Having conquered the world’s biggest stadiums with her sold-out concert tours, Taylor Swift is once again proving her dominance, this time on the big screen. Her latest theatrical venture, “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl,” is dancing to the top of the box office charts, bringing in an impressive $33 million over the weekend alone. This cinematic experience, as it has been branded, earned an additional $13 million in international markets, resulting in a remarkable global total of $46 million.
This significant box office success is notable, especially considering that “Showgirl” was announced merely two weeks prior to its release and had minimal promotion beyond Swift’s own social media platforms. AMC Theatres is handling the distribution of “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl,” which distinguishes itself from traditional movies or concert films like Swift’s record-breaking “The Eras Tour.” Rather, it is an 89-minute listening party that provides fans with a glimpse into a new music video and behind-the-scenes content related to her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”
This marks Swift’s second No. 1 box office debut, following her earlier success in 2023 with “The Eras Tour,” which opened to a staggering $93.2 million. According to David A. Gross, head of the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, “No other musical artist on the planet can do this.” Swift’s ticket pricing strategy was also unique; she priced tickets at $12, which, while above the national average, remains lower than the costs in major markets like New York City and Los Angeles.
Audience reception for “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” has been overwhelmingly positive, earning a rare A+ grade on CinemaScore exit polls. However, it is worth noting that this cinematic experience is only scheduled to run for the weekend of October 3 through 5, suggesting that the Swift-induced box office surge may be brief. AMC’s CEO, Adam Aron, expressed gratitude in a statement, saying, “On behalf of AMC Theatres and the entire theatrical exhibition industry, I extend our sincerest appreciation to the iconic Taylor Swift for bringing her brilliance and magic to movie theatres this weekend.”
In contrast, this weekend’s other newcomer, Dwayne Johnson’s R-rated sports drama “The Smashing Machine,” struggled to find its footing, landing in third place with just $6 million from 3,345 venues. This figure fell short of projections, marking a career low for Johnson, below his previous film “Faster,” which debuted with $8.5 million in 2010 (not adjusted for inflation). A24 invested $50 million in the production, alongside additional promotional efforts, including appearances at major film festivals.
Despite receiving a standing ovation at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals and being considered an Oscar contender, the film’s dismal box office performance raises doubts about its awards prospects. The movie features a rare dramatic performance from Johnson, who is widely known for family-friendly franchises like “Jumanji” and “Fast and Furious.” He portrays wrestler and UFC champion Mark Kerr, who is attempting a career comeback after overcoming substance abuse issues, with Emily Blunt playing his then-girlfriend, Dawn Staples.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s comedic action film “One Battle After Another” secured second place with $10.3 million from 3,634 theaters, experiencing a decline of 53% from its debut. The film has so far grossed $41 million in North America and $101.7 million globally. While it has become the highest-grossing film of Paul Thomas Anderson’s career, surpassing “There Will Be Blood”, its production cost exceeds $130 million, necessitating around $300 million to break even.
In limited release, the drama “Anemone,” featuring Daniel Day-Lewis in his first film role in eight years, garnered minimal attention, earning just $700,000 from 856 screens. The film, directed by Day-Lewis’s son Ronan Day-Lewis, received negative reviews, holding a 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Additionally, Disney re-released “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which earned $3.2 million from 2,140 domestic locations. The blockbuster added another $6.8 million internationally, bringing its total for the weekend to $10 million. The studio aims to rekindle excitement for the upcoming third installment, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” set to release in December. Both the original “Avatar” and its sequel have each grossed over $2 billion globally, solidifying their status as two of the highest-grossing films in history.
As the box office landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether “Fire and Ash” will complete the trifecta of success for the franchise.
