highest grossing michael jackson tour

The Weeknd surpasses Michael Jackson for highest-grossing tour by a Black artist

The toronto star's after hours til dawn tour has made more than $350 million.

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The Weeknd has set a new world record, this time surpassing Michael Jackson to hold the title of highest-grossing tour in history by a Black artist. 

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The Toronto R&B star has been on his After Hours Till Dawn tour since summer 2022, and is currently on the European leg of the tour performing in countries including Germany, France and Spain. The Weeknd's tour, in support of his two pandemic releases After Hours and Dawn FM , is scheduled to wrap in Mexico this October. The tour has already made more than $350 million in revenue. Until now, Michael Jackson held this touring record with his 1987 Bad tour, which grossed $311 million after adjusting for inflation (as calculated by Hot New Hip Hop ).

Today, the Weeknd indirectly acknowledged this new record by posting a video of himself covering Jackson's 1988 song "Dirty Diana" at his concert in Belgium. "my king. then, now and forever. rest easy," he wrote in the caption. 

Jackson has been a longtime influence on the Weeknd's music. Back in 2016, he told the Los Angeles Times : "Michael, man, that guy was the star. He invented the star. There will never be another Michael. I want to make it very clear that I'm not trying to be Michael. He's everything to me, so you're going to hear it in my music." 

In addition to this latest record, the Weeknd's HBO concert special, Live at Sofi Stadium , earned two Emmy Award nominations today, for lighting design/direction and technical direction/camerawork. 

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.

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The Weeknd has set a new tour record previously held by Michael Jackson, notoriously known as the “King of Pop,” for over 20 years.

Since the summer of 2022, the Canadian performer has embarked on his ongoing “ After Hours Til Dawn Tour ” in support of his fourth and fifth studio albums. With his millions of fans and constant chart-topping records, many believed Weeknd could do something special with his seventh tour, and he did.

The Grammy Award-winning singer has passed the late Jackson’s record for the highest-grossing tour ever by a Black artist . His global experience has already garnished over $350 million in revenue. Jackson held the record since 1987 when he went on his “Bad Tour.” According to Hot New Hip Hop , the musical icon grossed $311 million after adjusting for inflation.

After setting a new tour marker, Weeknd celebrated the milestone by honoring Jackson , who passed away in 2009 at age 50. The “I Feel It Coming” producer shared a video of a fan recording his performance of Jackson’s ’80s hit “Dirty Diana” in Brussels, Belgium. “My king. Then, now, and forever. Rest easy,” Weeknd captioned his Instagram post .

Per Billboard , Weeknd joined Jackson earlier this year as the only male soloist with multiple Hot 100 No. 1s from three or more albums. If not in concert, most fans can see Weeknd on TV portraying Tedros, a nightclub impresario, on HBO’s “The Idol.” In a previous interview with W magazine , the talented storyteller opened up about the difficulties of juggling re-filming the series as Tedros while performing live as his stage name .

“I had to rest and reflect and think about The Weeknd and Tedros and all that had happened with the show. I realized that I need to know that, I’ve made the best version of whatever I’m making. It was a challenge to redo ‘ The Idol ,’ and, in truth, I sacrificed my health and home to make it work,” he said. “When you’ve done the best you can, I would call that a happy ending.”

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Michael Jackson Immortal Tour Wraps With Eighth-Best Gross of All Time

Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour has wrapped after its three-year run, earning the No. 8 slot on the list of the top-grossing tours of all time with $360 million, based on…

By Bob Allen

Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour has wrapped after its three-year run, earning the No. 8 slot on the list of the top-grossing tours of all time with $360 million, based on Billboard Boxscore. The tour played its final performance on Aug. 31 in Guadalajara, Mexico, the last of 501 shows at 157 venues in 28 countries worldwide. The production celebrating the music of the late King of Pop began in Montreal on Oct. 2, 2011, and included legs in four continents during its run that logged a total attendance count of 3,369,207.

Here's How to Win Tickets to the Billboard Hip-Hop Live Concert Headlined by Teezo Touchdown…

U2 reigns atop the all-time Billboard Boxscore ranking (see list below) with $736 million in sales from its 360° tour, which played stadiums from 2009 through 2011. The veteran Irish band also takes the No. 6 slot with its Vertigo tour from 2005-07 ($389 million). The Rolling Stones are the only other act with two tours on the list, with A Bigger Bang (2005-07) at No. 2 with $558 million and Voodoo Lounge (1994-95) ranking 10th with $320 million. The sole female headliner on the all-time top 10 is Madonna at No. 5 with her Sticky & Sweet tour ($408 million in 2008-2009. The top sole male tour goes to Roger Waters ‘ “The Wall Live” (2010-13) with $459 million.

