Taylor Swift came to the rescue of movie theatres once again! Last weekend, Swift’s THE OFFICIAL RELEASE PARTY OF LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL was the top-selling movie ticket, to the tune of $34 million across the U.S. and Canada.
And the 89-minute “theatrical event” wasn’t exactly a movie, built around the premiere of the music video for the song “The Fate of Ophelia,” behind-the-scenes footage of the making of the video, and Swift’s commentary on the lyrical inspiration behind the songs on her new album. Earning more than $50 million globally, it shows the strength of Swift’s following worldwide. Some argue that the non-traditional structure of the film may have enhanced its box office performance.
The Los Angeles Times analyzed the increasing number of “event” films being released in theatres and their successes. Titles like LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL, DEMON SLAYER, and K-POP: DEMON HUNTER, which were either episodic or were only available for one weekend, have made meaningful contributions to the fall box office.
Meanwhile, several traditional movie releases this fall have bombed spectacularly, most notably THE SMASHING MACHINE and BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY. This suggests that as going to the movies starts to transform into an event-like experience, one-weekend-only events or re-releases of beloved classics may rise to take the place that mid-budget wide releases once held.
