A concert film or concert movie is a film that showcases a live performance from the perspective of a concert goer, the subject of which is an extended live performance or concert by either a musician[1] or a stand-up comedian.[2]
One of the earliest-known concert films is the 1944 film Adventure in Music.[3] Another early film is the 1948 picture Concert Magic. This concert features virtuoso violinist Yehudi Menuhin (1916–1999) at the Charlie Chaplin Studios in 1947. Together with various artists he performed classical and romantic works of famous composers such as Beethoven, Wieniawski, Bach, Paganini and others.[4]
The earliest known jazz concert film is the 1959 film Jazz on a Summer's Day. The film was recorded during the fifth annual Newport Jazz Festival.[5] The earliest known rock concert film was the T.A.M.I. Show, which featured acts such as The Beach Boys, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, and the Rolling Stones.[6]
One of popular music's most ground-breaking concert films is (1972), directed by Adrian Maben, in which Pink Floyd perform a short set of songs inside the amphitheatre of Pompeii without an audience (save for the recording crew).
The term "rockumentary" was first used by Bill Drake in the 1969 History of Rock & Roll radio broadcast and is a portmanteau of "rock" and "documentary".[7] [8] The term was subsequently used to describe concert films containing appearances by multiple artists.[9] [10] Then, in 1976, the term was used by the promoters of the live musical production Beatlemania which documented the evolving career of The Beatles.[11] The 1984 mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap notably parodied the rockumentary genre.[12]
Other examples of this type of film include Menudo's 1981 film, , and Duran Duran's 85-minute 1984 video, Sing Blue Silver. The former mixes a Menudo concert (in Merida, Venezuela) with movie scenes and a plot, while the latter follows Duran Duran as they travel around Canada and the United States doing concerts and actual tourism.
, which has grossed $267.1 million worldwide,[13] [14] is the highest-grossing concert film of all time; the previous record for the concert film was held by (2011).[15] [16]
| Title | Year | Performer | Type | Worldwide gross | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023 | Taylor Swift | Music | $267,100,000 | |
| 2 | 2011 | Justin Bieber | $99,034,125 | ||
| 3 | 2008 | Miley Cyrus | $70,712,099 | ||
| 4 | 2013 | One Direction | $68,233,799 | ||
| 5 | Eddie Murphy Raw | 1987 | Eddie Murphy | Stand-up | $50,504,655 |
| 6 | 2023 | Beyoncé | Music | $44,389,684 | |
| 7 | 2000 | Steve HarveyD.L. HughleyCedric the EntertainerBernie Mac | Stand-up | $38,236,338 | |
| 8 | Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip | 1982 | Richard Pryor | Stand-up | $34,970,309 |
| 9 | Woodstock | 1970 | Various | Music | $34,699,266[17] |
| 10 | 2012 | Katy Perry | $32,700,439 | ||
| 12 | 2013 | Kevin Hart | Stand-up | $32,327,255 | |
| 13 | Metallica Through the Never | 2013 | Metallica | $31,900,000 | |
| 14 | 2009 | Jonas Brothers | Music | $30,428,831 | |
| 15 | BTS: Yet to Come in Cinemas | 2023 | BTS | $29,291,883 | |
| 16 | 1991 | $29,012,935 | |||
| 17 | U2 3D | 2008 | U2 | $26,170,402 | |
| 18 | 2016 | Stand-up | $23,591,043 | ||
| 19 | 2002 | Martin Lawrence | $19,184,820 | ||
