U2 Concert Film Struggles to Fill Seats, Fans Resist High Ticket Prices

Soft ticket sales for U2’s newly debuted concert film, part of their Sphere residency in Las Vegas, suggest that fans of the Gen-X-centric Irish band are reluctant to see a U2 concert without the actual band members present. While fans were willing to pay between $300 and $9,000 to attend a live concert, the $100-$200 ticket price for the film seems to be meeting resistance.

The film, “V-U2,” co-directed by U2 guitarist Edge and his wife, Morleigh Steinberg, is showing at the spherical Vegas venue but is struggling to attract audiences. Ticket availability snapshots taken at 11 a.m. on a recent Sunday revealed a significant number of unclaimed seats for that day’s 2 p.m. screening. In stark contrast, Darren Aronofsky’s “Postcard from Earth,” which has been playing since last October, showed far fewer open seats, despite commanding similar ticket prices, ranging from $100-$280.

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While Thursday’s premiere attracted diehard fans and sold out, subsequent screenings have seen a drastic drop in attendance. By Saturday, 75 percent of the seats were unsold at the start of the screening, and by 11 a.m. on Sunday, more than 90 percent of tickets for that day’s 2 p.m. showing were still available.

This might indicate that few people are willing to spend $100-$200 for a concert film experience. The Sphere may need to adjust its pricing strategy if it hopes to fill those seats. An explanation for the film’s tepid reception was offered by Australian fan Austin Docherty on a U2 fan group on Facebook: “Fans came from all over the world to see the concert and spent a bucketload doing so. We can’t afford the same for a video of a concert.”

In other Las Vegas cinema news, “The Last Showgirl” premiered on Friday at the Toronto Film Festival. Directed by Gia Coppola, the indie film starring Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis explores the life of Shelley, a showgirl in her fifties grappling with the end of her career and self-worth as the last showgirl production on the Strip winds down. Early reviews of the dark film are mixed. “Deadline” praised Anderson’s performance, describing it as a shining moment that leaves audiences feeling hopeful. “The Hollywood Reporter” agreed that Anderson brings pathos and empathy to her role but felt the film overall was somewhat lacking. Conversely, “The Daily Beast” was harshly critical, calling the film’s gestures affected and compassion ultimately unearned.

Pamela Anderson’s character, Shelley, is seen contemplating her future on the rooftop of either the Palms or the Rio, encapsulating the struggles faced by the last showgirl on the Strip.