concert film
{{Short description|Audiovisual recording of a concert performance}}
File:Taylor Swift The Eras Tour Lover Set (53109587454).jpg (2023) holds the record of the highest-grossing concert film of all time.{{cite web |title=Highest-grossing concert or performance film at the global box office |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/94263-highest-grossing-concert-film |accessdate=November 27, 2023 |website=Guinness World Records}}]]
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{{cite book|last1=Sandahl|first1=Linda J.|title=Rock films: A viewer's guide to three decades of musicals, concerts, documentaries and soundtracks 1955–1986|date=1987|publisher=Facts on File, Inc.|isbn=0-8160-1281-4|page=7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c0u-QgAACAAJ|access-date=19 August 2016}} or a stand-up comedian.{{cite news|last1=Bailey|first1=Jason|title=Glenn Ligon Deconstructs Richard Pryor's Stand-Up|url=http://hyperallergic.com/287359/glenn-ligon-deconstructs-richard-pryors-stand-up/|access-date=19 August 2016|date=4 April 2016}}
Early history
File:Concert Magic.jpg, Ontario]]
One of the earliest-known concert films is the 1944 film Adventure in Music.{{cite news |last1=Wickham |first1=Ina |title=Catching the Beat in Music World Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-adventure-in-music/133609257/ |access-date=October 17, 2023 |work=Quad-City Times |date=October 15, 1944 |pages=30}} 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.{{cite news |title=Yehudi Menuhin and Alma Trio Player Scheduled to Appear in New Concert Film |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-gatos-times-saratoga-observer-yehudi/133608861/ |access-date=October 17, 2023 |work=Los Gatos Times-Saratoga Observer |date=December 17, 1948 |pages=8 |quote=Gordon...reports that the success of "Concert Magic", the first full length concert film to be produced, prompted plans for the filming of the second picture.}}
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.{{cite news|last1=Eil|first1=Philip|title=This 1960 Jazz Film Shaped Concert Documentaries as We Know Them {{!}} NOISEY|url=http://noisey.vice.com/blog/jazz-on-a-summers-day-newport-jazz-festival-2016|access-date=19 August 2016|date=29 July 2016}} The earliest known rock concert film is Rock’n’Roll, a 1959 feature film produced by the promoter Lee Gordon. As it also features some Jazz performances and was released prior to Jazz on a Summers Day, it arguably has claims to being the first Jazz concert film as well.
A latter notable concert film, the T.A.M.I. Show, featured acts such as The Beach Boys, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, and the Rolling Stones.{{cite news|last1=Richards|first1=Kevin|title=Legendary T.A.M.I. Show Featuring James Brown, The Rolling Stones, and More Coming To DVD « American Songwriter|url=http://americansongwriter.com/2009/12/legendary-t-a-m-i-show-featuring-james-brown-the-rolling-stones-and-more-coming-to-dvd/|access-date=19 August 2016|date=16 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825174319/http://americansongwriter.com/2009/12/legendary-t-a-m-i-show-featuring-james-brown-the-rolling-stones-and-more-coming-to-dvd/|archive-date=25 August 2016|url-status=dead}}
One of popular music's most ground-breaking concert films is Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii (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).
Examples
= Rockumentary =
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".{{cite web |url=http://www.reelradio.com/ricky/horr.html |title=The Reel Top 40 Radio Repository – The History of Rock and Roll Demo |publisher=Reelradio.com |access-date=2009-06-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620064458/http://www.reelradio.com/ricky/horr.html |archive-date=2009-06-20 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news
| last = Hopkins
| first = Jerry
| author-link = Jerry Hopkins (author)
| title = 'Rockumentary' Radio Milestone
| newspaper = Rolling Stone
| page = 9
| date = April 5, 1969
| issue = 30}} The term was subsequently used to describe concert films containing appearances by multiple artists.{{Cite news
| last = Aletti
| first = Vince
| author-link = Vince Aletti
| title = Our Latin Thing
| newspaper = Rolling Stone
| page = 42
| date = August 31, 1972
| issue = 116}}{{Cite news
| last = Landau
| first = Jon
| author-link = Jon Landau
| title = 'Let the Good Times Roll' indeed
| newspaper = Rolling Stone
| pages = 62–63
| date = July 19, 1973
| issue = 139}} Then, in 1976, the term was used by the promoters of the live musical production Beatlemania which documented the evolving career of The Beatles.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ERMzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Uc0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5135,98324 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124145053/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ERMzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Uc0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5135,98324 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 24, 2013 |title=A 'Rockumentary' About the Beatles Comes to Sunrise |last=Spires |first=Shari |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |date=December 26, 1980 }} The 1984 mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap notably parodied the rockumentary genre.{{cite news|last1=Lewis|first1=Randy|title='This Is Spinal Tap' LP to be reissued June 11 -- on black vinyl|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-spinal-tap-album-vinyl-reissue-20130509-story.html|access-date=19 August 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|date=9 May 2013}}
= Others =
Other examples of this type of film include Menudo's 1981 film, Menudo: La Película, 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.
