Taylormania makes 'Showgirl' release party a spectacle

A three-day theatrical release ties the pop star's latest album to a companion film.

- BY MALIA MENDEZ

FANS dress up for the new “Showgirl” album.

(CHRISTINA HOUSE L.A. Times)

Only Taylor Swift could compel hundreds of Angelenos to spend their Saturday morning at a listening party film screening for an album they've already heard.

"The Official Release Party of a Showgirl," which hit theaters this weekend for a limited three-day run, features the debut of the Swift-directed "The Fate of Ophelia" music video, behind-the-scenes footage and notes from Swift about the inspiration for each of the songs on her new record, "The Life of a Showgirl." The 89-minute companion film opened to an estimated $15.8 million on Friday and is projected to gross more than $30 million over the weekend.

The box-office success comes as no surprise, "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" brought in $96 million in 2023 in its first four days in theaters and became the highest-grossing concert film of all time. Hitting 21 countries in 21 months, the Eras Tour itself earned more than $2 billion in revenue, the first music tour to ever hit that milestone.

Even as "Showgirl" seems destined to become Swift's most divisive album yet with critics and fans alike split in their reactions -the Taylormania was palpable Saturday morning at AMC Century City, which that day screened "The Official Release Party of a Showgirl" 21 times across three screens.

Madison Story, 34, made sure to catch the film at the luxury Dolby Cinema, calling "Showgirl" Swift's "most cinematic album yet." "When I was listening to it, I just pictured Nora Ephron movies," Story said.

In true rom-com fashion, the longtime Swiftie wore a Lover cardigan. Others sported various Swift tour merch, sequined scarves and showgirl-inspired attire.