| 20 | 2011 | Glee | Music | $17,462,398 | |
| 21 | 1983 | Richard Pryor | Stand-up | $16,156,776 | |
| 22 | 2021 | Religion | $13,388,000 | ||
| 23 | You So Crazy | 1994 | Martin Lawrence | Stand-up | $10,184,701 |
| 24 | 2018 | BTS | Music | $9,881,954 | |
| 25 | 1988 | U2 | $8,600,823 | ||
| 26 | Live Broadcast from Buenos Aires | 2022 | Coldplay | $8,400,000[18] | |
| 27 | 2011 | Kevin Hart | Stand-up | $7,712,436 | |
| 28 | Mayday Life | 2019 | Mayday | Music | $7,272,220 |
| 29 | 2012 | Stage production | $7,106,631 | ||
| 30 | Prima Facie | 2022 | Prima Facie | $6,646,622 | |
| 31 | BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in Seoul | 2019 | BTS | Music | $6,587,004 |
| 32 | Stop Making Sense | 1984 | Talking Heads | $5,694,759 | |
| 33 | Hamlet | 2015 | Hamlet | Stage production | $5,350,452 |
| 34 | Divine Madness | 2018 | Bette Midler | Music | $5,318,098 |
| 35 | 2019 | Les Misérables | Stage production | $5,042,935 | |
| 36 | IM Hero: The Final | 2023 | Lim Young-woong | Music | $4,514,656 |
| 37 | National Theatre Live: The Audience | 2013 | Stage production | $4,330,068 | |
| 38 | Romeo and Juliet (Secret Cinema 2018) | 2018 | Romeo and Juliet | $4,282,983 | |
| 39 | André Rieu 2018 Maastricht Concert | 2018 | André Rieu | Music | $3,869,719 |
| 40 | André Rieu: 70 Years Young | 2020 | $3,788,405 | ||
| 41 | Miss Saigon 25th Anniversary Performance | 2016 | Miss Saigon | Stage play | $3,720,532 |
| 42 | 2018 | Coldplay | Music | $3,500,000[19] | |
| 44 | André Rieu 2019 Maastricht Concert | 2019 | André Rieu | $3,495,372 | |
| 44 | National Theatre Live: Frankenstein | 2011 | Frankenstein | Stage production | $3,351,486 |
| 45 | Let's Spend the Night Together | 1983 | Music | $3,282,561 | |
| 46 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor | 2017 | Floyd Mayweather Jr.Conor McGregor | Sports | $3,250,019 |
| 47 | André Rieu's 2016 Maastricht Concert | 2016 | André Rieu | Music | $3,220,727 |
| 48 | 2015 | Stage production | $3,097,621 | ||
| 49 | André Rieu's 2017 Maastricht Concert | 2017 | André Rieu | Music | $3,097,621 |
| 50 | 2013 | Aida | $2,943,797 |
The top 15 are among the highest-grossing concert films. André Rieu is the most frequent performance with 13 titles on the list.
| Title | Year | Performer | Worldwide gross | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023 | Taylor Swift | $267,100,000 | ||
| 2 | 2011 | Justin Bieber | $99,034,125 | ||
| 3 | 2008 | Miley Cyrus | $70,712,099 | ||
| 4 | 2013 | One Direction | $68,233,799 | ||
| 5 | 2023 | Beyoncé | $44,043,065 | ||
| 6 | Woodstock | 1970 | Various | $34,699,266 | |
| 7 | 2012 | Katy Perry | $32,700,439 | ||
| 8 | Permission to Dance on Stage – Seoul: Live Viewing | 2022 | BTS | $32,600,000 | |
| 9 | Metallica Through the Never | 2013 | Metallica | $31,900,000 | |
| 10 | 2009 | Jonas Brothers | $30,428,831 | ||
| 11 | BTS: Yet to Come in Cinemas | 2023 | BTS | $29,291,883 | |
| 12 | 1991 | Madonna | $29,012,935 | ||
| 13 | U2 3D | 2008 | U2 | $26,170,402 | |
| 14 | 2018 | BTS | $20,347,513 | ||
| 15 | 1988 | U2 | $8,600,823 | ||
| 16 | Live Broadcast from Buenos Aires | 2022 | Coldplay | $8,400,000 | |
| 17 | Mayday Life | 2019 | Mayday | $7,272,220 | |
| 18 | BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in Seoul | 2019 | BTS | $6,587,004 | |
| 19 | Stop Making Sense | 1984 | Talking Heads | $5,694,759 | |
