Stop Making Sense is widely considered by critics as one of the most important live films of all time, so it comes as no surprise that, in 2023, a remaster of the film was released in cinemas by art-house entertainment company A24 and was then released once again the following year due to the overwhelming success of the original re-release

At the time of its initial 1984 release, Stop Making Sense, directed by Jonathan Demme, presented a singular, radical concept, it debuted in cinemas around the world. The film created a newly accessible space for people to congregate and experience the sensation of the 1983 live concert without having to consider set timings, travel or the price of live concert tickets – allowing everyone to be a part of the audience.

The film was financed by the band themselves and produced independently.. The contemporary energy around this film was driven by a strong sense of nostalgia and was appealing to audiences as the IMAX release helped provide an atmosphere which mirrored that of a live event, with individuals commonly dancing in the aisles of the cinema and dressing in oversized suits, similar to the iconic outfit David Byrne (Talking Heads lead singer) sports in the film and live performances.

The cultural impact surrounding Stop Making Sense emphasised a sense of timelessness and prestige, and allegedly, almost 60% of the viewers were aged 35 or younger, and the rereleases grossed $1.43 million. However, in mainstream media, the successes of this release were drastically overshadowed by the release of another concert film which premiered less than a month later, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, her 7^th live concert film, followed the same premise, with an immensely higher budget, grossing over $261.1million worldwide.

While Swift’s film is packed with theatrics, pyrotechnics and a (hollow) message of “girl power”, relying on style over substance, which appeals to a wider contemporary audience, the cultural reverence of Demme’s film proves relevant, opposing a reliance on technology, the movie is minimalist and nostalgic, yet equally as engaging. Although Swift’s film had an undoubtedly wider appeal upon release, it is the continuous cultural significance of Stop Making Sense that holds merit, Eras is one of Swift’s live-films in a long line of many, evidencing a case of quantity over quality.

Goldsmith, J (2023) ‘’Stop Making Sense’ Talks Up $800k Weekend, $1.4M Cume As 1984 Concert Film Draws Young Crowd – Specialty Box Office’ available at: https://deadline.com/2023/09/stop-making-sense-talking-heads-a24-indie-film-box-office-1235554811/

Horowitz, S. J. (2024) ‘Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ Becomes Highest-Grossing Concert Film of All Time, Surpassing Michael Jackson’ available at: https://variety.com/2024/film/news/taylor-swifts-the-eras-tour-highest-grossing-theatrical-concert-film-1235863956/

Talking Heads, (2023), ‘This Must Be The Place’ available at: https://youtu.be/qyAF2hFIYNA?si=1Hl5O9RtXJsa2gL4

Sari Fleming-Standen – 33652248