When it comes to Billie Eilish, there’s no such thing as a small moment. So when Instagram invited Complex to catch the first look at her new concert film, Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), RSVPing was a no brainer.
The movie, which was shot at two arenas during the pop star’s Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour — one in Manchester, England, and the other in Phoenix, Arizona — offers a massive, immersive window into what Eilish has called her "best show ever."
While this isn’t the singer’s first concert film, it's by far her most impressive. Not just a recording of a live set, it’s a high-tech collaboration with game-changing movie director James Cameron. The partnership came about through Eilish’s mother, Maggie Baird, and resulted in a production that makes her previous films feel intimate by comparison.
"When my mom told me that James Cameron was asking if I wanted to make a movie of the concert in 3D, it sounded like it could be the coolest thing in the world," Eilish noted in a quote shared with Complex.
The result is surprisingly personal despite the scale. "To see it all in 3D was mind-blowing. I can watch myself like I’m right there and it’s wild," Eilish said. "I’m really excited for audiences to see it, especially the close-up stuff. Even if they were at the concert in person, they weren’t that close. They’re going to get to see beyond just their point of view from the audience."
She’s not wrong. Watching it on Wednesday night (May 6) at the Fox Westwood Village Theatre with fans jumping out of their seats and rushing to the front of the screen to dance, the spatial depth of the 3D often made it hard to determine who was dancing in the film and who was doing it on screen.
From hard launching her relationship with Nat Wolff to a sneak peek at her new favorite hobby, here are some of the things Complex took away from the night.
Billie Rolled Out the Blue Carpet
Never one to be conventional, Billie Eilish opted to swap the traditional red carpet for a vibrant blue one. Taking over the corner of Le Conte and Broxton, the film's premiere gave fans and friends of the singer the ultimate 'blue carpet treatment' (shout out to Snoop Dogg).
The evening proved to be a family affair, with her brother Finneas, her mother Maggie Baird, and her father Patrick O'Connell all in attendance. The carpet also served as a hard launch for her relationship with Paper Towns actor Nat Wolff, much to the delight of the paparazzi cameras.
The guest list was rounded out by celebrities and close friends — including Finneas’ fiancée Claudia Sulewski — and, of course, the man behind the lens, James Cameron.
James Cameron Might Have Found a New Niche
Responsible for three of the top five highest grossing films of all time, James Cameron doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. But with the release of Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), he might have carved out a new niche for himself — one he can enjoy conquering for years to come: 3D concert films.
While the format isn’t new, 3D concert films by the director of Aliens and Terminator 2 are, and they might just be the future. From the multiple on-stage angles and immersive fan footage deep within the crowd to the guerilla-style handheld shots captured by Billie herself, the film plays like a big-budget blockbuster.
In fact, the blue-hued color scheme used throughout feels like it was lifted straight from the world of Avatar. James Cameron is probably about to start getting a lot of calls, let's put it that way.
Hip-Hop Is Responsible for Billie’s Stage Presence
Billie Eilish has made it no secret that she's a huge rap fan. Whether it's her deep-rooted ties to Denzel Curry and Tyler, the Creator, or her public reverence for icons like Childish Gambino and Lil Wayne, her DNA is pure hip-hop. In her new film, she reveals that her fandom goes deeper than just the playlist; it’s the very blueprint of her live show.
Heavily influenced by the high-energy, commanding presence of male hip-hop artists, she explains how she blends intense physicality with moments of intimate vulnerability to find the "freedom of being a guy running around” on stage, shirtless.
This homage is even woven into her wardrobe, with the film highlighting her penchant for heritage gear like Ecko Unltd. (shout out to Complex Chief Creative and Innovation Officer Marc Ecko). Whether rocking the rhino on stage or showcasing racks of fresh threads, Billie proves once again that she isn't just a fan of the culture — she's a student of it.
Billie Loves Rescue Dogs (Like, Really Loves Them)
Who doesn’t love a cute rescue puppy? Nobody, right? However, Billie Eilish might just take the crown for being the Mother Teresa of the dog world. Around the midpoint of the movie, she's seen sitting on the floor backstage, surrounded by dogs. She explains to James Cameron that the "puppy room" is a tour tradition designed to help her crew decompress. "Everyone needs some dog love," she says.
On each tour stop, Eilish reaches out to local shelters and asks them to bring a selection of dogs to the venue. Not only aiming to provide comfort, the idea behind the canine carnival is to promote adoption. The pop star has two rescue dogs, as does her brother Finneas, and their mother, Maggie Baird, also has one.
Glassblowing is One of Billie’s Favorite Activities
At Instagram's pre-screening event at LULU's, the social networking platform debuted Billie Eilish's episode of What’s in My Camera Roll to a room full of the singer's superfans.
She shared a selection of never-before-seen snapshots from life on the road, including heartwarming photos of Finneas visiting her on tour ("There is nobody better in the world," she said of her brother) and some candid photo booth fun with her friends.
Among the videos were clips of her cliff diving in Barcelona and an impromptu backstage dance jam with her team, but an interesting tidbit was a glimpse into her time in Australia. Eilish revealed that she has a passion for glassblowing, calling a workshop she attended there "the most fun thing" she’s ever done. The video shows her crafting what has since become one of her favorite possessions — a custom glass that she now uses for her coffee every single day.
Billie Has Some of the Most Die-Hard Fans in Music
Every artist has die-hard fans, but the atmosphere at the premiere underscored a singular truth: Billie Eilish’s connection with her audience transcends typical stardom.
Among the thousands of devotees was 17-year-old Madison Wood, an Upstate New York native flown out by Instagram to see the movie. Wood, who previously convinced her mother to sleep on the streets of Newark to secure front-row seats to one of Eilish’s shows, described her fandom as a vital emotional anchor. "The way she uses her words, it’s like she takes them from my brain and puts them into the most beautiful sounds," Wood told Complex at the premiere.
This bond Eilish has with her fans is fostered through a massive digital community, specifically the @BillieEilishTours Instagram account. With over one million followers, the account — whose anonymous creators were also in attendance — serves as a hub where fans like Wood form lifelong friendships in city-specific group chats. By championing these connections, Eilish has cultivated a fanbase that feels less like a demographic and more like a family.
Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) is out now via Paramount Pictures