| 20 | Divine Madness | 2018 | Bette Midler | $5,318,098 | |
| 21 | IM Hero: The Final | 2023 | Lim Young-woong | $4,514,656 | |
| 22 | André Rieu 2018 Maastricht Concert | 2018 | André Rieu | $3,869,719 | |
| 23 | André Rieu: 70 Years Young | 2020 | $3,788,405 | ||
| 24 | 2018 | Coldplay | $3,500,000 | ||
| 25 | André Rieu 2019 Maastricht Concert | 2019 | André Rieu | $3,495,372 | |
| 26 | Let's Spend the Night Together | 1983 | $3,282,561 | ||
| 27 | André Rieu's 2016 Maastricht Concert | 2016 | André Rieu | $3,220,727 | |
| 28 | André Rieu's 2017 Maastricht Concert | 2017 | $3,097,621 | ||
| 29 | 2013 | Aida | $2,943,797 | ||
| 30 | 2022 | $2,881,726 | |||
| 31 | André Rieu's 2015 Maastricht Concert | 2015 | André Rieu | $2,862,599 | |
| 32 | André Rieu: Christmas with Andre 2016 | 2016 | $2,809,890 | ||
| 33 | André Rieu's Sydney Town Hall Concert – An Australian Celebration | 2018 | $2,806,603 | ||
| 34 | Greatest Hits Live | 2019 | Take That | $2,549,176 | |
| 35 | Depeche Mode: Spirits in the Forest | 2019 | Depeche Mode | $2,442,030 | |
| 36 | André Rieu's 2014 Maastricht Concert | 2014 | André Rieu | $2,190,155 | |
| 37 | Metallica & San Francisco Symphony S&M2 | 2019 | MetallicaSan Francisco Symphony | $2,179,640 | |
| 38 | Billie Eilish Live at the O2 | 2023 | Billie Eilish | $2,117,195 | |
| 39 | André Rieu 2023 Maastricht Concert: Love is All Around | André Rieu | $1,897,239 | ||
| 40 | André Rieu Live in Dublin | $1,826,384 | |||
| 41 | N'SYNC: Bigger Than Live | 2001 | NSYNC | $1,808,679 | |
| 42 | Cliff Richard Live: 60th Anniversary Tour | 2018 | Cliff Richard | $1,686,021 | |
| 43 | 2017 | Rammstein | $1,658,090 | ||
| 44 | Twenty One Pilots: Cinema Experience | 2022 | Twenty One Pilots | $1,560,000 | |
| 45 | André Rieu: Christmas with André 2021 | 2021 | André Rieu | $1,559,304 | |
| 46 | Take That Live 2015 | 2015 | Take That | $1,553,608 | |
| 47 | Take That: Wonderland Live from the O2 | 2017 | $1,422,889 | ||
| 48 | Big Bang Made | 2016 | BigBang | $1,404,745 | |
| 49 | André Rieu's: Magical Maastricht – Together in Music | 2020 | André Rieu | $1,295,288 | |
| 50 | David Gilmour Live at Pompei | 2017 | David Gilmour | $1,273,347 |
| Title | Year | Performer | Worldwide gross | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eddie Murphy Raw | 1987 | Eddie Murphy | $50,504,655 | |
| 2 | 2000 | Steve HarveyD.L. HughleyCedric the EntertainerBernie Mac | $38,236,338 | ||
| 3 | Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip | 1982 | Richard Pryor | $34,970,309 | |
| 4 | 2013 | Kevin Hart | $32,327,255 | ||
| 5 | 2016 | $23,591,043 | |||
| 6 | 2002 | Martin Lawrence | $19,184,820 | ||
| 7 | 1983 | Richard Pryor | $16,156,776 | ||
| 8 | Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy | 1994 | Martin Lawrence | $10,184,701 | |
| 9 | 2011 | Kevin Hart | $7,712,436 | ||
| 10 | 2014 | Gabriel Iglesias | $2,827,393 | ||
| 11 | 2005 | Sarah Silverman | $1,324,244 |
| Title | Year | Performance | Worldwide gross | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012 | $7,106,631 | |||
| 2 | Prima Facie | 2022 | Prima Facie | $6,646,622 | |
| 3 | Hamlet | 2015 | Hamlet | $5,350,452 | |
| 4 | 2019 | Les Misérables | $5,042,935 | ||
| 5 | National Theatre Live: The Audience | 2013 | $4,330,068 | ||
| 6 | Romeo and Juliet (Secret Cinema 2018) | 2018 | Romeo and Juliet | $4,282,983 | |