Guadalajara’s Arena VFG hosted the Jackson tribute tour for its final engagement of seven performances from Aug. 28 through 31. With $3 million in sales at the Mexican arena, the Cirque du Soleil concert production makes its last appearance on Billboard’s weekly slate of Hot Tours, ranking third this week. Leading the tally at No. 1 is country star Jason Aldean with $5.5 million in sales from his Burn It Down tour, currently on the road in North America through October. With Florida Georgia Line and Tyler Farr on the bill, the Macon, Ga., native has packed stadiums, outdoor amphitheaters, arenas, fairs and festivals during his summer outing that kicked off at the beginning of May. Box office revenue since the launch is now at $25 million from almost a half-million tickets sold.

Teenage pop star Austin Mahone grabs the No. 2 Hot Tours ranking for the week with $3.6 million in sales reported from his Secret tour that wrapped in North America on Aug. 21 in Philadelphia. The tour played 19 markets in the U.S. and Canada during a four-week run that kicked off on July 25 in San Antonio. The attendance count topped 78,000 during the tour that featured the Vamps , Fifth Harmony and Shawn Mendes as openers. The top grosses came from two major markets on the schedule: New York and Los Angeles. The Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., produced the top gross and attendance totals with $375,786 in sales from a sellout crowd of 7,457 on Aug. 20. Southern California fans filled L.A.’s NOKIA Theatre on July 30 with 5,790 sold seats and $301K at the box office, the second highest gross on the tour.

Top 10 Highest Grossing Tours ­ according to Billboard Boxscore (in millions)

1. U2 – 360° (2009-11) – $736 2. The Rolling Stones ­ A Bigger Bang (2005-07) – $558 3. Roger Waters ­ The Wall Live (2010-13) – $459 4. AC/DC ­ Black Ice (2008-10) – $441 5. Madonna ­ Sticky & Sweet (2008-09) – $408 6. U2 ­ Vertigo (2005-07) – $389 7. The Police ­ Reunion (2007-08) – $362 8. Michael Jackson Immortal (2011-14) – $360 9. Bruce Springsteen ­ Wrecking Ball (2012-13) – $347 10. The Rolling Stones ­ Voodoo Lounge (1994-95) – $320

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The Weeknd has set a new tour record previously held by Michael Jackson, notoriously known as the “King of Pop,” for over 20 years.

Since the summer of 2022, the Canadian performer has embarked on his ongoing “ After Hours Til Dawn Tour ” in support of his fourth and fifth studio albums. With his millions of fans and constant chart-topping records, many believed Weeknd could do something special with his seventh tour, and he did.

The Grammy Award-winning singer has passed the late Jackson’s record for the highest-grossing tour ever by a Black artist . His global experience has already garnished over $350 million in revenue. Jackson held the record since 1987 when he went on his “Bad Tour.” According to Hot New Hip Hop , the musical icon grossed $311 million after adjusting for inflation.

After setting a new tour marker, Weeknd celebrated the milestone by honoring Jackson , who passed away in 2009 at age 50. The “I Feel It Coming” producer shared a video of a fan recording his performance of Jackson’s ’80s hit “Dirty Diana” in Brussels, Belgium. “My king. Then, now, and forever. Rest easy,” Weeknd captioned his Instagram post .

Per Billboard , Weeknd joined Jackson earlier this year as the only male soloist with multiple Hot 100 No. 1s from three or more albums. If not in concert, most fans can see Weeknd on TV portraying Tedros, a nightclub impresario, on HBO’s “The Idol.” In a previous interview with W magazine , the talented storyteller opened up about the difficulties of juggling re-filming the series as Tedros while performing live as his stage name .

“I had to rest and reflect and think about The Weeknd and Tedros and all that had happened with the show. I realized that I need to know that, I’ve made the best version of whatever I’m making. It was a challenge to redo ‘ The Idol ,’ and, in truth, I sacrificed my health and home to make it work,” he said. “When you’ve done the best you can, I would call that a happy ending.”

