Every Time Taylor Swift Has Appeared in a Feature Film (2023)

It seems like the world just cannot get enough of Taylor Swift. Despite breaking onto the scene over 15 years ago with her debut album in 2006, Taylor has managed to maintain her star power and continues to amass devoted fans it seems like now more than ever before. Since announcing her plan to re-record her entire discography after having her original masters bought out from under her in 2019, Taylor Swift has dominated both the music world and pop culture world; from releasing two surprise albums in 2020 (one of which won her a Grammy) to becoming the first artist in history to hold all top ten spots on Billboard's Hot 100, the country-gone-pop-gone-folk musician is certainly a force to be reckoned with.

However, Taylor Swift's talents don't end with music; she has also proved to be a skilled actor, joining the casts of some major feature films. Whether she's taking on the role of a main character or simply making a quick cameo appearance, her presence in any movie is an exciting and welcome experience for average movie-watchers and diehard fans alike.

In December of 2022, Swift even announced her upcoming directorial debut in which she would try her hand at filmmaking. In honor of Taylor's continuing contribution to film, we take a look back at every time Taylor Swift made an appearance in a feature-length movie.

For the purpose of this list, we will omit any movies that are based on Taylor's life as a musician, including Folklore: The Long Pond StudioSessions and Miss Americana. Concerts, compilations, and music videos will also be excluded.

Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)

(Video) Every Time Taylor Swift Appeared on The Ellen Show In Order (Part 1) (MEGA-COMPILATION)

Taylor's first movie appearance came in 2009 alongside fellow child star Miley Cyrus in Hannah Montana: The Movie. The film follows Miley Stewart, played by Cyrus, as she is abruptly thrust back into a small town after living out her dreams as the pop star, Hannah Montana. When the town's park is threatened by greedy developers, locals spring into action to protect their sacred land. When the town puts together an open mic fundraiser for the cause, Taylor Swift hops on stage to join in the event.

Though Taylor did not have any spoken lines in the movie, viewers were excited to see her onstage with her guitar singing the original song, "Crazier". The song, which is a whimsical, romantic country ballad, plays as connections are formed between Billy Ray and his love interest, Lorelai, and Miley and her love interest, Travis, perfectly setting the scene for budding romance.

Fans were delighted to see two teen stars share the screen; Miley and Taylor shared similar audiences at the time and made for an iconic duo, despite the two never actually interacting in the movie. Yet the song as well as Taylor's overall presence help create a surprisingly touching moment for a children's movie, one that helps drive the plot forward in a unique and beautiful way.

Valentine's Day (2010)

2010's Valentine's Day sees multiple interconnected love stories unravel and eventually converge on the titular holiday. Featuring names like Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Biel, and Bradley Cooper, Valentine's Day is one of the most beloved romantic comedies of the 2010s. Swift starred alongside Taylor Lautner, playing the role of schoolgirl Felicia. In the film, Felicia is in a relationship with Lautner's character, Willy, with the two portraying a typical young love trope.

The on-screen chemistry between Felicia and Willy was more than likely amplified due to the budding relationship between real-life Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner. For fans who were aware of their relationship, seeing the two interact on-screen was silly and endearing, adding to the overall charm of Felicia and Willy. But regardless, Taylor fit right in with the A-list ensemble and was able to distinguish her skills from that of her high-profile boyfriend.

Like the previous entry, Taylor also wrote an original song called "Today Was a Fairytale" specifically for the movie, which she later re-recorded and released with her 2021 album Fearless (Taylor's Version). The song has a similar puppy-love feel to that of her character in the film; it is a simple ode to a magical day with a new love interest, something that Felicia definitely experiences on-screen.

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The Lorax (2012)

This next entry is the only edition where Taylor got to show off her voice-acting chops. In 2012's The Lorax, Taylor was cast as the leading lady and love interest of the main character Ted, a redheaded girl named Audrey. Based on the original children's tale by Dr. Seuss, The Lorax stays true to the original story while also introducing new, fun elements; here, we follow Ted as he learns about the story of the Lorax, finds the confidence to pursue his crush and ultimately, save nature from dying out entirely in the town of Thneedville.

Audrey is integral to the plot; without Audrey, the importance of having real trees in Thneedville would have never been brought to Ted's attention in the first place. Her love of nature and knowledge of processes like photosynthesis not only teach Ted a thing or two about ecology but the audience as well.

Taylor's voice is well-suited to the character of Audrey, who is chipper, upbeat, and has a girlish charm. Though her voice is certainly recognizable behind the animated character, Taylor subtly shifts her voice to audibly capture the youthful innocence that makes Audrey so likable.

The Giver (2014)

Based on author Lois Lowry's hit novel of the same name, 2014's The Giver saw Taylor take on the role of Rosemary, the daughter of the titular Giver. Taking place in a dystopian society, The Giver follows the main character Jonas as he navigates a world without emotion, color, and knowledge. In this society, only one person known as the Receiver can know the truth behind society in order to shield others from the negativity this truth may bring. But when Jonas begins to take on that exact responsibility, everything he thought he knew comes crashing down.

Rosemary, like Jonas, was chosen to know the hidden truths of the warped society and is seen only in flashbacks. However, Rosemary could not handle knowing the insidious and horrible things she comes to learn, causing her to abandon her position as Receiver and crack under the pressure.

This is perhaps one of Taylor's heaviest cinematic roles, forcing her to portray the darker aspects of life. Though her appearance on-screen is short-lived, the emotional depth and impact of her experience as the Giver's daughter help Jonas to fully grasp the weight of his new responsibility.

Cats (2019)

2019's production of Cats received its fair share of criticism. With its hyper-realistic CGI that can come off more creepy than cool, Cats certainly puts a modern spin on the classic Broadway musical. The film sees a group of cats who call themselves the "Jellicles" as they compete in a competition to ascend to the Heaviside layer, a heaven-like place for cats. Here, Taylor played a seductive cat named Bombalurina who appeared in two scenes.

This is another instance where Taylor also included an original song for the film's release entitled "Beautiful Ghosts." The song was considered to be the production's signature song, being played within the film during a performance by the main character Victoria as well as in a reprise.

Yet despite its critiques, Cats was an enjoyable experience for Taylor: "I loved the weirdness of it." Swift is also a self-proclaimed cat lady, with one of her cats even being worth an estimated $97 million! Taylor's love of cats as well as her love for the overall production certainly showed through her performance with Bombalurina acting as zany and eccentric as ever.

Amsterdam (2022)

Taylor's latest appearance came in 2022's Amsterdam. The murder mystery flick follows three friends, Burt, Harold, and Valerie, as they find themselves in the middle of an intense murder investigation. As the friends attempt to clear their own names, they end up uncovering wild, hidden truths about American History. Set in the 1930s, Amsterdam is an era-based piece that expertly weaves an intricate story, all while remaining true to the time period.

Taylor plays a distraught Elizabeth Meekins, the daughter of the aforementioned murder victim. Her father's death ultimately sets the entire plot into motion and introduces the main conflict for Burt, Harold, and Valerie. Swift looks striking in her 1930s get-up, donning a classic style that she carries with her typical beauty and grace. Yet, the most striking part of Swift's on-screen appearance occurs when she is violently run over by a car. And yes, you read that correctly.

In the opening scene of the film, Elizabeth is struck by a classic jalopy in a comical and highly dramatic fashion. This ultimately sets the serious but never-too-serious tone of the film, playing with the audience's initial expectations. With its absurdity and abruptness, the scene certainly came as a surprise for many first-time viewers!

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