pave the way for iconic films like *The Last Waltz* and Talking Heads’ *Stop Making Sense*, building on the impact of *Woodstock*. Beyond entertainment, the film captured a truly important moment for both music festivals and American culture.

I remember hearing about Woodstock – almost half a million people showed up! But so many more of us wished we could have been there. Luckily, the movie came out seven months later and gave us a taste of what it was like. It was a huge hit – one of the top-grossing films of 1970! And honestly, I’m still amazed that it’s *still* so popular today, with a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s been 55 years, and I, for one, still love watching it – it’s incredible how well it’s held up.

Woodstock Was More Than A Movie

The 1969 festival quickly became famous, not just for incredible performances by artists like Jimi Hendrix, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Santana, but also for the massive crowds gathered on Max Yasgur’s farm in New York. Images of the often-nude attendees are just as memorable as Hendrix’s iconic performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at sunrise, which capped off the three days of Peace, Love, and Music. The resulting film is a blend of documentary and concert footage.

The festival has become increasingly influential over time. The 25th anniversary in 1994 was a major hit with Gen X audiences, even if it didn’t translate to financial success. While the 1999 festival was a notorious failure, it inadvertently paved the way for modern festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo by demonstrating what *not* to do. The event is featured in the compelling documentary series, *Trainwreck*, available on Netflix.

To mark its 25th anniversary in 1994, a special director’s cut of the *Woodstock* film was re-released in cinemas, bringing the total earnings to $50 million. Considering the festival and film remain popular, a new release for the 60th anniversary in four years is definitely a possibility.

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2025-10-08 15:40