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The Weeknd Celebrates Smashing Michael Jackson's Tour Revenue Record

The Weeknd has obliterated a tour record previously held by none other than the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson .

According to Buzzing Pop , the Canadian crooner’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour has become the best-selling tour in history by a Black artist with $350 million in ticket sales.

MJ was previously the owner of the record with his 1987 Bad Tour, which grossed $311 million, adjusted for inflation. It came in support of his album of the same name and was the second highest-grossing tour of the ’80s behind Pink Floyd’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour.

The Weeknd celebrated the achievement by posting a video on Twitter on Wednesday (July 12) of him performing an emphatic cover of Jackson’s “Dirty Diana” during a recent tour stop.

“My king. then, now and forever. rest easy,” he wrote in the caption.

The After Hours Til Dawn Tour took The Weeknd across North America between July and November 2022, while its international leg began this past June in Lisbon, Portugal.

There are still a few months left on the massive 64-date trek, which ends on October 25 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Kaytranada, Snoh Aalegra and Mike Dean have served as the support acts after original opener Doja Cat was forced to pull out due to tonsil surgery .

The Weeknd has a long way to go yet before he claims the record for the highest-grossing tour ever, though, as that coveted title currently belongs to Elton John’s recently wrapped-up Farewell Yellow Brick Road, which pulled in a staggering $910 million across 320 shows.

The news comes shortly after The Weeknd equalled a separate Michael Jackson record in March, when he tied his longstanding Billboard chart feat of being the only artist to have multiple No. 1 hits from numerous albums.

Jackson garnered multiple No. 1 hits on albums such as 1979’s  Off the Wall , 1982’s  Thriller , and 1987’s  Bad , according to  Billboard .

Meanwhile, The Weeknd topped the charts with singles from 2015’s  Beauty Behind the Madness , 2016’s  Starboy and 2020’s  After Hours . He scored his seventh No. 1 in 2016 thanks to his “Die For You” collaboration with Ariana Grande.

related news

June 8, 2023

The “Starboy” hitmaker recently made more history by breaking the London Stadium’s record for highest attendance during a show.

According to Variety , the 33-year-old played to 160,000 people across two nights at the English stadium earlier this month.

The 80,000 fans he drew during each of those two shows represent the highest single-night attendance for any show at the venue.

The Weeknd celebrated the monumental achievement by posting a video on Twitter of him “dueting with 80,000 people” while performing his My Dear Melancholy smash “Call Out My Name.”

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• Michael Jackson

The Weeknd’s ‘After Hours Til Dawn’ Breaks Michael Jackson’s Record for Highest-Grossing Tour of All Time Among Black Artists

Much like his fellow chart topper Chris Brown , global superstar The Weeknd is no stranger to fielding comparisons to King of Pop Michael Jackson over his illustrious career.

From milestone certifications at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to history-making stats at Billboard, the 2020’s have seen the Canadian hitmaker (born Abel Tesfaye ) accomplish other-worldly successes that have repeatedly put his name in the chat with the insurmountable stats of MJ’s.

Now, thanks to the ongoing success of the international ‘ After Hours Til Dawn Stadium Tour ‘ (designed to support the 2020 blockbuster project ‘ After Hours ‘ and 2022 hit LP ‘ Dawn FM ‘), the Abel/Michael conversation expands to touring box office receipts.

See how inside.

Last weekend, The Weeknd broke the attendance record for London Stadium – a location that seats a whopping 80,000. With sold out, back-to-back shows on July 7th and 8th as part of the hotly-selling ‘After Hours Til Dawn Tour,’ the jaunt courted 160,000 attendees over two dates and now holds the record for highest assembly of concertgoers at the massive venue.

“It’s incredible to see The Weeknd hit this milestone less than halfway through his massive sold out European run,” stated Live Nation’s Omar Al-joulani , President of Touring, in a recent interview with Variety. “This historic moment in London shows the global fanbase he has cultivated over the years.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('primis_TGJ_1x1_Desk'); if (pubwise.enabled === true) { pwpbjs.que.push(function () { pwRegisterLazyLoad(gptadslots['primis_TGJ_1x1_Desk'], 2, [250,0,250,0], 0, 768, 2); }); }else{ googletag.pubads().refresh([gptadslots['primis_TGJ_1x1_Desk']]); } });

Tesfaye chimed in as well by taking to social media to thank his dedicated fans.

