Only Taylor Swift could force hundreds of Angels to spend their Saturday morning in a listening movie for a projection of an album they have already heard.
“The official launch party of a showgirl”, which arrived at theaters this weekend for a three -day limited race, presents the debut of the music video “The Fate Ofelia”, directed by Swift, directed “The Fate of Ofelia”, behind the scene and swift notes about the inspiration for each of the songs in its new album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” The 89 -minute complementary film opened to an estimated $ 15.8 million On Friday and it is projected to collect more than $ 30 million over the weekend.
The success of the box office is not a surprise; “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” brought $ 96 million in 2023 in its first four days in theaters and became the highest grossing concert film of all time. Reaching 21 countries in 21 months, the tour of times itself He won more than $ 2 billion In income, the first musical tour of reaching that milestone.
Even when “showgirl” seems destined to become swift's The most divisive album so far – Since critics and fans divided into their reactions, Taylormania was palpable on Saturday morning at AMC Century City, which projected “the official launch party of a showgirl” 21 times on three screens.
Madison Story, 34, made sure to watch the movie at the Dolby Cinema Luxury, calling the “most cinematic album” of Swift “by” Showgirl “.
“When I was listening to it, I imagined Nora Ephron movies,” Story said. In the true romantic fashion, the swiftie for a long time had a lover cardigan. Others wore several merchandise from Swift Tour, sequin scarves and clothing inspired by Showgirl.
Taylor Swift's new album, “The Life of A Showgirl”, is announced outside AMC Century City 15, which is projecting “the official launch party of a showgirl.”
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
When the theater attendees took a seat during the prelude to the show, the “reputation” opener of Swift “Ready for it”? Played on a presentation of “Showgirl” promotional photos. At 10 am at the point, the screen darkened and then changed to a Countdown to the style of the epochs – Established in 12 seconds, for the 12th Swift Study album (which, naturally, also presents 12 songs).
When Swift finally adorned the screen to present the program, the members of the audience were hypnotized. Almost no one did a look.
“I am Taylor, the hypothetical showgirl in question,” Swift said, telling the crowd that when the movie is not a movie, she was, as always, “trying to surprise them.”
“I hope they have a great time. I hope they sing,” he said.
Despite Swift's invitation, and the help of lyrical exhibitions for each “showgirl” song, the crowd was surprisingly quiet during the projection, apart from a few rounds of applause and occasional laughter in the charism of uncomfortable girls of Swift. (“My bread is actually a music video star!” It was a crowd).
“I feel that his peculiarity has been the same since he did [her] debut [album]And it is good to see that that has lasted all the different iterations and times, “said spectator Kelley Sheets, 30.
The sheets and her friends Sarah Borland, 29, and Ariana Díaz, 30, were surprised by the quiet environment in the auditorium, especially compared to the movie “The Eras Tour” “. They suspected that the album could be too fresh so that people feel comfortable singing and dancing.
The low energy of the attendees may also have been a symptom of the morning show time. Even so, his delight was clear for his broad smiles and his intermittent head of the head, more pronounced during the “Opalite” choir of the ear.
As expected, some of Swift's most questionable lyrics, many of which were exponentially more fun as clean versions, obtained some laughs, and “really romantic”, an alleged track of Charli XCX Diss, remarkably concluded without applause. But the applause were generous for Swift's Closer, who saw the artist sincerely thank her fans for being her muse.
“This album was completely inspired by the most incredible moment of my life that was very exciting, because you made the tour what it was,” Swift said.
“The way that tour was felt, the way I simply illuminated my life, was a line of making this music,” he said. “So thanks for being that unknown inspiration behind the scene. I was internalizing all that love and putting it on that album.”
During the Swift album releases more than a decade, he organized listening parties he called “sECRET sEssions.“ In these intimate meetings, the singer gave selected fans an advance of his new music, explaining the inspiration for each song and even playing some live songs.
Nick Eitreim, 28, was always jealous of fans who attended those parties. With “the official launch party of a showgirl,” he said, “it is as if he were finally invited to that 'secret session'.”
Rachel Birnam, 30, said that while “secret sessions” were “something so special, it is good that this is accessible to all.”
Taylor Swift Nick Eitreim and Melissa Roberts fans, both 28 years old, arrive at “the official launch party of a showgirl” at AMC Century City 15 on Saturday.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Anthony Cendejas, AMC Century City manager, said the theater has been remarkably busier with the launch of “the official launch party of a showgirl.”
“More people than usual are wearing,” said Cendejas, added that many theater attendees have followed their AMC visits with a stop in the activation of Tiktok fans “The Life of A Showgirl”, which extends until October 9 in the Westfield Century City atrium. The immersive experience allows visitors to take photos and videos about a series of sets that replicate those in the music video “The Fate of Ofelia”.
Jamie Phillips and his daughters Rowan, 11, and Finley, 12, visited Tiktok activation on Saturday afternoon. The trio also brought his family's greatest swiftie, his holy Bernardo named Lincoln, along with them. In his family photos, Lincoln had a boa of feathers to coincide with Rowan and Finley.
Jamie Phillips, on the left, takes a photo of his daughters Finley, 12, Center, and Rowan, 11, with his dog Lincoln in an activation of Tiktok fans for the new Taylor Swift album.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
When the Phillips family listened to “the life of a showgirl” for the first time, Jamie Phillips said: “We were all pleasantly surprised.”
“Usually, it takes me, particularly with your albums, many listening to be like, ok, it's fine,” he said. But this one who loved in the first round.
The trio had not yet reached “the official launch party of a showgirl”, but they hoped to squeeze it on Sunday along with an anniversary event of “Gilmore Girls” in The Grove.
Meanwhile, they couldn't wait to return home, where their merchandising “Showgirl” was waiting for them.
