Taylor Swift’s ‘Showgirl‘ Opens to $12 Tickets, While Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s ’Smashing Machine‘ Disappoints at Box Office
LOS ANGELES – Taylor Swift’s concert film extension, Showgirl, debuted in theaters Friday with a unique pricing strategy: $12 for standard showings, a nod to the film being Swift’s 12th studio album. While the film is playing for a limited three-day run and consists of lyric videos, music videos, and behind-the-scenes footage anchored by the premiere of the “The Fate of Ophelia” music video, it arrives on the heels of The Eras Tour‘s unprecedented success, which grossed $261.6 million globally from a $93.2 million domestic opening. Swift and her team self-financed The Eras Tour for $15 million, partnering with AMC Theatres for distribution; showgirl is being released through AMC Theatres Distribution in partnership with Variance Films (U.S. and Canada) and Piece of Magic Entertainment internationally.
However, the weekend box office wasn’t universally celebratory. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s dramatic turn in Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie and co-starring Emily Blunt, underperformed expectations. the film, based on the true story of former UFC fighter Mark Kerr’s struggles with trauma and addiction, marks Johnson’s first foray into awards-season contention.
Meanwhile, James Cameron’s avatar: The Way of Water is being rereleased exclusively in 3D as a promotional push for the upcoming Avatar: Ash and Fire this Christmas, playing in 90 percent of domestic IMAX auditoriums and projected to earn $2 million to $3 million domestically from 2,100 theaters.
According to The Hollywood Reporter‘s review, Showgirl ”is strictly for the diehards. But while there’s something to be said for the communal experience of absorbing an album surrounded by dozens of like-minded fans, what’s actually being served up on screen is more filler than killer.”