The London Stadium news came just as reports surfaced Abel’s ‘After Hours Til Dawn Tour’ had crossed the $350 million revenue-generated mark – a historic milestone for a Black artist. Before this, the King of Pop’s 1987 ‘ Bad Tour ‘ (which grossed $311 million) held the record.

What’s more, the Weeknd’s global still has much of Europe to cover including stops in Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland before hopping over to Latin America and wrapping up in late October.

At this rate, the show’s final box office count could easily top $500 million – a feat that would mark a first for any Black artist and would make ‘After Hours Til Dawn’ one of the top 5 highest-grossing tours of all time for any solo act.

Top 5 Solo Tours of All Time

(as of time reported & not accounting for inflation).

Elton John ‘s ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour’ – $910m

Ed Sheeran ‘s ‘Divide Tour’ – $776m

Harry Styles ‘ ‘Love on Tour’ – $501m

Roger Waters ‘ ‘The Wall Live’ – $458M

Madonna – $411m ‘Sticky & Sweet Tour’

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The Weeekemd just grossed higher than Rihannas entire career of touring off 1 tour.

Beyoncé — 1.1B MJ – 950M Jay Z — 695M Drake — $428M Rihanna — 336M

Rihanna ain’t s:hit. You won’t be missed if she won’t released any album again

Billboard Hot 100: All-Time Top Black Solo Artists (adjusted all-time Hot 100 points):

1. Mariah Carey 15.8 million 2. Stevie Wonder 14.3 million 3. Janet Jackson 13.4 million 4. Michael Jackson 13 million 5. Drake 12.8 million 6. Whitney Houston 12.6 million 7. Rihanna 12 million 8. Usher 10.3 million 9. Prince 10 million 10. Aretha Franklin 9.9 million 11. Marvin Gaye 8.2 million 12. Diana Ross 7.8 million 13. Donna Summer 7.6 million 14. Beyonce 7.4 million 15. Lionel Richie 7.4 million . . . . . . . . . . 28. Nicki Minaj 4.6 million

Lol Kneeyonce ain’t even top 10. This supposed to be a flex fattie?

Another ‘history making’ post. History! History! History! Tgj needs a thesaurus

It’s all for clicks 🖱️

$311 million in 1989 is $765 million today, so Abel is nowhere near MJ’s level. All these record breaking numbers are part of a lucrative agenda to fool people into believing that there are future legends in music today.

More ppl were buying and listening to older music a few couple months ago. Now these artists are breaking 30 year old records????

Which is it…

Lol “$311 million in 1989 is $765 million today,”?

What you meant to say was “$125 million in 1989 is $311 million today”…

That mj figure was ALREADY adjusted for inflation. 😆 🤣 😂

$350M > $311M 💯 💶

Ok, I missed that. But that will be the highest peak of the career he has had stealing MJ’s aesthetic.

Bad grossed $125 million…

Did not even know the weekday was on tour. I mean… does it matter? MJ’s hologram will outperform “Unabel” with just a smooth lean. No one is worried about this. He’s a trash performer at best.

Disgraceful…

Michael Jackson is in a different league to “Abel”

Ok, and? The WEAKnd will never be as legendary as MJ. 14 years after his death he’s still more popular and iconic than everyone on Earth😭😭😭

WHy do people like this dude? I did like the trilogy ep he put out but that’s it. Even then, he is NOT big to me and his music is mediocre at best. Idk why his fans hype him up. He cannot sing at all. Or dance, he is boring

While I have liked a few of Weeknd’s songs, I can’t be considered a true fan. As far as him setting a new record for the highest-grossing tour, I’ll just say that records were made to be broken. However, Michael Jackson’s concerts were “otherworldly” and no one will ever compare to his talent and ability to create an atmosphere of magic. Plus, the prices of concert tickets have literally skyrocketed over the last five years contributed to monstrous sales figures! Michael was not in favor of price-gouging where his concerts were concerned. He wanted as many fans as possible to see him live. They’ll never, EVER be anyone that can capture the world like MJ did!

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The Weeknd Breaks Michael Jackson’s Record for the Highest-Grossing Tour By A Black Artist

The Weeknd has set a new tour record previously held by Michael Jackson, notoriously known as the “King of Pop,” for over 20 years.

via: Variety

Over the past weekend, the Weeknd broke London Stadium’s record for highest attendance with his two-night stand at the venue on Friday and Saturday, which drew 160,000 people to his “After Hours Til Dawn Tour.”

