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If there’s one thing you can count on, it's that every part of pop culture has a cycle. In the earl 2010s, we had a boon of concert films, and now after Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour movie, we’ve seen that cycle start anew. Now Billie Eilish is the latest star to receive a big-budget theatrical concert movie, and she’s made it alongside none other than Mr. Blockbuster himself James Cameron (“Avatar,” “Terminator 2: Judgement Day”) and his massive fleet of cutting-edge 3D technology.
Shot in Manchester in 2025, the film showcases one of Eilish’s live concert performances of her seventh headlining tour, the “Hit Me Hard and Soft” tour for the album of the same name. Spliced into the 3D footage of the live performance are interviews with Eilish conducted by Cameron, as well as behind the scenes moments leading up to the start of the film’s specific show.
Your mileage will immediately vary on the film based purely on the music of Eilish herself. The songs are undeniably well done, performed with high energy and tons of showmanship. But if you’re lacking in love for the 24-year-old sensation, then there’s nothing here that will convert you to a die hard. Instead of building a gran set or stage presence like someone like Taylor Swift, Eilish instead pares things down, focusing on a figure-eight shaped stage covered in screens to accentuate her performance. It results in a more intimate feeling show, as Eilish dances around the stage, hyping her fans up with each song.
Now, calling a show a multi-million-dollar tour filmed for a theatrical release as “intimate” might seem like an odd descriptor. But Cameron’s 3D technology really does draw the viewer in far more than might be expected. Cameras are mounted in almost every spot on the stage, from sweeping overhead setups to handheld ones Eilish grabs and runs around with. It allows you to feel as though you’re directly on stage with her as moves around and beneath her set.
Cameron and Eilish seem to have an immediate kinship as well, evident from the behind-the-scenes footage and interviews of Eilish present throughout the film. Cameron’s creative fascination with Eilish and her music comes across in every bit of the filmmaking, and especially in his interviews of her. They never come across as shallow or canned, instead the pair feel like genuine creative counterparts discussing how they view different aspects of their careers. Eilish’s down to earth nature doesn’t stop at the interviews either; she takes every opportunity to highlight her band, her backup singers, her brother Finneas, and her fans. There’s a sweetness to her love of performing and the people around her, on stage or in the stands, that bleeds through every part of the concert and, by extension, the film.
Therefore, the biggest issue with the overall film is just how little of the off-the-stage moments there are. The concert aspects are shot incredibly well and Eilish is a talented performer, but the interviews and behind the scenes elements are where things really shine and they unfortunately take up only ten to fifteen minutes. It’s disappointing given how excellent those elements are that they seem to take a backseat eventually, moving from an alternating structure of song, behind-the-scenes, song, behind-the-scenes, etc. to just constant songs after a while.
If you’re a fan of Eilish’s, you’ve likely already bought your tickets or possibly even seen the concert this film is made from. If you’re a fan of Cameron’s, you probably scratched your head when considering seeing the latest venture from the “King of 3D.” It provides a legitimately fantastic use of the technology and elevates what would otherwise be a well performed concert experience. If there was simply more of the already interesting background on Eilish or her work with Cameron, it could’ve made this a truly engrossing experience for fans and new converts to Billie’s style. Otherwise, it’ll certainly blow the doors off any theatre packed with her pre-existing fans. 3.5/5
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