It’s peak Taylormania at L.A. movie theaters for ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ release party

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It takes a performer like Taylor Swift to get so many people in Los Angeles to dedicate their Saturday morning to a listening party and film screening-especially for an album they already know.

Hitting theaters this weekend for a short three-day showing, “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” includes the first look at Taylor Swift’s self-directed music video for “The Fate of Ophelia”, as well as behind-the-scenes content and Swift’s personal insights into the meaning behind each song on her latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” The 89-minute film earned an estimated $15.8 million on its opening day, Friday, and is expected to bring in over $30 million by the end of the weekend.

It’s no surprise that “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” was a box office hit, earning $96 million in its first four days in theaters in 2023. It quickly became the highest-grossing concert film ever made. The Eras Tour itself was incredibly successful, traveling to 21 countries over 21 months and generating over $2 billion in revenue-making it the first music tour to reach that impressive milestone.

Music

Taylor Swift’s impact on culture is undeniable. With record-breaking album sales and consistently packed concerts, her current success is rarely seen in the world of pop music. Cultural dominance. History-making album sales. Sold-out stadiums. Add them up, and Taylor Swift’s current moment has little precedent in pop-music history.

Despite early indications that “Showgirl” might be Swift’s most controversial album – with both critics and fans having very different opinions – the excitement surrounding it was clear on Saturday morning at AMC Century City. The theater screened “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” a remarkable 21 times throughout the day, utilizing three different screens.

I, like many Swifties, absolutely *had* to see the concert film, and I made sure to do it right – at a fancy Dolby Cinema! Honestly, I think “Showgirl” is Taylor’s most cinematic album yet, and seeing it on the big screen really proved that. I’m 34, and I wasn’t missing this!

“It reminded me of Nora Ephron films,” Story explained. Staying true to the romantic comedy vibe, the longtime Swift fan wore a Lover cardigan. The audience also showed their support with different pieces of Swift tour merchandise, sparkly scarves, and outfits inspired by showgirls.

As the audience settled in before the show began, the opening track “Ready for It?” from Taylor Swift’s album “Reputation” played alongside a slideshow of promotional photos from “Showgirl.” Right at 10:00 a.m., the screen went black, then displayed a countdown clock similar to those used during The Eras Tour – counting down from 12 seconds, a nod to Swift’s twelfth studio album (which, fittingly, also contains 12 songs).

I remember when Taylor Swift finally appeared on the big screen to kick things off – it was incredible. Honestly, you could have heard a pin drop. Nobody wanted to break the spell. The whole audience was just completely mesmerized. It felt like everyone was holding their breath, waiting to see what would happen next. It truly was an amazing moment.

“I’m Taylor, essentially the showgirl this whole thing is about,” Swift explained to the audience, adding that when she created this project-which isn’t exactly a traditional movie-she was, as usual, “trying to surprise you guys.”

“I hope you guys have a blast. I hope you sing along,” she said.

Music

Taylor Swift has released her latest album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl.’ Listen now, choose your favorite song, and we’ll tell you which other Taylor Swift track you should add to your playlist!

Even though Taylor Swift invited everyone and provided lyrics on screen for each song from “Showgirl,” the audience was unexpectedly subdued during the viewing, only occasionally clapping or laughing at Swift’s signature quirky charm. (The line, “My bread is actually a music video star!” got a particularly good reaction.)

Kelley Sheets, 30, a moviegoer, commented, “It seems like her unique personality hasn’t changed since she first became known with [her] debut [album]. It’s great to see that consistency throughout all her different styles and phases.”

Sheets, along with her friends Sarah Borland, 29, and Ariana Diaz, 30, were surprised by how calm the auditorium was, particularly when compared to the energy of the “The Eras Tour” movie. They wondered if the album was still too new for the audience to feel ready to sing and dance along.

The audience seemed a little tired, possibly because of the early morning start. However, they were clearly enjoying the performance, as shown by their big smiles and occasional head movements, which were especially noticeable during the memorable chorus of the song “Opalite.”

As anticipated, some of Swift’s lyrics that were considered a bit odd – and were often much funnier in their edited versions – got some laughs from the audience. Also, “Actually Romantic,” a song reportedly about Charli XCX, ended without much applause. However, the audience was very generous with their clapping for Swift’s final song, where she genuinely thanked her fans for inspiring her work.

“This album really came from the amazing experiences I had during what was such an exciting period,” Swift explained. “The Eras Tour became what it was because of you.”

She explained that the tour had a profound impact on her, really revitalizing her life, and that feeling heavily influenced the creation of her music. “So thank you for being that unknowing inspiration behind the scenes. I was internalizing all of that love and putting it into that record.”

Music

Taylor Swift revealed her upcoming album during an appearance on “New Heights,” a well-known podcast co-hosted by her partner, Travis Kelce, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. For this album, Swift is working with producers Max Martin and Shellback, a change from her frequent collaborator, Jack Antonoff.

Over a decade ago, as Taylor Swift released new albums, she held private events called “secret sessions.” At these small, personal gatherings, the singer would give a select group of fans an early listen to her upcoming music. She’d share the stories and ideas behind each song and sometimes even perform them live. These sessions were a way for her to connect directly with her fans and build excitement for her new releases. These exclusive previews became a signature part of her album launches.

Nick Eittreim, 28, used to envy those who could go to those parties. He explained that with “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl,” it felt like he was finally being included in that exclusive event – like finally receiving an invitation to the inner circle. He described it as being invited to that “secret session.”

Rachel Birnam, 30, explained that while the “secret sessions” were “such a special thing,” she’s glad this experience is now accessible to everyone.

I was chatting with Anthony Cendejas, who manages the AMC Century City, and he told me they’ve definitely seen an uptick in business since “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” came out. He said it’s been noticeably busier, which is great to hear! It seems like people are really turning out for this one. It’s always good to see a movie bringing crowds back to the theaters.

According to Cendejas, a larger number of people are wearing costumes. Many moviegoers have also been visiting the TikTok fan experience, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ which is available until October 9th at the Westfield Century City Atrium. This interactive exhibit lets visitors pose for pictures and create videos on sets designed to look like those from the ‘The Fate of Ophelia‘ music video.

Jamie Phillips, along with her daughters Rowan, 11, and Finley, 12, checked out the TikTok event on Saturday afternoon. They also brought their family’s biggest Taylor Swift fan – their Saint Bernard, Lincoln! In their pictures, Lincoln sported a feather boa just like Rowan and Finley’s.

Jamie Phillips recalled that when their family first listened to “The Life of a Showgirl,” everyone was happily surprised.

“I typically need to listen to her albums many times before I think, ‘Alright, this is good,’” she explained. However, they instantly loved this particular album.

The three friends hadn’t reached “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” yet, but they were planning to go on Sunday, along with a celebration for the “Gilmore Girls” anniversary at the Grove. They hoped they’d have time to fit both events in.

While traveling, they were really looking forward to returning home to their Showgirl merchandise that was already there waiting for them.

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2025-10-05 13:32