The tour also holds the record for highest single-night attendance for any show at the stadium with 80,000 fans.

According to promoter Live Nation, the tour has already sold more than 2 million tickets for its European and forthcoming South America and Mexico dates — and 200,000 for both England and France. The sold-out 2022 North American leg of the stadium tour grossed more than $148 million dollars. The global tour has now grossed over $350 million dollars to date.

“It’s incredible to see the Weeknd hit this milestone less than halfway through his massive sold-out European run,” Omar Al-joulani, Live Nation’s president of touring, tells Variety. “This historic moment in London shows the global fanbase he has cultivated over the years.”

Darryl Eaton, CAA’s co-head of North American touring, adds, “On the heels of an enormous, hugely successful U.S. tour, Abel continues to sell at an astounding level across Europe. Abel entertained 160,000 fans across two nights at London Stadium, with another show in London to come at Wembley in August. We couldn’t be more proud to work with him and his team on this incredible tour!”

The Grammy Award-winning singer has passed the late Jackson’s record for the highest-grossing tour ever by a Black artist. His global experience has already garnished over $350 million in revenue. Jackson held the record since 1987 when he went on his “Bad Tour.” According to Hot New Hip Hop , the musical icon grossed $311 million after adjusting for inflation.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd)

• Michael Jackson

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The Weeknd's Tour Becomes The Highest-Grossing Tour Of The Decade

The Weeknd ’s After Hours Til Dawn tour continues to make waves overseas, especially now that he’s set a new global record. According to a press release, the Canadian singer’s global tour grossed over $350 million since it launched in 2022, making it the highest-grossing tour of the decade. The North American leg, which included dates in Canada and the U.S., grossed $148 million in sales. However, he brought that to over $350 million in sales following sold-out back-to-back shows in London . Additionally, he set a new record at the stadium, drawing in 160,000 between both nights. The Weeknd now holds the record for the highest single-night attendance for any show at the stadium with 80,000 fans at the venue. However, he’s yet to wrap up his forthcoming tour. In the midst of the second leg, Live Nation reports that the tour already sold more than 2 million tickets between Europe and the forthcoming South American dates. It’s no small feat for any artist but The Weeknd has undoubtedly set an impressive bar for himself and other artists across the world. 

Read More : The Weeknd Two Singles, Including Lil Baby & Suzanna Son Collab “False Idols,” Ahead Of “The Idol” Finale

The Weeknd Beats Michael Jackson?

Following his latest feat, it appears that The Weeknd may have beaten Michael Jackson’s record for the highest-grossing tour by a Black artist. Michael Jackson’s Bad tour reportedly held the title with $311 million with inflation, while The Weeknd passed the $350 million mark. It’s an impressive feat but perhaps, one that Beyoncé might beat with the Renaissance World Tour . Some economists have predicted that Bey could pull in billions from the global venture.

Still, it’s clear that the love for The Weeknd hasn’t waned following his controversial television show The Idol , which debuted on HBO earlier this year. The singer’s faced plenty of criticism over the past few weeks from fans, some of which felt as though they couldn’t listen to his music the same way after following the series. Still, The Weeknd seemingly brushed off any criticism while Da’Vine Joy Randolph suggested that there might be a second season underway. We'll keep you posted on anymore updates surrounding that. Have you checked out The Weeknd's "After Hours" tour yet?

Read More : The Weeknd Hit With More Criticism For His Acting In Episode 3 Of “The Idol”

• After Hours Til Dawn Tour

Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ Movie Is Now the Most Successful Concert Film and Doc Ever

By Jon Blistein

Jon Blistein

As a counterweight to snubs and bad jokes at the Golden Globes last night, Taylor Swift at least has reason to celebrate her Eras Tour movie becoming the highest-grossing concert film and documentary ever.

In a press release , AMC Theaters said Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour has now raked in over $261.6 million globally, just putting it past the previous record holder, Michael Jackson’s This Is It . That film was released in 2009, just a few months after Jackson’s death, and grossed $261.2 million.

The Eras Tour movie was always likely to achieve this feat. It became the top-grossing concert film in America the week it opened back in October, grossing around $97 million. That immediately put it past previous domestic champs, Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never , with $73 million, and This Is It at $72 million.  