Highest-grossing concert films
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, which has grossed $267 million worldwide,{{Cite Box Office Mojo |id=28814949 |title=Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour|access-date=February 8, 2024}}{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |title='Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour' Writes Her Name As No. 7 In Deadline's 2023 Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament |url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/taylor-swift-the-eras-tour-movie-profits-1235899130/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=May 20, 2024 |date=April 29, 2024}} is the highest-grossing concert film of all time; the previous record for the concert film was held by Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011).{{cite The Numbers |title= Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour — Financial Information |id=Taylor-Swift-The-Eras-Tour-(2023)|access-date=October 28, 2023}}{{Cite web |last1=Moreau |first1=Jordan |last2=Lang |first2=Brent |date=2023-10-13 |title=Box Office: 'Taylor Swift: Eras Tour' Kicks Off With $2.8 Million in Previews |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/box-office/box-office-taylor-swift-eras-tour-previews-1235753749/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Variety |language=en-US |quote=The movie has already made $100 million in advance ticket sales, according to its distributor AMC Theatres. That makes it the highest-grossing concert film ever, surpassing Justin Bieber's "Never Say Never" ($99 million).}}{{legend|#b6fcb6|Background shading indicates films playing in the week commencing {{Days before now|{{#switch: {{CURRENTDAYNAME}} |Saturday=1 |Sunday=2 |Monday=3 |Tuesday=4 |Wednesday=5 |Thursday=6 |0}}}} in theaters around the world.|text={{†|alt=film currently playing}}}}
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+{{nowrap|Highest-grossing concert films}} ! scope="col" |Rank ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Performer ! scope="col" |Type ! scope="col" data-sort-type="currency" |Worldwide gross |
| 1
| style="text-align: left;" |Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour | 2023 | rowspan="4" |Music |
| 2
| style="text-align: left;" |Justin Bieber: Never Say Never | 2011 | $99,034,125 |
| 3
| style="text-align: left;" |Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert | 2008 | $70,712,099 |
| 4
| style="text-align: left;" |One Direction: This Is Us | 2013 | $68,233,799 |
| 5
| style="text-align: left;" |Eddie Murphy Raw | 1987 | Stand-up | $50,504,655 |
| 6
| style="text-align: left;" |Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé | 2023 | Beyoncé | Music | $44,389,684 |
| 7
| style="text-align: left;" |{{sort|Original Kings of Comedy|The Original Kings of Comedy}} | 2000 | Steve Harvey{{·}}D.L. Hughley{{·}}Cedric the Entertainer{{·}}Bernie Mac | rowspan="2" | Stand-up | $38,236,338 |
| 8
| style="text-align: left;" |Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip | 1982 | $34,970,309 |
| 9
| style="text-align: left;" |Woodstock | 1970 | Various | scope="row" rowspan="2" |Music | $34,699,266{{cite The Numbers |title=Woodstock |id=Woodstock|access-date=January 7, 2024}} |
| 10
| style="text-align: left;" |Katy Perry: Part of Me | 2012 | $32,700,439 |
| 12
| style="text-align: left;" |Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain | 2013 | Stand-up | $32,327,255 |
| 13
| style="text-align: left;" |Metallica Through the Never | 2013 | rowspan="5" |Music | $31,900,000 |
| 14
| style="text-align: left;" |Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience | 2009 | $30,428,831 |
| 15
| style="text-align: left;" |BTS: Yet to Come in Cinemas | 2023 | BTS | $29,291,883 |
| 16
| style="text-align: left;" |Madonna: Truth or Dare | 1991 | Madonna | $29,012,935 |
| 17
| style="text-align: left;" |U2 3D | 2008 | U2 | $26,170,402 |
| 18
