Taylor Swift once again demonstrated her formidable power to command the big screen, as her latest theatrical endeavor, “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl,” danced to the top of the global box office charts. The “cinematic experience,” which serves as a companion to her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” amassed an impressive $33 million domestically and an additional $13 million internationally, totaling $46 million over the weekend. This remarkable performance is particularly significant given that the project was announced just over two weeks prior and relied predominantly on Swift’s social media for promotion, bypassing traditional Hollywood marketing channels.

Distributed by AMC Theatres, this 89-minute event is neither a conventional movie nor a concert film like her record-breaking “The Eras Tour” from 2023. Instead, it offered fans an exclusive listening party featuring a new music video and behind-the-scenes footage. This marks Swift’s second No. 1 box office debut, following “The Eras Tour” which opened to a staggering $93.2 million. David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research noted, “No other musical artist on the planet can do this.” Adhering to her self-proclaimed interest in numerology, Swift set ticket prices at $12. The release garnered a stellar reception, achieving a rare “A+” grade on CinemaScore exit polls. However, “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” had a brief theatrical window, running only from October 3 to 5. AMC CEO Adam Aron lauded Swift’s vision, stating it was “nothing less than a triumph” and a “wonderful gift to her passionate and enthusiastic fans.”

In stark contrast to Swift’s success, Dwayne Johnson’s R-rated sports drama, “The Smashing Machine,” struggled at the box office, landing in third place with a disappointing $6 million from 3,345 venues. This figure fell short of projections ($8 million to $15 million) and represents a career low for Johnson, even trailing his 2010 thriller “Faster” ($8.5 million, unadjusted for inflation). The commercial flop is a significant blow for A24, which invested $50 million in production and millions more in promotional efforts, including festival appearances at Venice and Toronto where it was initially hailed as an Oscar contender. The film features a rare dramatic turn for Johnson, who is known for more family-friendly fare, portraying wrestler and UFC champion Mark Kerr in his battle against substance abuse, with Emily Blunt co-starring as Kerr’s then-girlfriend. While critics were more favorable (73% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences gave it a “B-” on CinemaScore. Benny Safdie, known for his work on