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In recognition of the wild success of The Eras Tour , the documentary earned a nomination for the Golden Globes’ new Cinematic and Box Office Achievement prize. Swift was on hand at the show last night, though the film ended up losing to Barbie. (To add insult to injury, she also had to endure a very rough joke from host Jo Koy about her boyfriend Travis Kielce and the NFL.)

Swift is set to resume the Eras Tour in February with a run of shows in Asia and Australia, followed by a European and U.K. that starts in May and runs through the summer. She’ll then close the record-breaking trek out for good with one more slate of shows in the U.S. and Canada in October and November.

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Taylor Swift: ‘The Eras Tour concert film has become the highest-grossing concert film of all time, earning an impressive $180 million domestically since its debut on Thursday, October 12.

Among the list of the top-grossing concert films at the domestic box office are the recently rereleased Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé , storming in with a &21 million opening weekend gross, Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense,  J ustin Bieber: Never Say Never,   Madonna: Truth or Dare ; U2: 3D and BTS, with three of the latter’s films making it onto the Top 20 chart.

Eras Tour had its premiere on October 11 in Los Angeles, where 13 theaters at the AMC venue at The Grove were dedicated to hosting the premiere of the concert film. It surpassed $100 million in ticket presales and became the second highest-grossing film of all time in the month of October. Globally, it’s first-week global gross was $123.5 million.

The “Eras Tour” is Swift’s sixth concert tour, characterized as a musical journey through all of her diverse “eras.” Paying tribute to her various albums, the tour represents her most extensive undertaking to date, spanning 146 performances across five continents.

Scroll below to look at the top 20 domestic-grossing music concert films.

1. TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOUR – $180,756,269

Directed by Sam Wrench, the documentary follows Taylor Swift with footage of performances from her 2023 concert tour. It was released in 2023 and to date has grossed $180,756,269 domestic

2. JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER – $73,013,910

Directed by Jon M. Chu, the documentary follows Justin Bieber with some footage of performances from his 2010 concert tour. It was released in 2011 and to date has grossed $73,013,910 domestic

3. THIS IS IT, (aka MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT) – $72,091,016

Directed by Kenny Ortega, the documentary is a compilation of interviews, rehearsals, and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London. It was released in 2009 and to date has grossed $72,091,016 domestic

4. HANNAH MONTANA/MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT TOUR – $65,281,781

Directed by Bruce Hendricks, the film is a 3-D concert film of the 2007 Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus tour. It was released in 2008 and to date has grossed $65,281,781 domestic

5. WOODSTOCK – $35,000,000

Directed by Michael Wadleigh, the Oscar-winning musical chronicle brilliantly captured the three-day rock concert and celebration of peace and love that became a capstone for the Sixties. It was released in 1970 and to date has grossed $35,000,000 domestic

6. RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ – $33,889,684

Beyoncé in performance at her record-breaking RENAISSANCE World Tour and the creative mastermind behind it. It was released in 2023 and to date has grossed $33,889,684 domestic

7. ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US, (aka THIS IS US) – $28,873,374

Directed by Morgan Spurlock, the film looks at Niall, Zayn, Liam, Louis, and Harry’s meteoric rise to fame, from their humble hometown beginnings and competing on the X-Factor, to conquering the world and performing at London’s famed O2 Arena. It was released in 2013 and to date has grossed $28,873,374 domestic

8. KATY PERRY: PART OF ME – $25,326,071

Directed by Dan Cutforth & Jane Lipsitz, the film is a look at the life, career and music of singer Katy Perry as it follows her on the California Dreams World Tour. It was released in 2013 and to date has grossed $25,326,071 domestic

9. JONAS BROTHERS: THE 3D CONCERT EXPERIENCE – $19,162,740

Directed by Bruce Hendricks, the film is a A 3-D concert film of the 2008 Jonas Brothers “Burning Up” concert tour, as well as documentary footage on the lives of the three brothers. It was released in 2009 and to date has grossed $19,162,740 domestic

10. MADONNA: TRUTH OR DARE – $15,012,935

Directed by Alek Keshishian, the documentary follows singer Madonna on her controversial Blond Ambition tour in 1990. It was released in 1991 and to date has grossed $15,012,935 domestic

