Taylor Swift's Surprise Movie Release Targets $40M Debut

In the world of entertainment, the box office is set to be shaken up this weekend as several high-profile releases vie for the top spot. Leading the charge is Taylor Swift, who is returning to cinemas with "The Official Release Party of a Showgirl." The film, which was announced just two weeks ago, is tracking a debut of $35 million to $40 million over the weekend.

This new venture from Swift is not a traditional movie or concert film, but rather an 89-minute event featuring a new music video and behind-the-scenes footage. The "release party" coincides with the singer's 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," which drops on Oct. 3. If the projections hold true, "The Official Release Party of a Showgirl" could earn Swift her second consecutive No. 1 box office debut following her prior theatrical release, 2023's successful "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour."

Elsewhere, Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson is making a departure from his usual family-friendly fare with the sports drama "The Smashing Machine." The film, which marks the solo directing debut of Benny Safdie, is aiming for $8 million to $15 million in its debut. Meanwhile, the industry will be closely watching the sophomore outing of "One Battle After Another," the comedic action epic starring Leonardo DiCaprio, which is targeting $10 million to $11 million in its second weekend of release.