Live performance documentaries generally is a win-win for followers: they’ll relive favorite concerts or expertise excursions they could not see dwell on the large display screen.
The music documentary subgenre rose in recognition between 2008 and 2013, when artists corresponding to Miley Cyrus, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, and One Route launched main theatrical live performance movies to a lot fanfare on the field workplace.
Ten of the 20 highest-grossing live performance movies on this checklist have been launched throughout that interval, collectively incomes about $318 million on the home field workplace, in keeping with Field Workplace Mojo information.
One of these docufilm noticed a surge within the early 2020s, and in a 2024 Fandango survey, 77% of ticket consumers who had watched a live performance movie in 2023 stated they needed to see one other tour on the silver display screen.
In 2023, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour turned the highest-grossing live performance movie of all time, with greater than $180 million in home ticket gross sales. That is greater than double the No. 2 entry.
The discharge of live performance documentaries has continued, with over a dozen since 2023 from artists together with Billie Eilish, Beyoncé, BTS, and extra. A Harry Styles tour documentary directed by John Wilson is within the works.
Listed below are the 20 highest-grossing live performance movie documentaries on the home field workplace, per Field Workplace Mojo.
20. Wonderful Grace (2018)
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Home gross: $4,450,456
The documentary captures Aretha Franklin recording her landmark 1972 dwell gospel album, “Wonderful Grace,” over two nights at Los Angeles’ New Temple Missionary Baptist Church.
The movie facilities on Franklin’s performances with the Southern California Neighborhood Choir.
19. Convey the Soul: The Film (2019)
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Home gross: $4,809,800
The documentary, directed by Park Jun-soo, BTS’ major director, facilities on the band’s 2018 “Love Your self” world tour.
It reveals behind-the-scenes glances at every band member’s life exterior of the band, together with the emotional and psychological weight that has include their new fame.
18. Shine a Gentle (2008)
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Home gross: $5,505,267
Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese movies the Rolling Stones over two concert events at New York Metropolis’s Beacon Theatre in 2006.
The documentary facilities on the band’s dwell efficiency whereas additionally together with archival footage and visitor appearances by Buddy Man, Christina Aguilera, and Jack White.
17. Justin Bieber’s Consider (2013)
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Home gross: $6,206,566
Directed by Jon M. Chu, who additionally directed “By no means Say By no means,” the documentary presents a behind-the-scenes and onstage take a look at Bieber throughout his 2013 “Consider” tour.
It follows the pop star as he performs for packed arenas whereas navigating fame and the challenges of his rising profession.
16. Stray Children: The dominATE Expertise
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Home gross: $7,232,818
Directed by award-winning filmmakers Paul Dugdale and Farah Khalid, the theatrical music movie follows the Okay-pop group’s sold-out performances on the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in 2025.
It combines live performance footage and behind-the-scenes content material.
15. BTS: But to Are available in Cinemas (2023)
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Home gross: $8,481,053
Directed by Oh Yoon-dong, the documentary options footage from the band’s October 15, 2022, live performance in Busan, South Korea.
The free Busan live performance supported town’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo and was BTS’s final efficiency with all seven members earlier than navy enlistments started.
14. U2: Rattle and Hum (1988)
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Home gross: $8,600,823
Director Phil Joanou’s documentary follows U2 throughout its “The Joshua Tree” tour, because the band sought to attach extra with American blues, gospel, folks, and rock music.
It contains dwell performances, studio classes, and scenes of Bono and his bandmates recording with artists corresponding to B.B. King.
13. Billie Eilish: Hit Me Arduous and Tender (2026)
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Home gross: $9,901,485
Co-directed by Billie Eilish and James Cameron, the 3D live performance movie captures Eilish’s sold-out “Hit Me Arduous and Tender” world tour.
It options performances of songs from the album, together with “Birds of a Feather” and “Wildflower,” alongside backstage footage of Eilish, her brother and collaborator Finneas, her band, and the manufacturing group behind the tour.
