Taylor Swift's Film 'The Official Release Party of a Show Girl' Tops Box Office with $33 Million

LOS ANGELES -- This weekend, the box office spotlight shone brightly on two major stars: Taylor Swift and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. However, it was Swift's dedicated fanbase that emerged victorious as her film, The Official Release Party of a Show Girl, debuted at the top of the charts, grossing $33 million across North America, according to preliminary estimates from Comscore.

Released by AMC Theatres, the film, which was announced just two weeks prior with minimal promotional efforts, serves as a companion piece to Swift's 12th studio album. It includes music videos, behind-the-scenes content, and lyric visuals, all presented in an 89-minute format designed to engage her fans.

The film was screened at all 540 AMC locations in the U.S. over the weekend, with additional showings in Mexico, Canada, and various European countries. Industry analysts noted that Swift's ability to leverage the movie theater experience to enhance her brand and connect with her audience is a remarkable strategy, especially in a time when theater owners are eager for compelling content.

This release follows Swift's previous box office success with The Eras Tour, which opened with a staggering $96 million, further solidifying her status in the entertainment industry.

In contrast, Dwayne Johnson had a more subdued debut with his A24 drama, The Smashing Machine, which opened in third place with only $6 million. This film, co-starring Emily Blunt, trailed behind Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, which garnered $11.1 million and has now reached a global total of $107 million.

Despite receiving positive reviews and a notable 15-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, where Johnson was praised for his portrayal of MMA legend Mark Kerr, The Smashing Machine marked one of his lowest openings as a leading actor.

Industry experts commented on Johnson's transition into more independent roles, suggesting that it allows him to redefine his career. While he is recognized for his box office appeal, venturing into different genres could enhance his artistic credentials.

Beyond these two stars, the weekend box office featured a diverse array of films, including animated features and horror sequels. DreamWorks Animation's Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie premiered in fourth place with $5.2 million, expanding the popular Netflix preschool series to theaters. Following closely, Warner Bros.' supernatural thriller, The Conjuring: Last Rites, earned $4 million, contributing to its global total of $458.2 million.

In sixth place was Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle, the latest installment in the popular Japanese anime franchise, which collected $3.5 million. A re-release of Avatar: The Way of Water also performed well, bringing in $3.1 million ahead of the upcoming sequel, Avatar: The Fire and Ash, set to premiere on December 19.

Rounding out the top ten were The Strangers: Chapter 2 with $2.8 million, the IFC dark comedy Good Boy with $2.2 million, marking the company's second-best opening weekend, and Kantara: A Legend - Chapter 1 with $1.7 million.

As the month progresses, industry analysts are looking forward to upcoming releases such as Tron: Ares, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Roofman, starring Channing Tatum.