11. GLEE: THE 3D CONCERT MOVIE – $11,862,398

Directed by Kevin Tancharoen & Jennifer Arnold, the concert documentary shot during the Glee Live! In Concert! summer 2011 tour, featured song performances and Glee fans’ life stories and how the show influenced them. It was released in 2011 and to date has grossed $11,862,398 domestic

12. U2: 3D – $10,363,341

Directed by Catherine Owens & Mark Pellington, the concert documentary is 3-D presentation of U2’s global Vertigo tour. Shot at seven different shows, this production employed the greatest number of 3-D cameras ever used for a single project at the time. It was released in 2007 and to date has grossed $10,363,341 domestic

13. STOP MAKING SENSE REMASTERED, – $10,306,902

Directed by Jonathan Demme, The documentary is considered by critics as the greatest concert film of all time, the live performance was shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater in December of 1983 and features Talking Heads’ most memorable songs. It was originally released in 1984 and then re-released in 2023 and to date has grossed $10,306,902 domestic

14. BTS: YET TO COME IN CINEMAS – $8,732,538

The concert documentary showcases BTS’ massive free show at Busan’s World Expo in October, which welcomed more than 50,000 in-person guests. It was released in 2023 and to date has grossed $8,732,538 domestic

15. U2: RATTLE & HUM – $8,600,823

Directed by Phil Joanou, the documentary is of the U2 on their Fall 1987 tour of North America. It was released in 1988 and to date has grossed $8,600,823 domestic

16. BTS Permission to Dance on Stage – Seoul: Live Viewing – $6,851,350

Directed by Ha Jung Jae, Permission to Dance On Stage is a series of performances headlined by South Korean band BTS. It was released in 2022 and to date has grossed $6,851,350 domestic

17. SHINE A LIGHT – $5,505,267

Directed by Martin Scorsese, The film is a career-spanning documentary on The Rolling Stones, with concert footage from their A Bigger Bang tour. It was released in 2008 and to date has grossed $5,505,267 domestic

18. PAVAROTTI – $4,600,246

Directed by Ron Howard, The film is about the Life, works and achievements of opera legend Luciano Pavarotti. It was released in 2019 and to date has grossed $4,600,246 domestic

19. AMAZING GRACE – $4,446,414

Directed by Alan Elliott, The documentary presented Aretha Franklin with choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January 1972. It was released in 2018 and to date has grossed $4,446,414 domestic

20. BURN THE STAGE: THE MOVIE – $4,201,819

Directed by Jun-Soo Park, The documentary follows the worldwide famous music group BTS, as they tour the world and share their experience along with their beloved band friends and fans. It was released in 2018 and to date has grossed $4,201,819 domestic

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The 10 Highest-Grossing Concert Movies of All Time

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Will taylor swift's concert movie be the biggest film this year, every live-action lex luthor, ranked.

There is nothing like attending the concert of your favorite artist. Concertgoers experience the music not from the comfort of their own room, but in a venue with anywhere from a small number to millions of people. The artist is no longer someone that exists exclusively in the digital realm, but a real person performing in front of their fans. Concerts offer an incredible experience, but for many practical reasons, there will always be people who are unable to attend.

That's where concert movies come in , which present an alternative to being there in-person. 2023 is seeing the rise of the concert movie, as evidenced by the presales of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour , the announcement of Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé , and the re-release of the beloved Talking Heads film, Stop Making Sense . Join us as we look at the 10 highest-grossing concert movies of all time.

10 Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (2011) — $18.7M

The musical comedy-drama series, Glee , is one of the most popular television series of the early-2010s. Glee: The 3D Concert Movie stars 14 members of the series' cast, including Cory Monteith, Chris Colfer, Lea Michele, Naya Rivera, and Dianna Agron. The concert footage is taken from the cast's East Rutherford, New Jersey performance during the Glee Live! In Concert! tour. Glee: The 3D Concert Movie grossed a box office total of $18.7 million.

9 U2 3D (2008) — $26.2M

U2 3D is the first live-action movie to be "shot, produced, and exhibited in digital 3-D" (via U2 ). The movie showcases performances during the 2006 Vertigo Tour, featuring a setlist that includes classics "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "Vertigo," "Pride (In the Name of Love)," and "Beautiful Day." More than 15 years later, the concert movie is yet to receive a home media release.

