Last week, Taylor Swift announced that her filmmaking era shall continue with The Official Release Party of a Showgirl. Her last theatrical venture, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film (2023) earned more than $260 million at the box office, reviving movie theaters in a post-strike slump. Before that, Swift directed the Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (2020) special for Disney+; was the subject of the Netflix documentary Miss Americana (2020); and also released the Reputation concert film in 2018. The corresponding Showgirl movie looks to be another feather in Swift’s bejeweled cap: It grossed $15 million in the first 24 hours of ticket presales and is expected to earn $30M-$50M opening weekend. According to Swift, the theatrical event will feature a brand new music video, lyric videos, and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, plus her commentary on every track of her new album.
This splashy experience is reminiscent of when Swift willingly invited hordes of her most devoted fans into her actual home for the first taste of new music—although now on a global scale. In 2014, the 1989 “secret sessions” had baked goods made by Swift herself and later, in 2017, one of the Reputation listening events featured an appearance from official normie best friend Abigail Anderson of “Fifteen” fame. But what will the theatrically released Showgirl film have to offer?
Swift’s new music—and any movie about it—is expected to delve into her headline-making romance with Travis Kelce, as well as what it meant to reclaim ownership of her masters. Ahead, everything we know about The Official Release Party of a Showgirl—including where to watch and how to get tickets.
What Is The Official Release Party of a Showgirl?
“I hereby invite you to a *dazzling* soirée,” Swift announced via social media on Friday, September 19, sharing that The Official Release Party of a Showgirl would play in theaters from October 3 (the day of her new album’s release) through October 5. “You’ll get to see the exclusive world premiere of the music video for my new single ‘The Fate of Ophelia,’ along with never before seen behind-the-scenes footage of how we made it, cut by cut explanations of what inspired this music, and the brand new lyric videos from my new album The Life of a Showgirl,” she wrote alongside imagery from the record.
The Official Release Party of a Showgirl coincides with the debut of her recently announced 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. Swift previously joined her now fiancée and his brother Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast on August 13 to reveal the cover, tracklist, and producers for the project, before later sharing the official release date at, of course, 12:12 p.m. ET.
When and where can I watch The Official Release Party of a Showgirl?
Surprise, surprise: When your billion-dollar global tour generates the highest-grossing concert movie of all time, most major theater chains want to do business with you. Screenings for the Showgirl experience are happening across the country, including all 540 AMC Theatres, Cinemark and Regal cinemas. Fans can search for available tickets nearest them now at releasepartyofashowgirl.com. AMC has cautioned that no trailers or ads will be shown before the event, meaning all masquerade revelers should plan to arrive early or on time.
Tickets for the event in other countries—Canada, Mexico, the UK, France, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand among them—will go on sale September 23. Release parties for additional countries will be announced on or around October 3.
How much are tickets to The Official Release Party of a Showgirl?
A staunch supporter of clever numerology, Swift is charging $12 (before online booking fees) for the theatrical event celebrating her 12-track 12th album. Screenings for the 89-minute experience will start simultaneously across time zones at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT on October 3.
How about the dance and dress code?
While busting out into spontaneous choreography is generally frowned upon (sorry to anyone who sat near me on the opening day of 2007’s Hairspray), the theater chains are making an exception for Swifties. Perhaps because Swift herself told fans that “Dancing is optional but very much encouraged.”
AMC has encouraged audience members to “sing and dance” during The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, so long as no one “stands on seats or blocks any aisles or stairs.” Regal has issued a similar warning, allowing guests to “stand, sing, and dance,” but urging them to “stay aware of your surroundings and be safe!”
As for outfits, “Looks like it’s time to brush off that Eras Tour outfit or orange cardigan…” Swift wrote in her announcement of the event—meaning that come October 3, expect to see a lot of sparkles, many a friendship bracelet, and enough orange to ensure that no Swifties will be missed when crossing the street to their local theater.
What about the actual Life of a Showgirl album?
Swift’s days of tortured poetry are long behind her. That 31-track behemoth, produced by frequent Swift collaborators Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner and released in April of last year, had a more melancholy vibe. But she promises that the new album will be full of “bangers.” Or, as Swift’s newly minted fiancée interjected on the New Heights podcast last month, “They’re all 12 bangers. It’s a lot more upbeat and more like fun pop, like excitement. So it’s a complete 180 from a lot of the songs on Tortured Poets.”
Swift herself added that Showgirl is about “everything that was going on behind the curtain” during her blockbuster Eras tour. The new record, all of which was cowritten or coproduced by Max Martin and Shellback, the Swedish producing duo responsible for some of the poppiest tracks on 1989 and Reputation, contains “melodies that were so infectious that you’re almost angry at it,” said Swift, as well as “lyrics that are just as vivid but crisp and focused and completely intentional.”
Here is the full 12-song (naturally) tracklist for Swift’s 12th album:
Track 1: “The Fate of Ophelia”
Track 2: “Elizabeth Taylor”
Track 3: “Opalite”
Track 4: “Father Figure”
Track 5: “Eldest Daughter”
Track 6: “Ruin the Friendship”
Track 7: “Actually Romantic”
Track 8: “Wi$h Li$t”
Track 9: “Wood”
Track 10: “Cancelled!”
Track 11: “Honey”
Track 12: “The Life of a Showgirl” feat. Sabrina Carpenter
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