There is no act better suited for the concert film medium than Swedish rock band Ghost. Their visual schtick is a perfect amalgamation of comedy, drama and theatrics while their music lends itself to the most epic, cinematic sonics one could possibly dream up. As such, Ghost is more than successful in translating their arena shows to the silver screen, especially with their latest offering 2 Big To Rig.
Back in 2024, the band put out Rite Here, Rite Now documenting a pair of back-to-back shows at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California that had taken place the year before. They were on the Re-Imperatour in support of their 2022 masterpiece Impera. That film presented a balance between backstage lore building and real-time footage of the group’s performance which is something that is absent from 2 Big To Rig but not to its detriment.
2 Big To Rig is more of a straightforward concert film following the band’s sold out two night stand at Mexico City’s Palacio de los Deportes. Having released their sixth studio album Skeleta in early 2025 to much fanfare (evidenced by the fact that it hit number one on the Billboard 200, the first time a hard rock band had done so since AC/DC’s Power Up in 2020), the band set out on their Skeletour with new songs, new ghouls and new horizons.
As is custom for Ghost, the band opens each ritual with a deeply moving opening song of which Skeleta had “Peacefield,” a call for optimism in a world that consistently makes it difficult to feel that way. The stage curtain remains drawn for a good portion of the song to build anticipation before ultimately crashing down during the climax. The translation of this moment to the big screen feels natural and just as hair-raising. The glittering of the nameless ghouls and Papa Perpetua’s stage costumes seem almost better suited for a film than on stage, allowing viewers to see more intricate details they might have otherwise missed from their venue seats.
Something particularly interesting about the film is the way in which they weaved in backstage clips, offering a palate cleanser of sorts in between performances without spoiling the mystique of the band itself. The crew speaks about how challenging the stage design is to put together on a nightly basis (hence the title) but assures viewers that no matter how difficult it is, they do it for the love of the fans. Another segment directly addressed the cancelation of the originally slated first show (which was canceled due to frontman Tobias Forge falling ill with food poisoning or “Montezuma’s revenge” as he quipped.) He handled it with a level of comedy and sincere apology, humorously lamenting that “at the end of the day, I’m just a gringo with an army asking for too much.”
The beauty of Ghost, beyond their esoteric theatrics and unparalleled world building, lies in their dedication to the craft of songwriting and performing. There are no studio versions to be had during rituals. They are interactive and immersive in a way that translates well from the stage to the screen. 2 Big To Rig will have fans up and out of their seats during the encore, reviving a feeling of euphoria that had been long buried but never forgotten.
Photo credit: Raymond Flotat
Leave a Comment