| style="text-align: left;" |Kevin Hart: What Now? | 2016 | rowspan="2" |Stand-up | $23,591,043 |
| 19
| style="text-align: left;" |Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat | 2002 | $19,184,820 |
| 20
| style="text-align: left;" |Glee: The 3D Concert Movie | 2011 | Glee | Music | $17,462,398 |
| 21
| style="text-align: left;" |Richard Pryor: Here and Now | 1983 | Stand-up | $16,156,776 |
| 22
| style="text-align: left;" |Christmas with the Chosen: The Messengers | 2021 | {{sort|Chosen|The Chosen}} | Religion | $13,388,000 |
| 23
| style="text-align: left;" |You So Crazy | 1994 | Stand-up | $10,184,701 |
| 24
| style="text-align: left;" |Burn the Stage: The Movie | 2018 | BTS | rowspan="3" |Music | $9,881,954 |
| 25
| style="text-align: left;" |U2: Rattle and Hum | 1988 | U2 | $8,600,823 |
| 26
| style="text-align: left;" |Live Broadcast from Buenos Aires | 2022 | Coldplay |
| 27
| style="text-align: left;" |Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain | 2011 | Stand-up | $7,712,436 |
| 28
| style="text-align: left;" |Mayday Life | 2019 | Mayday | Music | $7,272,220 |
| 29
| style="text-align: left;" |{{sort|Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall|The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall}} | 2012 | {{sort|Phantom of the Opera|The Phantom of the Opera}} | rowspan="2" |Stage production | $7,106,631 |
| 30
| style="text-align: left;" |Prima Facie | 2022 | $6,646,622 |
| 31
| style="text-align: left;" |BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in Seoul | 2019 | BTS | rowspan="2" |Music | $6,587,004 |
| 32
| style="text-align: left;" |Stop Making Sense | 1984 | $5,694,759 |
| 33
| style="text-align: left;" |Hamlet | 2015 | Hamlet | Stage production | $5,350,452 |
| 34
| style="text-align: left;" |Divine Madness | 2018 | Music | $5,318,098 |
| 35
| style="text-align: left;" |Les Misérables: The Staged Concert | 2019 | Stage production | $5,042,935 |
| 36
| style="text-align: left;" |IM Hero: The Final | 2023 | Music | $4,514,656 |
| 37
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: The Audience | 2013 | {{sort|Audience|The Audience}} | rowspan="2" |Stage production | $4,330,068 |
| 38
| style="text-align: left;" |Romeo and Juliet (Secret Cinema 2018) | 2018 | $4,282,983 |
| 39
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu 2018 Maastricht Concert | 2018 | rowspan="2" |André Rieu | rowspan="2" |Music | $3,869,719 |
| 40
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu: 70 Years Young | 2020 | $3,788,405 |
| 41
| style="text-align: left;" |Miss Saigon 25th Anniversary Performance | 2016 | Stage play | $3,720,532 |
| 42
| style="text-align: left;" |Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams | 2018 | Coldplay | rowspan="2" |Music |
| 44
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu 2019 Maastricht Concert | 2019 | $3,495,372 |
| 44
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: Frankenstein | 2011 | Stage production | $3,351,486 |
| 45
| style="text-align: left;" |Let's Spend the Night Together | 1983 | {{sort|Rolling Stones|The Rolling Stones}} | Music | $3,282,561 |
| 46
| style="text-align: left;" |Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor | 2017 | Floyd Mayweather Jr.{{·}}Conor McGregor | Sports | $3,250,019 |
| 47
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu's 2016 Maastricht Concert | 2016 | Music | $3,220,727 |
| 48
| style="text-align: left;" |{{sort|Winter's Tale|The Winter's Tale}} | 2015 | {{sort|Winter's Tale|The Winter's Tale}} | Stage production | $3,097,621 |
| 49
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu's 2017 Maastricht Concert | 2017 | rowspan="2" |Music | $3,097,621 |
| 50
| style="text-align: left;" |{{sort|Met: Live in HD – Aida|The Met: Live in HD – Aida}} | 2013 | Aida | $2,943,797 |
= Music =
The top 15 are among the highest-grossing concert films. André Rieu is the most frequent performance with 13 titles on the list.