| 7 | Miss Saigon 25th Anniversary Performance | 2016 | Miss Saigon | $3,720,532 | |
| 8 | National Theatre Live: Frankenstein | 2011 | Frankenstein | $3,351,486 | |
| 9 | 2015 | $3,097,621 | |||
| 10 | Billy Elliot the Musical Live | 2014 | Billy Elliot the Musical | $2,815,788 | |
| 11 | 2018 | $2,692,907 | |||
| 12 | George Balanchine's The Nutcracker | 2011 | $2,119,994 | ||
| 13 | National Theatre Live: Present Laughter | 2019 | Present Laughter | $2,033,526 | |
| 14 | 2023 | $2,033,043 | |||
| 15 | Kinky Boots – The Musical | 2020 | Kinky Boots – The Musical | $1,997,631 | |
| 16 | National Theatre Live: A View From the Bridge | 2015 | $1,943,723 | ||
| 17 | Met Opera: Porgy and Bess | 2020 | Porgy and Bess | $1,913,398 | |
| 18 | National Theatre Live: Follies | 2017 | Follies | $1,842,192 | |
| 19 | Met Opera: La Boheme | 2018 | La Boheme | $1,774,848 | |
| 20 | National Theatre Live: One Man Two Guvnors | 2011 | One Man Two Guvnors | $1,714,891 | |
| 21 | National Theatre Live: All About Eve | 2019 | All About Eve | $1,710,659 | |
| 22 | Met Opera: Madama Butterfly | 2019 | Madama Butterfly | $1,696,923 | |
| 23 | National Theatre Live: Good | 2023 | Good | $1,674,053 | |
| 24 | National Theatre Live: Of Mice and Men | 2014 | Of Mice and Men | $1,664,500 | |
| 25 | Royal Opera House: The Nutcracker | 2017 | $1,635,459 | ||
| 26 | National Theatre Live: The Lehman Trilogy | 2019 | $1,531,395 | ||
| 27 | Royal Opera House: The Nutcracker | 2018 | $1,512,712 | ||
| 28 | Met Opera: Turandot (2018) Encore (2018) | 2018 | TurandotEncore | $1,500,000 | |
| 29 | Met Opera: Der Rosenkavalier | 2017 | Der Rosenkavalier | $1,498,974 | |
| 30 | 2015 | $1,494,137 | |||
| 31 | All My Sons | 2019 | All My Sons | $1,454,828 | |
| 32 | Met Opera – Agrippina | 2020 | Agrippina | $1,453,796 | |
| 33 | No Man's Land – NT Live 2016 | 2016 | No Man's Land | $1,380,144 | |
| 34 | Allelujah | 2018 | Allelujah! | $1,347,137 | |
| 35 | De Club van Sinterklaas & Het Grote Pietenfees | 2020 | De Club van Sinterklaas | $1,336,192 | |
| 36 | National Theatre Live: Hansard | 2019 | Hansard | $1,318,622 | |
| 37 | National Theater Live 2017: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead | 2017 | Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead | $1,245,590 | |
| 38 | NT Live: Yerma | 2017 | Yerma | $1,238,299 | |
| 39 | Branagh Theatre Live: Romeo & Juliet 2016 | 2016 | Romeo and Juliet | $1,223,663 | |
| 40 | National Theatre Live: Twelfth Night | 2017 | Twelfth Night | $1,210,769 | |
| 41 | National Theater Live: Cyrano de Bergerac | 2020 | Cyrano de Bergerac | $1,195,764 | |
| 42 | 2016 | $1,188,225 | |||
| 43 | National Theatre Live: Small Island | 2019 | Small Island | $1,180,476 | |
| 44 | National Theater Live Amadeus | 2017 | Live Amadeus | $1,151,772 | |
| 45 | NT Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses | 2016 | Les Liaisons Dangereuses | $1,135,686 | |
| 46 | Royal Opera House Swan Lake | 2018 | Swan Lake | $1,131,961 | |
| 47 | Royal Opera House The Sleeping Beauty | 2020 | Sleeping Beauty | $1,097,859 | |
| 48 | National Theater Live Hedda Gabler | 2017 | Hedda Gabler | $1,085,982 | |
| 49 | National Theatre Live: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | 2018 | Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | $1,071,526 | |
| 50 | Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake | 2019 | Swan Lake | $1,068,862 |