Ghost’s enigmatic frontman, Tobias Forge, has always pushed boundaries with his theatrical rock band. Their flamboyant costumes, catchy melodies laced with darkness, and cryptic lore have garnered them a devoted following.
Now, with the premiere of their debut film, Rite Here Rite Now, Forge seems to be setting the stage for something unexpected. In a recent interview, he expressed a touch of trepidation, hoping fans wouldn’t be “disgusted” by the film’s unorthodox elements.
“I hope that people are happy with what they’re seeing and not perplexed or disgusted. There are elements in this film that might come off as, I guess, unorthodox if you’re super traditional,” the frontman explained.
Pushing the Boundaries of Live Concert Films
In a recent interview, the Ghost mastermind discussed his vision for Rite Here Rite Now. Forge emphasized his desire to create something truly unique: “I’m not making that as traditional as in 50 years ago or 60 years ago, like old school that way. I really set out to make like an unreal fictional live concert film that was gonna be unlike anything else you’ve ever seen.”
He went on, “That doesn’t mean that it’s better than anything you’ve ever seen, but it is not gonna be reminiscent of exactly something else that you’ve seen previously before seeing this, and I think I’ve done that. But that is one thing.”
Beyond innovation, Forge has a specific hope for audience reaction: “Another thing is to see… Obviously, people are excited, but we just know that people are excited about seeing the film that they still have not seen. So, right now I just want all these people who have believed in the film coming out [of the theaters] and saying, ‘It was better than I thought.’” This part of the interview shows the ambitious nature of Rite Here Rite Now and the frontman’s desire to exceed expectations.
Rite Here Rite Now Rocks the Box Office
Rite Here Rite Now, has proven to be a box office success despite its limited release. The film, which combines live concert footage with a continuation of the band’s ongoing “Chapters” storyline, grossed a staggering $5.04 million worldwide, landing it at the coveted number 9 spot on the global charts.
Ghost’s film played to packed houses in over 1,800 cinemas across 49 countries. North American audiences embraced the film, contributing a healthy $2.65 million to the total gross.
However, the film’s reach extended far beyond the continent, with strong showings in key markets like the U.K. and Ireland ($606,000), Germany ($332,000), Mexico ($326,000), and Australia ($178,000). These figures solidify Ghost’s global fanbase and their eagerness to experience the band’s unique vision on the big screen.
The Project Was “Draining” but Worth It
Back In October 2023, Ghost announced their foray into filmmaking with their debut film. The project culminated in a world premiere on June 18th, 2024, with frontman Tobias Forge himself attending the event. However, the journey to the big screen wasn’t without its hurdles.
In a recent interview with Rock Sound, Forge opened up about the demanding nature of filmmaking. While acknowledging the enjoyment involved, he described the process as draining. “I’m used to working towards deadlines, but filmmaking is definitely a lot…” he explained.
“You can release records into the society and people will buy it or not, whereas tickets you have to sell too, but cinemas are a little bit like venues. So you can’t just release a film or move it like a week. If you don’t deliver on time, it would be delayed, like, months. So we’ve been sort of zoning in on this date, basically today, for the last nine months,” the frontman added.
The seeds of Rite Here Rite Now were actually sown during Ghost’s two-night California shows at the Forum in Inglewood. For these concerts, the band implemented a strict no-phone policy, opting instead for a professional camera crew to capture the entire event. Shortly after these shows, rumors of a Ghost film began to circulate.