Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, surpassing Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, was a huge hit at the box office during its debut weekend. However, since movie theaters can only show it from Thursdays to Sundays, the Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee, Wis., run by nonprofit organization Milwaukee Film, was left with empty programming slots. In a lighthearted suggestion, Cara Ogburn, the artistic director, mentioned filling the gap with movies featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, one of Swift’s former love interests.
The idea was approved by Abbie Esterline, the programming coordinator and an avid Swiftie herself. Esterline explains that the intention behind this programming choice was not to dwell on Swift’s past relationships or engage in sexism or slut-shaming, as she has often been subjected to. Instead, it was an opportunity to explore the connections Swift has had with various individuals who are also involved in different forms of media.
In selecting the films, the staff focused on movies that featured Swift’s exes and had a spooky theme. As Ogburn suggested, the lineup heavily features Gyllenhaal with films like Donnie Darko and Zodiac. It also includes Taylor Lautner in the Twilight vampire series and Dunkirk starring Harry Styles, which holds a different kind of terror. Additionally, Tom Hiddleston’s horror film Crimson Peak made the list.
While determining the movie selection, the team considered practical factors such as the availability of 35mm prints, which fortunately applied to Dunkirk and Twilight. They also took into account the preferences of their audience. This is why Joe Alwyn, Swift’s ex-boyfriend from late 2016 to March 2021, is not part of the series.
Esterline explains that the exclusion of Alwyn’s films is mainly due to accessibility issues. Some of his movies are not easily obtainable for theater screenings, possibly due to distribution rights tied to streaming services like Netflix. The team did consider showing The Favourite, the 2018 Oscar-winning film in which Alwyn co-stars with Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz. However, they decided against it, opting instead to cater to their audience’s taste for spooky programming in October and featuring more of Gyllenhaal’s movies.
While the theater screens Swift’s concert movie, the addition of this unique lineup of films provides an entertaining and interconnected experience for both Swift fans and cinema enthusiasts alike.