:{{legend|#b6fcb6|Background shading indicates films playing in the week commencing {{Days before now|{{#switch: {{CURRENTDAYNAME}} |Saturday=1 |Sunday=2 |Monday=3 |Tuesday=4 |Wednesday=5 |Thursday=6 |0}}}} in theaters around the world.|text={{†|alt=film currently playing}}}}
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+{{nowrap|Highest-grossing music concert films}} ! scope="col" |Rank ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Performer ! scope="col" data-sort-type="currency" |Worldwide gross |
| 1
| style="text-align: left;" |Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour | 2023 |
| 2
| style="text-align: left;" |Justin Bieber: Never Say Never | 2011 | $99,034,125 |
| 3
| style="text-align: left;" |Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert | 2008 | $70,712,099 |
| 4
| style="text-align: left;" |One Direction: This Is Us | 2013 | $68,233,799 |
| 5
| style="text-align: left;" |Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé | 2023 | Beyoncé | $44,043,065 |
| 6
| style="text-align: left;" |Woodstock | 1970 | Various |
| 7
| style="text-align: left;" |Katy Perry: Part of Me | 2012 | $32,700,439 |
| 8
| style="text-align: left;" |Permission to Dance on Stage – Seoul: Live Viewing | 2022 | BTS | $32,600,000 |
| 9
| style="text-align: left;" |Metallica Through the Never | 2013 | $31,900,000 |
| 10
| style="text-align: left;" |Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience | 2009 | $30,428,831 |
| 11
| style="text-align: left;" |BTS: Yet to Come in Cinemas | 2023 | BTS | $29,291,883 |
| 12
| style="text-align: left;" |Madonna: Truth or Dare | 1991 | Madonna | $29,012,935 |
| 13
| style="text-align: left;" |U2 3D | 2008 | U2 | $26,170,402 |
| 14
| style="text-align: left;" |Burn the Stage: The Movie | 2018 | BTS | $20,347,513 |
| 15
| style="text-align: left;" |U2: Rattle and Hum | 1988 | U2 | $8,600,823 |
| 16
| style="text-align: left;" |Live Broadcast from Buenos Aires | 2022 | Coldplay |
| 17
| style="text-align: left;" |Mayday Life | 2019 | Mayday | $7,272,220 |
| 18
| style="text-align: left;" |BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in Seoul | 2019 | BTS | $6,587,004 |
| 19
| style="text-align: left;" |Stop Making Sense | 1984 | $5,694,759 |
| 20
| style="text-align: left;" |Divine Madness | 2018 | $5,318,098 |
| 21
| style="text-align: left;" |IM Hero: The Final | 2023 | $4,514,656 |
| 22
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu 2018 Maastricht Concert | 2018 | rowspan="2" |André Rieu | $3,869,719 |
| 23
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu: 70 Years Young | 2020 | $3,788,405 |
| 24
| style="text-align: left;" |Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams | 2018 | Coldplay |
| 25
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu 2019 Maastricht Concert | 2019 | $3,495,372 |
| 26
| style="text-align: left;" |Let's Spend the Night Together | 1983 | {{sort|Rolling Stones|The Rolling Stones}} | $3,282,561 |
| 27
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu's 2016 Maastricht Concert | 2016 | rowspan="2" |André Rieu | $3,220,727 |
| 28
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu's 2017 Maastricht Concert | 2017 | $3,097,621 |
| 29
| style="text-align: left;" |{{sort|Met: Live in HD – Aida|The Met: Live in HD – Aida}} | 2013 | Aida | $2,943,797 |
| 30
| style="text-align: left;" |{{sort|Beatles Get Back: The Rooftop Concert|The Beatles Get Back: The Rooftop Concert}} | 2022 | {{sort|Beatles|The Beatles}} | $2,881,726 |
| 31
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu's 2015 Maastricht Concert | 2015 | rowspan="3" |André Rieu | $2,862,599 |
| 32
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu: Christmas with Andre 2016 | 2016 | $2,809,890 |
| 33
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu's Sydney Town Hall Concert – An Australian Celebration | 2018 | $2,806,603 |
| 34
| style="text-align: left;" |Greatest Hits Live | 2019 | $2,549,176 |
| 35
| style="text-align: left;" |Depeche Mode: Spirits in the Forest | 2019 | $2,442,030 |
| 36
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu's 2014 Maastricht Concert | 2014 | $2,190,155 |
| 37
| style="text-align: left;" |Metallica & San Francisco Symphony S&M2 | 2019 | Metallica{{·}}San Francisco Symphony | $2,179,640 |
| 38
| style="text-align: left;" |Billie Eilish Live at the O2 | rowspan="3" scope="row" |2023 | $2,117,195 |
| 39
