Directors: Amir Chamdin, Jim Parsons
Genre: Documentary, Music
In Irish Cinemas: 26th August 2026
There is something uniquely special about seeing a band you love bring an enormous live production to the screen. Music can be experienced in countless ways—albums, singles, videos, recordings, remixes and live performances—but nothing quite compares with the feeling of being transported back into a concert you thought you had left behind.
That makes concert films particularly valuable. Large-scale tours are incredibly expensive to stage, and capturing them for a future release adds another layer of production and expense. As a result, countless unforgettable performances disappear once the final night is over. Thankfully, Ghost fans are being given the opportunity to revisit one of the band’s biggest chapters through 2 Big To Rig.
The new film documents Ghost’s Mexican dates during the Skeletour World Tour and offers audiences another chance to step inside the elaborate world created by Tobias Forge and the Ghouls. Having had the opportunity to see the film ahead of its wider release, I can say that it succeeds in recreating much of the atmosphere and excitement that made the tour so memorable.
With 2 Big To Rig arriving globally on August 26, fans are preparing to return to the world of Ghost once again. Selected cinemas in Berlin, London, Mexico, Sydney and Los Angeles will also host advance screenings on August 24, giving fans in those locations an early opportunity to experience the film before its official release.
From the opening moments, the scale of the production is impossible to miss. The film feels designed for the biggest screen available, with its sound immediately surrounding the audience with the roar of thousands of fans inside Mexico City’s Palacio de los Deportes. Rather than simply watching a concert, the experience feels like being dropped directly into the middle of it.
That sense of immersion is one of the film’s greatest strengths. Whether you attended the Skeletour yourself or are experiencing it entirely through the film, there is a genuine emotional impact when the stage comes alive and the Ghouls and Ghoulettes emerge. The anticipation builds naturally before Papa V Perpetua takes his place and the ritual begins.
The editing also mirrors the character of Ghost’s live shows. It rarely feels sluggish, instead moving between spectacle, performance and crowd reaction with an energy that keeps the experience moving. The result captures the theatrical nature of the band without losing the feeling of actually being among the audience.
Visually, one of the most effective decisions was the use of Super 16mm film. The texture gives the movie a beautifully nostalgic quality, evoking the aesthetic of classic rock and glam performances while simultaneously creating a visual time capsule of the 2025–2026 Skeletour. The Kodak film stock brings a natural grain to the footage, particularly during close-ups, giving the imagery a warmth and character that digital footage often struggles to replicate.
The production itself is another major component of the film. Ghost’s concerts have become increasingly ambitious, and 2 Big To Rig makes a point of showing just how much work goes into creating that spectacle. Behind-the-scenes sequences provide glimpses into the enormous logistical operation required to construct, operate and dismantle a production of this magnitude.
For anyone fascinated by touring, stage production or concert logistics, these moments are especially rewarding. They also serve as a reminder that the spectacle audiences experience for a few hours each night depends on an enormous number of people working behind the scenes. The film gives those individuals and their efforts a deserved moment in the spotlight.
Naturally, Papa V Perpetua remains at the heart of everything. Tobias Forge’s charisma is impossible to overlook, whether he is delivering one of his trademark remarks, performing his familiar movements or commanding the stage with his distinctive voice. The camera clearly understands that fans have come to see him, and the film gives him plenty of opportunity to dominate the screen.
There is a genuine joy in seeing the entire Ghost machine operating at full capacity again. The performances, costumes, staging, lighting and audience reactions combine to recreate the atmosphere that has made the band’s rituals so distinctive.
There was, however, one small disappointment for me personally. One song I would have particularly enjoyed seeing included did not make the final cut. Of course, there are countless artistic and practical considerations involved in assembling a feature-length concert film, and its omission does not diminish the overall experience. Still, it is difficult not to wonder what might have been had that performance made the final edit.
Ultimately, 2 Big To Rig feels like both a celebration and a farewell to an important era of Ghost. It delivers the theatricality, humour, musicianship and sheer scale that fans have come to associate with the band, while also carrying the emotional weight of watching the Skeletour chapter come to an end. There are moments that invite laughter, moments that bring a smile, and moments that may unexpectedly hit a little harder than anticipated. More than anything, though, the film provides fans with the chance to remember what made these concerts so special. For those who were there, 2 Big To Rig offers a chance to revisit the memories. For those who missed the tour, it provides a glimpse into what they missed. Either way, Ghost has created another opportunity for its audience to step beyond the ordinary world and enter the ritual once again.
Overall: 10/10
Movie Reviewer
