LOS ANGELES — International music and film sensation Taylor Swift has once again proven her global draw, dominating the weekend box office with her new film The Official Release Party of a Show Girl. The movie debuted at number one in North America, raking in an estimated US$33 million, according to Comscore.
Swift’s 89-minute film, released by AMC Theatres with minimal promotion just two weeks ago, combines music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and lyric visuals from her 12th studio album. It has been screened across 540 AMC locations in the United States, with additional showings in Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
“For Taylor Swift to harness the movie theatre as a platform to engage fans outside of concerts is a stroke of genius,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. “The $33 million haul adds valuable revenue for theatre owners who have been seeking high-demand content for their screens.”
The success continues Swift’s box office dominance, following the near US$96 million opening of her The Eras Tour concert film two years ago. Analysts say her brand strategy — combining music, fan engagement, and cinema — has created a global template for entertainment marketing.
Dwayne Johnson Faces Modest Opening
Hollywood star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, meanwhile, experienced a more modest reception. His A24 drama The Smashing Machine, co-starring Emily Blunt, opened in third place with US$6 million, trailing Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which grossed US$11.1 million for the weekend.
Despite critical acclaim and a 15-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, Johnson’s latest role as MMA legend Mark Kerr marks one of his lowest openings as a lead actor.
“When major stars pursue indie roles, they risk box office returns in exchange for prestige and career reinvention,” said Dergarabedian. “Johnson is redefining his artistic range, but stepping outside the action-hero comfort zone comes with trade-offs.”
Other Notable Openings
The weekend also saw a mix of animated films, horror sequels, and international releases perform strongly:
DreamWorks’ Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie debuted at US$5.2 million, expanding the popular Netflix series.
Warner Bros.’ The Conjuring: Last Rites earned US$4 million, now at US$458.2 million globally.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle collected US$3.5 million.
A re-release of Avatar: The Way of Water made US$3.1 million, ahead of Avatar: The Fire and Ash in December.
Rounding out the top 10 were The Strangers: Chapter 2 (US$2.8 million), IFC dark comedy Good Boy (US$2.2 million), and Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 (US$1.7 million).
Looking Ahead
Analysts are now looking forward to October releases, including Tron: Ares, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Roofman, starring Channing Tatum, which are expected to further energise the global box office.
Swift’s record-breaking weekend highlights the enduring power of global fan bases and the increasing synergy between music and cinema, while Johnson’s indie venture demonstrates the challenges established stars face when exploring new creative territory.
Top 10 movies by domestic box office
With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
1. “The Official Release Party of a Show Girl,” $33 million
2. “One Battle After Another,” $11.1 million.
3. “The Smashing Machine,” $6 million.
4. “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie,” $5.2 million.
5. “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” $4 million.
6. ““Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle,” $3.5 million.
7. “Avatar: The Way of Water,” $3.1 million.
8. “The Strangers: Chapter 2,” $2.8 million.
9. ““Good Boy,” $2.2 million.
10. “Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1,” $1.7 million.
Source: AP