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu 2023 Maastricht Concert: Love is All Around | rowspan="2" scope="row" |André Rieu | $1,897,239 |
| 40
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu Live in Dublin | $1,826,384 |
| 41
| style="text-align: left;" |N'SYNC: Bigger Than Live | 2001 | NSYNC | $1,808,679 |
| 42
| style="text-align: left;" |Cliff Richard Live: 60th Anniversary Tour | 2018 | $1,686,021 |
| 43
| style="text-align: left;" |Rammstein: Paris | 2017 | $1,658,090 |
| 44
| style="text-align: left;" |Twenty One Pilots: Cinema Experience | 2022 | $1,560,000 |
| 45
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu: Christmas with André 2021 | 2021 | $1,559,304 |
| 46
| style="text-align: left;" |Take That Live 2015 | 2015 | rowspan="2" |Take That | $1,553,608 |
| 47
| style="text-align: left;" |Take That: Wonderland Live from the O2 | 2017 | $1,422,889 |
| 48
| style="text-align: left;" |Big Bang Made | 2016 | BigBang | $1,404,745 |
| 49
| style="text-align: left;" |André Rieu's: Magical Maastricht – Together in Music | 2020 | $1,295,288 |
| 50
| style="text-align: left;" |David Gilmour Live at Pompei | 2017 | $1,273,347 |
= Stand-up =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+{{nowrap|Highest-grossing stand-up concert films}}{{Cite web |title=All Time Worldwide Box Office for Concert/Performance Movies |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/genres/concert-or-performance |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=The Numbers}} ! scope="col" |Rank ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Performer ! scope="col" data-sort-type="currency" |Worldwide gross |
| 1
| style="text-align: left;" |Eddie Murphy Raw | 1987 | $50,504,655 |
| 2
| style="text-align: left;" |{{sort|Original Kings of Comedy|The Original Kings of Comedy}} | 2000 | Steve Harvey{{·}}D.L. Hughley{{·}}Cedric the Entertainer{{·}}Bernie Mac | $38,236,338 |
| 3
| style="text-align: left;" |Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip | 1982 | $34,970,309 |
| 4
| style="text-align: left;" |Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain | 2013 | rowspan="2" |Kevin Hart | $32,327,255 |
| 5
| style="text-align: left;" |Kevin Hart: What Now? | 2016 | $23,591,043 |
| 6
| style="text-align: left;" |Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat | 2002 | $19,184,820 |
| 7
| style="text-align: left;" |Richard Pryor: Here and Now | 1983 | $16,156,776 |
| 8
| style="text-align: left;" |Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy | 1994 | $10,184,701 |
| 9
| style="text-align: left;" |Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain | 2011 | $7,712,436 |
| 10
| style="text-align: left;" |{{sort|Fluffy Movie|The Fluffy Movie}} | 2014 | $2,827,393 |
| 11
| style="text-align: left;" |Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic | 2005 | $1,324,244 |
= Stage production =
:{{legend|#b6fcb6|Background shading indicates films playing in the week commencing {{Days before now|{{#switch: {{CURRENTDAYNAME}} |Saturday=1 |Sunday=2 |Monday=3 |Tuesday=4 |Wednesday=5 |Thursday=6 |0}}}} in theaters around the world.|text={{†|alt=film currently playing}}}}
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+{{nowrap|Highest-grossing stage production concert films}} ! scope="col" |Rank ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Performance ! scope="col" data-sort-type="currency" |Worldwide gross |
| 1
| style="text-align: left;" |{{sort|Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall|The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall}} | 2012 | {{sort|Phantom of the Opera|The Phantom of the Opera}} | $7,106,631 |
| 2
| style="text-align: left;" |Prima Facie | 2022 | $6,646,622 |
| 3
| style="text-align: left;" |Hamlet | 2015 | Hamlet | $5,350,452 |
| 4
| style="text-align: left;" |Les Misérables: The Staged Concert | 2019 | $5,042,935 |
| 5
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: The Audience | 2013 | {{sort|Audience|The Audience}} | $4,330,068 |
| 6
| style="text-align: left;" |Romeo and Juliet (Secret Cinema 2018) | 2018 | $4,282,983 |
| 7
| style="text-align: left;" |Miss Saigon 25th Anniversary Performance | 2016 | $3,720,532 |
| 8
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: Frankenstein | 2011 | $3,351,486 |
| 9
| style="text-align: left;" |{{sort|Winter's Tale|The Winter's Tale}} | 2015 | {{sort|Winter's Tale|The Winter's Tale}} | $3,097,621 |
| 10
| style="text-align: left;" |Billy Elliot the Musical Live | 2014 | $2,815,788 |