8 Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991) — $29M

The Madonna documentary Truth or Dare puts the spotlight on the singer's backstage life during the controversial Blond Ambition World Tour. Truth or Dare is primarily presented in black-and-white and switches to color for Madonna's musical performances. The movie has a box office total of $29 million, which makes Truth or Dare the highest-grossing documentary film of all time before the release of Bowling for Columbine in 2002.

Madonna: With over 335 million records sold, the best-selling female artist of all time also had at least two timeless acting performances.

7 Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience (2009) — $30.4M

Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience is a concert movie released in the band's A Little Bit Longer era. The movie features performances during the Burning Up Tour, which sees Demi Lovato join the Brothers to perform the Camp Rock song, "This Is Me," and Taylor Swift perform "Should've Said No" from her self-titled debut album. Swift will soon have her own concert movie with Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour , which has already surpassed $100 million in advance ticket sales.

6 BTS Permission to Dance on Stage - Seoul (2022) — $32.6M

BTS is currently on hiatus to fulfill South Korea's mandatory military service but continue to be the biggest boy band in the world. Unlike the others on this list, BTS Permission to Dance on Stage - Seoul is not a traditional movie, but rather, a live-stream of a concert that played in theaters. The screening has a box office gross of $32.6 million from a one-night-only event. The Hollywood Reporter ranks BTS Permission to Dance on Stage - Seoul as "the top-grossing live cinema event of all time."

5 Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012) — $32.7M

Released in between albums Teenage Dream (2010) and Prism (2013), Katy Perry: Part of Me carries the message that if you can be yourself, then you can be anything. Part of Me dives into key parts of the singer's life, such as her religious upbringing, her original debut as "Katy Hudson," and the end of her marriage with Russell Brand. The concert-documentary is the second highest-grossing concert movie by a woman artist.

4 One Direction: This Is Us (2013) — $68.5M

One Direction: This Is Us is the first concert movie featuring One Direction, released during the 2013 Take Me Home Tour. The movie journeys back to the boy band's beginnings on X Factor and tells the story of their rise to superstardom. This Is Us is said to be unscripted, with Harry Styles previously describing filming as "nerve-racking" due to camera crews filming everything the band was doing (via Metro ). Although in fourth place on the list of highest-grossing concert movies, This Is Us is the highest-grossing concert movie that centers on a boy band.

3 Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert (2008) — $70.6M

The Hannah Montana era is over, but the memories still remain. Despite only being in theaters in the United States and Canada for one week, the Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert has an impressive box office gross of $70.6 million. The concert movie features songs from the albums Hannah Montana and Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus , the latter of which serves as both a soundtrack for Hannah Montana 's second season and the debut studio album of Miley Cyrus.

The Best of Both Worlds Concert features performances by the Jonas Brothers, who appear in the 42nd and highest-rated episode of Hannah Montana . More than 15 years later, the Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert continues to hold the biggest opening for a movie released during the Super Bowl weekend. This, of course, is due to a lack of crossover between the target demographic of Hannah Montana and the Super Bowl.

2 Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011) — $99M

Featuring the marketing tagline of "find out what's possible if you don't give up," Justin Bieber: Never Say Never follows the Canadian idol in the days leading up to his August 2010 performance at Madison Square Garden. The movie is titled after the theme song of 2010's The Karate Kid , which Bieber recorded with lead actor Jaden Smith. Justin Bieber: Never Say Never is directed by Jon M. Chu ( Step Up franchise, In the Heights ), who is also the director of the 2013 follow-up, Justin Bieber's Believe .

Swifties are gearing up for what is expected to be a groundbreaking debut weekend for Swift’s upcoming movie.

1 Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009) — $261.2M

As it currently stands, Michael Jackson's This Is It is the highest-grossing concert movie of all time. The movie showcases the King of Pop's rehearsals for the This Is It tour, which was canceled following Jackson's death in June 2009. Michael Jackson's This Is It is directed, co-written, and co-produced by choreographer Kenny Ortega, who is known for directing Hocus Pocus , the High School Musical trilogy, and The Cheetah Girls 2 .

Some view Michael Jackson's This Is It as the first concert rehearsal movie ever. Ortega tells audiences that the footage used in the movie was initially never planned to be released. Messages from Jackson's fans asking to see the footage later changed Ortega's mind, leading to a movie that shows "the development and intentions of the show, and the concert as it moved closer to London" (via Digital Spy ).

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