LOS ANGELES (AP) — This weekend’s box office belonged to two undeniable draws: Taylor Swift and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Though it seemed like a big contender, Taylor Swift’s dedicated fans proved unbeatable with her film “The Official Release Party of a Show Girl,” which premiered at the top box office spot with $33 million in North America, as per Sunday estimates from Comscore. Released through AMC Theatres with little promotion just two weeks prior, this film complements Swift’s 12th studio album with music videos, behind-the-scenes clips, and clean lyric visuals, presenting an 89-minute package.
The film played at all 540 AMC theaters in the U.S. for three days, ending after Sunday. AMC aired the show in Mexico, Canada and across Europe.
“It’s brilliant how Taylor Swift is using movie theaters to expand her brand, generate excitement among her fans, and offer a shared experience beyond her concerts,” noted Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s senior media analyst. “Adding an extra $33 million to the box office is a big win for theater owners eager for new content on their screens.”
It comes nearly two years after her “The Eras Tour” concert film opened to $96 million, with Swift extending her streak of box office dominance.
In contrast, Dwayne Johnson’s film experienced a more modest opening. His A24 drama “The Smashing Machine,” featuring Emily Blunt, debuted in third place with just $6 million, following Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” which brought in $11.1 million and has $107 million globally to date.
Despite positive reviews and a 15-minute ovation at the Venice Film Festival, where Johnson’s portrayal of MMA legend Mark Kerr was praised, the film marked one of his lowest box office debuts as a leading actor.
“When big movie stars take on indie roles, like Tom Cruise with “Magnolia,” they aim to reinvent their careers,” said Dergarabedian. “This allows them to bridge both worlds. Dwayne Johnson, with all the accolades he’s receiving, understands this. Prestige is valuable. While he’s a box office expert and a businessman, venturing out of his usual roles shines a different light on him. … Dwayne Johnson is showing he’s more than what’s expected.”
Aside from these headline acts, the weekend offered a diverse range of films, including animated adventures, horror sequels, and international releases.
DreamWorks Animation’s family adventure “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” debuted in fourth place with $5.2 million, expanding the popular Netflix preschool series to the big screen. Warner Bros.’ supernatural thriller “The Conjuring: Last Rites” followed in fifth with $4 million, pulling in $458.2 million globally.
In sixth was “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle,” the latest entry in the hit Japanese anime saga, earning $3.5 million. A re-release of “Avatar: The Way of Water” made a splash in seventh with $3.1 million — a solid return for the 2022 blockbuster ahead of “Avatar: The Fire and Ash” on Dec. 19.
Rounding out the top 10 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 ever. “Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1” with $1.7 million.
Dergarabedian said he’s looking forward to October films such as “Tron: Ares,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and “Roofman,” starring Channing Tatum.
Top 10 movies by domestic box office
With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
1. “The Official Release Party of a Show Girl,” $33 million
2. “One Battle After Another,” $11.1 million.
3. “The Smashing Machine,” $6 million.
4. “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie,” $5.2 million.
5. “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” $4 million.
6. ““Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle,” $3.5 million.
7. “Avatar: The Way of Water,” $3.1 million.
8. “The Strangers: Chapter 2,” $2.8 million.
9. ““Good Boy,” $2.2 million.
10. “Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1,” $1.7 million.
