Honestly, the internet has a weirdly short memory. If you ask a casual fan about the Taylor Swift Amsterdam movie today, they might look at you like you’re speaking a different language. Or maybe they’ll just assume you’re talking about her Eras Tour film. But back in 2022, before the friendship bracelets and the Travis Kelce of it all, Taylor stepped into a very different world: a 1930s murder mystery directed by David O. Russell.
She wasn't the lead. She wasn't even there for the second act. But for those five minutes she was on screen? She was everything.
The character you probably forgot: Elizabeth Meekins
Taylor plays Elizabeth "Liz" Meekins, the grieving daughter of a high-ranking military commander. The plot kicks off because her father, Bill Meekins, dies under some seriously shady circumstances. Liz doesn't buy the "natural causes" story for a second. She’s the one who approaches the main trio—played by Christian Bale and John David Washington—to ask for an undercover autopsy.
It’s a frantic, high-stakes role. You’ve got Taylor Swift, styled in full 1930s mourning attire, looking genuinely terrified. It was a massive departure from her previous roles like the whimsical (and CGI-heavy) Cats or her brief stint in The Giver.
👉 See also: Ted Nugent State of Shock: Why This 1979 Album Divides Fans Today
That one scene everyone memes
If you’ve seen the clips on TikTok, you know exactly what I’m talking about. There is a specific moment where Liz Meekins meets her end. It is... abrupt.
While talking to the protagonists on a busy New York City street, Liz is suddenly and violently pushed into the path of an oncoming car. The sound design is brutal. One second she’s there, whispering about a conspiracy, and the next, she’s literally under the wheels of a 1930s sedan.
It became an instant meme. Not because it was bad acting, but because it was so shocking to see the world's biggest pop star get taken out by a vintage car in the first twenty minutes of a film. It’s basically the "Janet Leigh in Psycho" moment of the 2020s, just with more flapper hats and less shower curtains.
✨ Don't miss: Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus Explained (Simply)
Why the movie actually matters (Despite the reviews)
Look, Amsterdam didn't exactly set the world on fire at the box office. Critics called it "meandering" and "overstuffed." With a cast that included Robert De Niro, Margot Robbie, Rami Malek, and Anya Taylor-Joy, the expectations were sky-high.
But if you look past the messy plot, the film is actually based on a real-life political conspiracy called the Business Plot of 1933. This was a supposed plan by wealthy businessmen to overthrow President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Taylor’s character, though fictional, represents the catalyst for uncovering this real-world history. It’s sorta fascinating that she chose a project so rooted in dark, niche American politics. It shows she was looking for "prestige" roles, moving away from the "pop star cameo" vibe and into "supporting actress in an Oscar-contending ensemble."
🔗 Read more: Big Brother 27 Morgan: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
The David O. Russell controversy
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. A lot of fans were confused why Taylor chose to work with David O. Russell, given his well-documented history of volatile behavior on sets and past legal issues.
Taylor is usually so careful with her "brand." Her team didn't do much traditional press for this movie. She skipped some of the bigger premiere events. Most people think she wanted the acting experience and the chance to work with Bale and De Niro, but the optics were definitely tricky. It’s one of those rare moments where her choices didn't perfectly align with the "Socially Conscious Taylor" narrative we usually see.
How to watch it now
If you missed it in theaters, you can usually find it on Hulu or Disney+ (depending on where you live).
- Watch for the costumes: The 1930s styling is incredible. Taylor looks like she stepped out of a vintage portrait.
- Don't blink: Seriously, her screentime is short. If you get up to make popcorn at the wrong time, you’ll miss her entire performance.
- Stick around for the history: The ending of the movie explains the "Business Plot" in more detail. It’s actually pretty wild how close the US came to a different kind of government in the '30s.
If you’re a completionist, you need to see this. It’s a weird, beautiful, chaotic piece of her filmography. It’s not All Too Well: The Short Film, but it’s a glimpse into a version of Taylor Swift that isn't afraid to take a small, gritty role and get hit by a car for the sake of the plot.
Next Steps for Swifties:
Check out the film specifically for the production design by Judy Becker. Even if the story feels a bit tangled, the visual representation of 1933 New York and the titular Amsterdam sequences are worth the watch. If you want to dive deeper into her acting career, compare her performance here to her work in Where the Crawdads Sing, where she stayed behind the scenes to write the theme song instead of appearing on camera.