Billie Eilish tour set for big screen in 3D

Singer teams up with filmmaker James Cameron for 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' concert film

LONDON:

Pop star Billie Eilish has teamed up with filmmaker James Cameron to bring her 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' tour to cinemas, combining immersive performance footage with candid backstage moments.

The film, titled 'Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)', will be released by Paramount Pictures on May 8. It is co-directed by the multi-Grammy-winning artist and Cameron, known for films including 'Avatar' and 'Titanic'.

Shot primarily during the Manchester leg of Eilish's 2024–25 world tour, the production captures both her live performances and quieter off-stage reflections, offering audiences a more personal view of the artist.

Eilish said Cameron approached her with the concept, describing the collaboration as "a complete dream" and calling the tour her favourite to date. "This is my favourite show that I've ever created and favourite tour I've ever been on. The fact that it's going to be captured forever, and it's also in 3D so everyone that didn't get to see it can live it... I'm just so grateful," she said at the London premiere.

The film includes scenes of Eilish preparing to go on stage, warming up her voice, getting ready with her team and reflecting on the inspirations behind her performance style. Cameron said the film offers a deeper look into the artist's personality and connection with fans.

"It gets more into her heart and her mind and her kind of creative soul and into her relationship with the fans," he said. He added that the behind-the-scenes footage was introduced to give audiences a more intimate experience, a decision Eilish said she initially had not planned but later embraced.

The concert was filmed using 17 cameras, many placed within the audience to capture the atmosphere and emotional response of fans during performances. The project marks Eilish's second concert film and follows similar releases by artists such as Taylor Swift and Beyonce, whose tour films have drawn strong box office returns and boosted cinema attendance.

Cameron said the communal aspect of concert films remains a key appeal. "People like that shared experience. It creates a bond not only with Billie, but with each other," he said, adding that audiences are likely to sing along during screenings.