BILLIE EILISH HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR (LIVE IN 3D) Review

Have you ever wanted to see one of the biggest global pop sensations in concert? Well, at Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), you get to experience the artist's entire concert from beginning to end in the comfort of your movie theatre recliner. 

Teaming up with Academy Award-winning director James Cameron to capture the most immersive movie-going experience for her fans, the concert film is unique in being presented in 3D. Now I do not think I’ve been to a 3D film in almost a decade. Compared to formats like IMAX, 70mm, or 4DX, 3D just does not impress me. However, Cameron uses the format to allow Eilish’s fans to feel like they are in the crowd at the tour. Pieces of the stage will feel like you can reach out and touch them. At several points in the film, fans will appear in front of you, cheering with their hands in the air, and I swear I thought it was someone in the movie theatre audience doing it. It is that immersive. 

With the rise of concert films in the last few years, it was encouraging to see the film be presented in a way that includes the fans. A 3D concert movie is nothing new, such as Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience from 2009 or Glee: The 3D Concert Movie in 2011, but Cameron and Eilish bring back the format in 2026 to achieve the same passion from fans as these early 2010s films did. The screening I attended had a mosh pit created by enthusiastic fans around halfway through the film. Fans would come and go for their favourite songs, and when interviews began, they would go back to their seats. The film ends with Eilish’s popular song Flower, and the mosh pit grew with fans singing and shining the lights on their phones. 

I preface that this movie-going experience is not a traditional one, as you will have fans singing and crying beside you and a mosh pit in front of you. If this lack of movie theatre etiquette makes you uncomfortable, I would suggest you wait until this film is on VOD and streaming for you to enjoy it. I am pretty strict about etiquette when going to the movies, but this is an experience for the fans, and I do not think we should dictate that organic experience. It reminds me of cult screenings like The Rocky Horror Picture Show or The Room, where fans can interact with the film and feel a part of a community. 

My one gripe with the film is that I wanted to see behind the scenes of Eilish and her experience working on the tour. Do not get me wrong, we do get interviews between Cameron and Eilish, but they were my favourite parts, and I wanted more. I think this film wanted you to come in with preconceived knowledge about Eilish, as she does have three other documentary concert films. I have not seen those films, but I do casually follow the artist, so I did not feel like I was receiving any new information about the artist. Working with a renowned filmmaker like Cameron, I was hoping he would dig a little deeper with Eilish and her personal fears and dreams about the tour. 

I do like that we break down how involved Eilish is with creating her tour. We get scenes of Eilish watching the playback of her tour’s visuals and writing notes on what needs to be fixed and what she likes. Eilish has no makeup or hair team on tour; she does it all herself. Eilish also hand-picks all of her wardrobe for the tour, having one unique outfit for each show. The film does a great job of showing how, even at such a young age of 24, Eilish is the driving force for this world tour. Nothing gets completed without Eilish’s final word; she has the vision, and she knows how it needs to be executed. 

I do think Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) is geared more for the passionate fans, but if you appreciate music and seeing how a tour is built, I think you will enjoy the film. If anything, it is fascinating to see two artists collaborate. Witnessing Cameron, the veteran, encourage Eilish, the rookie, to continue to excel in her passion is a privilege, and I think it will go unnoticed by most. If you are a fan of 3D or have not been to one in a long time, like me, this is a great viewing experience that will leave you wanting more. 

🍿 SCORE = 77/100