Taylor Swift Conquers Box Office as ‘Showgirl’ Hits $46 Million Globally, ‘One Battle After Another’ Crosses $100 Million Benchmark

Taylor Swift's innovative approach to film distribution has once again paid off, with her new cinematic event, "The Official Release Party of a Showgirl," soaring to the top of the global box office. The companion piece to her blockbuster twelfth album, "The Life of a Showgirl," earned an estimated $46 million in its debut weekend. This impressive sum was driven by a $33 million domestic haul and an additional $13 million from 54 international markets, a notable feat given the project's minimal promotional lead time. As with her previous film, Swift collaborated directly with AMC Theatres, bypassing traditional Hollywood studios entirely.

This direct-to-theater strategy was first tested with the record-breaking 2023 concert film "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour," which AMC also distributed. That release set a new benchmark for the concert film genre with a staggering $123 million global opening. By contrast, "The Official Release Party of a Showgirl" is being shown for just three days in an exclusive limited run. AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron celebrated the partnership, stating, “It was simply a wonderful gift to her passionate and enthusiastic fans, who got to see, on our giant screens, behind the scenes footage and insight into 'The Life of a Showgirl.'” He added that AMC was “so proud to have collaborated with Taylor” and called it “an honor and privilege and joy” to contribute to her “incomparable success.” This model, which allows major artists to retain creative and financial control, is increasingly reshaping how music-related content reaches audiences.

In other box office news, Warner Bros.’ action-comedy “One Battle After Another,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, crossed the $100 million global mark in its second weekend. The film, directed by the celebrated auteur Paul Thomas Anderson, has now reached $101.7 million worldwide, with international audiences accounting for $58.9 million of that total. This performance makes it Anderson’s highest-grossing film to date, surpassing the domestic earnings of his 2007 critical hit “There Will Be Blood,” which grossed $76.4 million unadjusted for inflation. However, with a reported budget exceeding $130 million, the nearly three-hour R-rated original faces a challenging road to profitability. Industry analysts suggest it may need to approach $300 million globally to break even theatrically.

The film’s financial outlook appears to hinge on its international appeal, where it is holding up remarkably well. In its second weekend, “One Battle After Another” brought in $21.7 million from 77 overseas territories, dipping only 17% from its debut. This contrasts with a steeper 53% drop in North America. One entertainment analyst noted, “The international hold suggests the film’s unique blend of action and Anderson’s signature style is resonating more deeply abroad, which could be crucial for its path to profitability.” This reliance on foreign markets has become a defining trend for adult-oriented Hollywood films, which often face stronger domestic competition from established franchises and family-friendly releases.

Warner Bros. is enjoying an exceptionally strong 2025, with hits spanning multiple genres including “Sinners,” “Weapons,” “A Minecraft Movie,” and “Final Destination: Bloodlines.” This weekend also saw the studio’s horror sequel “The Conjuring: Last Rites” pass a major milestone, crossing $450 million globally. As the ninth film in the long-running supernatural franchise, it has now scared up $290 million internationally, bringing its worldwide total to $458.2 million and making it the highest-grossing entry in the series. In related news, Disney re-released James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” to build anticipation for the upcoming third installment, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” scheduled for December. The re-release added a solid $10 million globally over the weekend, boosting its historic cumulative total. Before this weekend, the film had already earned $2.32 billion, securing its place as the third-highest-grossing film in box office history.