Industry

Review: Billie Eilish’s "Hit Me Hard and Soft" Tour, Co-Directed by James Cameron

Billie Eilish’s "Hit Me Hard and Soft" tour receives a "Titanic" concert film treatment, co-directed by James Cameron. This creates a genuine and unique experience that transcends the typical concert film format.

Variety Music·May 7, 2026·via Variety Music

Review: Billie Eilish’s "Hit Me Hard and Soft" Tour, Co-Directed by James Cameron

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May 7, 2026 6:00am PT

Critics Pick

‘Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour Live in 3D’ Review: James Cameron Co-Directs a Titanic Concert Film

Billie Eilish commands a massive stage in an electrifying concert movie where her real co-performer is the audience.

By Owen Gleiberman

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Owen Gleiberman

Chief Film Critic

@OwenGleiberman

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In the old days, which weren’t that long ago (in fact, they haven’t really gone away), there was that ritual moment when a rock ‘n’ roll idol, in the midst of delivering a classic anthem, would point the mic away from himself and into the arena, indicating that it was time for the audience to take over and sing the lines. It might be Springsteen doing “Thunder Road,” or Madonna doing “Holiday,” or the moment when I saw an entire Jersey stadium of Billy Joel fans singing “A bottle of white! A bottle of red…” The loving symbiosis of pop star and pop audience doesn’t get much more reverent than that.