12. Cease Making Sense (1984)
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Home gross: $10,306,902
Jonathan Demme’s movie paperwork Speaking Heads’ 1983 concert events on the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.
The efficiency begins with David Byrne alone onstage and regularly expands, track by track, as musicians, backing singers, props, and Byrne’s famously outsized go well with remodel the stage right into a full manufacturing.
11. U2 3D (2008)
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Home gross: $10,363,341
Directed by Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington, the documentary was filmed in the course of the band’s Vertigo Tour in South America.
It makes use of 3D filming know-how to focus on the size of U2’s stadium present, together with the huge video screens and the group’s response.
10. Glee: The 3D Live performance Film (2011)
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Home gross: $11,862,398
This documentary, directed by Kevin Tancharoen, captures the cast of “Glee” performing songs from the collection throughout its dwell live performance tour.
9. Madonna: Fact or Dare (1991)
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Home gross: $15,012,935
Alek Keshishian’s documentary follows Madonna throughout her 1990 Blond Ambition Tour, one of the controversial pop excursions of its period as a result of it mixing R-rated choreography with spiritual symbols.
Colour live performance footage is about in opposition to black-and-white scenes of Madonna rehearsing, touring, assembly with household, and talking candidly together with her dancers and entourage.
8. Jonas Brothers: The 3D Live performance Expertise (2009)
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Home gross: $19,162,740
The Jonas Brothers’ 2008 “Burning Up” tour is the main target of this live performance movie.
Directed by Bruce Hendricks, it was filmed largely on the Honda Heart in Anaheim.
7. Katy Perry: A part of Me (2012)
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Home gross: $25,326,071
Directed by Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz, the 3D documentary follows Katy Perry throughout her California Goals Tour.
6. One Route: This Is Us (2013)
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Home gross: $28,873,374
Morgan Spurlock’s documentary follows One Direction because it excursions stadiums whereas navigating fame.
The movie seems to be again at how the band was assembled on “The X Issue,” whereas additionally displaying their household lives and life on the highway.
5. Renaissance: A Movie by Beyoncé (2023)
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Home gross: $33,889,684
Written, directed, and produced by Beyoncé, the documentary follows the creation and 2023 run of her Renaissance World Tour.
It combines live performance footage from the stadium manufacturing with behind-the-scenes scenes of Beyoncé working together with her dancers, household, crew, and inventive group.
4. Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Better of Each Worlds Live performance (2008)
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Home gross: $65,281,781
This live performance documentary follows Miley Cyrus on her 2007 and 2008 “Better of Each Worlds” tour, when she carried out as each herself and her Disney Channel character, Hannah Montana.
Directed by Bruce Hendricks, it contains live performance performances, backstage moments, and appearances by the Jonas Brothers.
3. This Is It (2009)
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Home gross: $72,091,016
Director Kenny Ortega assembled this documentary from rehearsal footage for Michael Jackson‘s deliberate “This Is It” residency at London’s O2 Enviornment.
Moderately than displaying the finished live performance, it reveals Jackson within the ultimate months of his life rehearsing songs, directing dancers, revising musical preparations, and planning manufacturing.
2. Justin Bieber: By no means Say By no means (2011)
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Home gross: $73,013,910
Director Jon M. Chu follows Justin Bieber‘s path from importing covers on YouTube to turning into a teenage pop star.
It builds towards his sold-out Madison Sq. Backyard present, whereas additionally together with interviews along with his mom, supervisor Scooter Braun, Usher, and followers.
1. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2023)
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Home gross: $180,756,269
Directed by Sam Wrench, who additionally directed Billie Eilish’s 2023 documentary, the movie paperwork Swift’s 2023 Eras Tour concerts at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
It reveals the Taylor Swift’s career-spanning set checklist, together with the costumes, choreography, dancers, screens, and stage results behind every live performance.