| 11
| style="text-align: left;" |{{sort|London Palladium: The King and I|The London Palladium: The King and I}} | 2018 | {{sort|King and I|The King and I}} | $2,692,907 |
| 12
| style="text-align: left;" |George Balanchine's The Nutcracker | 2011 | {{sort|Nutcracker|The Nutcracker}} | $2,119,994 |
| 13
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: Present Laughter | 2019 | Present Laughter | $2,033,526 |
| 14
| style="text-align: left;" |{{sort|Little Life|A Little Life}} | 2023 | {{sort|Little Life|A Little Life}} | $2,033,043 |
| 15
| style="text-align: left;" |Kinky Boots – The Musical | 2020 | Kinky Boots – The Musical | $1,997,631 |
| 16
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: A View From the Bridge | 2015 | {{sort|View From the Bridge|A View From the Bridge}} | $1,943,723 |
| 17
| style="text-align: left;" |Met Opera: Porgy and Bess | 2020 | $1,913,398 |
| 18
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: Follies | 2017 | Follies | $1,842,192 |
| 19
| style="text-align: left;" |Met Opera: La Boheme | 2018 | La Boheme | $1,774,848 |
| 20
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: One Man Two Guvnors | 2011 | $1,714,891 |
| 21
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: All About Eve | 2019 | $1,710,659 |
| 22
| style="text-align: left;" |Met Opera: Madama Butterfly | 2019 | $1,696,923 |
| 23
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: Good | 2023 | Good | $1,674,053 |
| 24
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: Of Mice and Men | 2014 | $1,664,500 |
| 25
| style="text-align: left;" |Royal Opera House: The Nutcracker | 2017 | {{sort|Nutcracker|The Nutcracker}} | $1,635,459 |
| 26
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: The Lehman Trilogy | 2019 | {{sort|Lehman Trilogy|The Lehman Trilogy}} | $1,531,395 |
| 27
| style="text-align: left;" |Royal Opera House: The Nutcracker | 2018 | {{sort|Nutcracker|The Nutcracker}} | $1,512,712 |
| 28
| style="text-align: left;" |Met Opera: Turandot (2018) Encore (2018) | 2018 | Turandot{{·}}Encore | $1,500,000 |
| 29
| style="text-align: left;" |Met Opera: Der Rosenkavalier | 2017 | $1,498,974 |
| 30
| style="text-align: left;" |{{sort|Nutcracker Royal Ballet|The Nutcracker Royal Ballet}} | 2015 | {{sort|Nutcracker|The Nutcracker}} | $1,494,137 |
| 31
| style="text-align: left;" |All My Sons | 2019 | $1,454,828 |
| 32
| style="text-align: left;" |Met Opera – Agrippina | 2020 | $1,453,796 |
| 33
| style="text-align: left;" |No Man's Land – NT Live 2016 | 2016 | No Man's Land | $1,380,144 |
| 34
| style="text-align: left;" |Allelujah! | 2018 | $1,347,137 |
| 35
| style="text-align: left;" |De Club van Sinterklaas & Het Grote Pietenfees | 2020 | $1,336,192 |
| 36
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: Hansard | 2019 | Hansard | $1,318,622 |
| 37
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theater Live 2017: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead | 2017 | Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead | $1,245,590 |
| 38
| style="text-align: left;" |NT Live: Yerma | 2017 | Yerma | $1,238,299 |
| 39
| style="text-align: left;" |Branagh Theatre Live: Romeo & Juliet 2016 | 2016 | $1,223,663 |
| 40
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: Twelfth Night | 2017 | $1,210,769 |
| 41
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theater Live: Cyrano de Bergerac | 2020 | $1,195,764 |
| 42
| style="text-align: left;" |{{sort|Nutcracker – Royal Opera, London|The Nutcracker – Royal Opera, London}} | 2016 | {{sort|Nutcracker|The Nutcracker}} | $1,188,225 |
| 43
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: Small Island | 2019 | $1,180,476 |
| 44
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theater Live Amadeus | 2017 | Live Amadeus | $1,151,772 |
| 45
| style="text-align: left;" |NT Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses | 2016 | $1,135,686 |
| 46
| style="text-align: left;" |Royal Opera House Swan Lake | 2018 | $1,131,961 |
| 47
| style="text-align: left;" |Royal Opera House The Sleeping Beauty | 2020 | $1,097,859 |
| 48
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theater Live Hedda Gabler | 2017 | $1,085,982 |
| 49
| style="text-align: left;" |National Theatre Live: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | 2018 | $1,071,526 |
| 50
| style="text-align: left;" |Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake | 2019 | $1,068,862 |