Global superstar Ed Sheeran is the subject of a captivating new Netflix special that takes viewers on a seamless, single-take journey through the heart of New York City. 'One Shot With Ed Sheeran,' available on the streaming platform from 21 November 2025, offers an intimate and seemingly spontaneous look at the singer's life, guitar always in hand.
A Seamless New York Adventure
Directed by the acclaimed Philip Barantini, known for the intense single-take drama 'Adolescence,' this hour-long film follows Sheeran after a late-afternoon soundcheck at a New York theatre where he is scheduled to perform a concert. For the next sixty minutes, the camera, operated by director of photography Nyk Allen, floats alongside Sheeran as he wanders through Manhattan. He is constantly surrounded by adoring fans, happily stopping for selfies, fist-bumps, and high-fives, his sunny disposition seemingly fuelled by their excitement.
The film's structure is a marvel of planning disguised as happenstance. Sheeran engages in a series of musical encounters, some planned and others presented as chance events. In one heartfelt moment, he plays a song for a friend who is proposing to his girlfriend. He then stages an impromptu gig on a tourist bus, performs at a rooftop birthday party, and jams with friends in a local pub. A particularly amusing scene sees him sharing a silent, awkward lift ride with a confused businessman who appears entirely unaware of his fame.
The Magic of Single-Take Filmmaking
The technical achievement of Philip Barantini and his team is undeniable. The camera moves magically, handed smoothly between operators and drones, gliding through confined interior spaces and out into the open sky above the city. This technique, which drew comparisons to Russian cinematographer Sergei Urusevsky in Barantini's previous work, gives the film a fluid, dreamlike quality. The production crew remains almost entirely invisible throughout the entire sequence, a testament to their meticulous planning and skill.
The visual style, capturing New York streets and the theatre interior, may remind cinephiles of Alejandro González Iñárritu's acclaimed single-take film, Birdman (Or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). The adventure culminates with Sheeran grooving his way onto the subway, performing on a train, and then, without a single glitch, arriving back at the theatre. The camera follows him as he glides through the foyer and triumphantly makes his way through the packed auditorium to the stage, ready to begin his concert.
Planned Spontaneity and Celebrity Encounters
While the special sells itself on spontaneity, there are moments where the authenticity feels carefully orchestrated. Early on, Sheeran hails a cab with ease, and the driver shows no reaction to the camera entering his vehicle. The most conspicuous scene involves a chance encounter with his friend, singer Camila Cabello, who just happens to be driving by. After an exchange of surprised greetings that won't earn her any acting awards, Sheeran gets a lift, and the pair engage in a carpool karaoke session reminiscent of James Corden's popular segment.
Despite these moments of suspected staging, Sheeran's charm is relentless. He beams his way through every interaction, appearing genuinely happy and inexhaustible. While it will likely appeal most to his dedicated fanbase, 'One Shot With Ed Sheeran' stands as another bold and technically impressive single-take project from filmmaker Philip Barantini, offering a unique, sun-soaked portrait of a global star at work and at play.
