Taylor Swift’s Showgirl Expected $30M Weekend Outpaces Dwayne Johnson’s Smashing Machine

Taylor Swift's concert film "The Official Release Party of a Show Girl," celebrating her 12th studio album, has dominated the opening weekend box office with an estimated $25 million to $32 million from about 3,700 theaters, receiving an A+ CinemaScore and strong fan turnout. The film, a limited three-day theatrical event featuring music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and lyric videos, was announced only two weeks before release and priced at $12 per ticket, contributing to its robust performance despite minimal promotion beyond her fan base. In contrast, Dwayne Johnson's drama "The Smashing Machine," a UFC biopic expected to open with $12 million to $14 million, significantly underperformed with an estimated $2.6 million to $6 million weekend, receiving a B- CinemaScore and facing lukewarm audience reception. Warner Bros.' "One Battle After Another" earned $3.3 million on Friday and is projected to reach $42 million domestically, benefiting from strong word-of-mouth. Meanwhile, "Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie" experienced a sharp second-weekend drop despite being based on a popular Netflix series. Swift's commanding box office presence underscores her continued cultural influence and ability to attract large audiences with limited lead time and unique event-style releases.