Taylor Swift’s ‘Official Release Party of a Showgirl’ hits theaters Oct 3–5 with $12 tickets and a world‑premiere music video
Taylor Swift is bringing a new 89‑minute theater event, “Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl,” to cinemas Oct 3–5 alongside her 12th album “The Life of a Showgirl,” with tickets specially priced at $12 and wide rollout at AMC, Cinemark, Regal, and other chains in the U.S. and abroad. AMC says the event will screen across all 540 of its U.S. locations, with synchronized showtimes beginning Friday at 3 p.m. ET and additional runs through the weekend, and early demand has already surged ticketing apps.
What’s being released
The event is a one‑weekend “release party” film running about 89 minutes that premieres the music video for the album’s lead single “The Fate of Ophelia,” plus behind‑the‑scenes footage, lyric videos, and Swift’s personal commentary tied to TS12. Media confirmations note it is not a concert film but a curated, celebratory cinematic experience timed to the album launch, similar in spirit to Swift’s intimate “secret sessions” scaled for theaters. ABC’s report includes Swift’s invitation post and confirms the plan for Oct 3–5 screenings and the $12 special pricing before fees.
Dates, times, and runtime
Screenings run from Friday, Oct 3, through Sunday, Oct 5, with initial start times aligned to a 3 p.m. ET debut and additional showings across the weekend window, and the program clocks in just under 90 minutes. Regional coverage and theater listings indicate day‑of additions are likely given demand, and local chains have posted the same Oct 3–5 cadence for the full footprint. The event is designed as a release‑weekend companion to the studio album arriving Oct 3, creating a music‑plus‑cinema launch moment for fans.
Where to watch
AMC will present the film in all 540 of its U.S. locations and distribute it widely beyond AMC through partner circuits, with Cinemark and Regal also running the event and additional independent theaters participating in major markets. Cinemark confirmed nationwide availability across its U.S. footprint—standard formats plus XD upgrades—mirroring the $12 base price model used by AMC during the weekend window. Public announcements add that international availability spans 100 countries via AMC Theatres Distribution, expanding access beyond North America.
Tickets and pricing
Tickets are specially priced at $12 (before taxes/fees) for Oct 3–5, with premium formats carrying standard surcharges, and there will be no pre‑roll ads or trailers before the showtime begins. AMC noted heavy traffic as Swifties rushed to purchase seats, briefly flooding the app and online systems after sales opened at a signature 12:12 p.m. ET time stamp tied to the album’s “12” motif. Cinemark likewise set tickets at $12 and opened box office and app sales simultaneously with AMC’s on‑sale to meet demand.
What’s inside the program
The centerpiece is the world premiere of the “The Fate of Ophelia” music video, paired with behind‑the‑scenes content and Swift’s guided reflections on each song’s inspirations, plus new lyric videos tied to the album’s 12‑track configuration. Trade coverage emphasizes this is an album‑era celebration rather than a live performance film, with a focus on visuals, storytelling, and shared fan experience in auditoriums that encourage singing and dancing while maintaining basic safety etiquette. Theaters report a similar community tone to the 2023 Eras Tour screenings, aiming to fill auditoriums with cost‑accessible showtimes over the three‑day window.
Album tie‑in: The Life of a Showgirl
This theater event arrives the same day as Swift’s 12th studio album “The Life of a Showgirl,” a project previewed in mid‑August with high‑profile teases and a reveal that triggered site traffic spikes, retail midnight openings, and heavy playlist and billboard promotion for the era. Official channels and major outlets frame the cinema program as a keystone in the album’s launch, designed to extend the release into an IRL, communal moment at scale. Spotify’s prerelease listing corroborates the Oct 3 drop and the 12‑track format that the theater piece spotlights with visual companions.
AMC, Cinemark, and Regal details
AMC confirms the widest footprint with all 540 U.S. sites participating and states there will be no ads or trailers before the program begins at posted times, aligning the experience across locations. Cinemark’s Business Wire notice reiterates nationwide access, premium auditorium upgrades in XD, and an identical $12 base ticket structure, underscoring cross‑chain consistency for fans shopping by location rather than brand loyalty. Broad reporting lists Regal among non‑AMC chains running the party event, along with select independents, consolidating a major‑chain rollout similar to Swift’s Eras Tour film strategy.
Ticketing demand and “near me” guidance
Trade and national media observed long virtual queues and elevated wait times on theater apps once tickets opened, reflecting rapid sell‑through in prime evening slots for launch day and Saturday night. Fans can use their preferred chain’s official app or ticketing portal to filter by city and date (Oct 3–5) and search by the event title to locate showtimes nearby without relying on third‑party aggregators during peak demand windows. Coverage advises rechecking throughout the week as chains add screens and showtimes when specific locations hit capacity.
Stock and business impact
AMC Entertainment shares rose on the announcement amid expectations of a strong Swift‑driven footfall surge, echoing the 2023 Eras Tour film bump and reinforcing the chain’s distribution partnership with Swift’s camp. Market trackers also flagged intraday gains tied to the news cycle around the $12 national pricing and the three‑day footprint across AMC, Cinemark, and Regal, which together suggest elevated concessions and premium format uptake. Analysts note the timed‑event model can concentrate revenue into a single weekend, amplifying occupancy metrics and social buzz versus elongated art‑house runs.
Quick facts
- Title: Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl (approx. 89 minutes).
- Dates: Oct 3–5, 2025, debuting Friday at 3 p.m. ET with synchronized screenings and additional showtimes through the weekend.
- Chains: AMC (all 540 U.S. theaters), plus Cinemark, Regal, and select independents; global expansion in 100 countries via AMC Theatres Distribution.
- Tickets: Specially priced at $12 before fees/taxes; premium formats at standard surcharges; no trailers/ads before start.
- Album: The Life of a Showgirl releases Oct 3, Swift’s 12th studio album, with 12 tracks and coordinated retail activations.