Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour Live

Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour Live
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour Live is a concert documentary that mostly focuses on Taylor Swift's performance in Sydney in front of over 70,000 fans, complete with an impressive light show and a string of celebrity guests. The film also features interviews with Swift discussing the planning of the show and her inspirations and motivations behind the album 1989. There are some semi-racy costumes (cropped tops, booty shorts, and shirtless male dancers), some sexy lyrics (many of Swift's songs talk about adult relationships, and Nelly performs "Hot in Herre"), and Swift addresses her reputation for being a serial dater. Guest Justin Timberlake drops a few swear words ("ass" and "s--t"). But parents will appreciate Swift's focus on self-acceptance and teaching girls to have strong, supportive relationships and reject mean-girl clichés.
Community Reviews
Superb concert production
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Inspiring film on how amazing the 1989 tour was
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What's the Story?
Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour Live mostly focuses on the Sydney leg of Swift's world tour, where she performed in front of over 70,000 fans, all wearing programmed glow bracelets that were choreographed with the show. Clips of the concert are also interspersed with interviews of Swift discussing the planning of the show and her inspiration for her 1989 album. There are also clips of celebrity appearances, ranging from Mick Jagger performing "Satisfaction" to Selena Williams waving on stage and behind-the-scenes glimpses of rehearsals.
Is It Any Good?
Fans of Swift who weren't fortunate enough to catch her 1989 world tour will love seeing the wildly elaborate show. It boasts an impressive light show, great choreography, and a dizzying array of celebrity guests. Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour Live features most of Swift's 1989 album, plus some fan favorites from previous albums. Swift's performance is on point, and her celebrity guests are a treat, with every genre of music represented.
The behind-the-scenes glimpses are great, but it would have been nice to see even more of them and perhaps a few fewer celebrity cameos. But parents will appreciate Swift's heartfelt appreciation of her fans and her success and her message of self-acceptance.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Taylor Swift as a role model. Do you think she's a positive role model? Why, or why not?
Why do you think Taylor Swift is so popular? What is so appealing about her songs?
Do you enjoy watching recorded concerts? How is the experience different from watching a live performance?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: December 20, 2015
- Cast: Taylor Swift
- Director: Jonas Akerlund
- Studio: Apple Music
- Genre: Documentary
- Run time: 132 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 26, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love music
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