Netflix’s One Shot with Ed Sheeran is more than just another concert special — it’s an ambitious, one-take, real-time odyssey through the streets of Manhattan, blending music, candid moments, and an unfiltered look at what it means to be famous in the smartphone era.
The 58-minute feature follows Sheeran from a soundcheck at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, straight out the backstage door, and into a whirlwind series of performances and interactions across the city. Directed by Philip Barantini — known for his masterful single-take works like Boiling Point and Adolescence — the film stitches together a seamless, uninterrupted journey that hits iconic locations including the High Line, a bustling Irish bar, a souvenir shop, a rooftop birthday party, and the subway, before bringing Sheeran back to the theater for the evening’s main show.
While certain moments appear staged — a friendly New York cab driver comes to mind — the film still manages to capture a sense of spontaneity. Whether he’s serenading a pub crowd, strumming atop a moving bus, or helping with a marriage proposal, Sheeran’s enthusiasm for performing is unmistakable.
The “one-shot” concept creates a feeling of immediacy — the sense that we’re moving through the city with Sheeran in real time. However, the illusion falters slightly when he gets stuck in traffic mid-journey, resulting in a fast-forward segment to keep the pace. Still, the technical achievement is impressive, with transitions that smoothly jump from handheld shots to sweeping aerial drone footage without missing a beat.
Perhaps the most telling element of One Shot is not its cinematography, but its unvarnished portrayal of celebrity in the age of smartphones. Nearly everywhere Sheeran goes, phones appear instantly, with strangers snapping selfies (often without asking) and recording his every movement. His natural warmth and easygoing demeanor are ever-present, but by the latter stages of the journey — particularly when running late to his own concert — the constant interruptions start to take a visible toll.
The finale is a high-energy performance of Azizam, the lead single from Play, which resonates beautifully in front of the live audience. It’s not just a concert moment — it’s a release of all the build-up from the city-wide sprint.
For fans, One Shot with Ed Sheeran is essential viewing — part concert film, part behind-the-scenes experiment, part cultural observation. It’s a celebration of live music and a reminder that even the biggest stars are human, navigating both adoration and intrusion as part of their daily lives.
One Shot with Ed Sheeran is now streaming on Netflix.
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