Taylor Swift brings music craze back to the box office.
After another bittersweet end to the summer box office season, American multiplexes are going to “shake it off.”

The AMC-distributed “Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” opened Friday as part of a three-day run in 3,700 theaters to coincide with Swift’s 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” providing a much-needed lift for movie theaters. The movie pulled in US$15.8 million domestically on Friday, according to a statement AMC shared with CNN, and is expected to earn up to $30 million domestically over the three-day weekend.

The limited theatrical run comes about two years after the release of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” which was the biggest opening weekend for a concert movie ($93 million domestically) and the highest-grossing concert movie domestically ($180 million), according to Box Office Mojo.

While “The Eras Tour” movie was a collection of concert scenes spread across three days at one venue, “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” is similar to the private listening parties Swift hosted in 2017. The 89-minute movie includes a music video, behind-the-scenes footage, lyric videos and Swift’s personal reflections on songs from the album, according to AMC’s website.

Swift had given short notice to her fans, announcing the release of the movie just two weeks ago in an Instagram post. “I hereby invite you to a *dazzling* soirée, The Official Release Party of. Showgirl: Oct 3 - Oct 5 only in cinemas!” read the caption on September 19.

Many of Swift’s fans, who are young adults and teenagers, are among the demographics that prefer real-world experiences rather than sitting at home. Forty-eight percent of Gen Zers and 45% of Millennials prefer watching movies in theaters, and 59% of Gen Alpha prefer the in-theater experience, according to National Research Group.

The preference of Swift’s fans to watch the movie in theaters is in part due to the social aspects of seeing the movie with an audience, which has been important for the tight-knit fanbase. Eighty percent of Swifties said they “formed deep friendships” because of Swift, according to research firm The Harris Poll.

“The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” comes after the summer box office grossed $3.67 billion in domestic revenue, according to Comscore, short of the $4 billion target and below the summer of 2023, when the “Barbenheimer” craze drew increased ticket sales.

“For movie theaters, this is fantastic because it is yet another revenue stream that may not have been expected or perhaps underestimated,” said Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore. He compared the box office boost to “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle,” an anime movie that was an unexpected hit in the typically slow month of September.
‘Swiftonomics’ in full effect

The movie’s strong box office numbers add to the business phenomenon known as “Swiftonomics,” which involves Swift’s power to grow economies and industries through the spending spree of her loyal fanbase. That spending includes travel, food, merchandise and tickets, among other expenditures.

Both Swift and AMC saw a windfall from “The “Eras Tour” movie.

Shares of AMC (AMC) surged 11.5% on October 6, 2023, after the company announced “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” concert film had grossed over $100 million in advance ticket sales.

Swift — whose net worth has inflated to $2.1 billion, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index — first reached billionaire status during the “Eras” tour. She received 57% of the ticket revenue from “The Eras Tour” movie, of which AMC took a small distribution fee. In February 2024, Disney reportedly paid $75 million for the streaming rights to the movie.

Financial details of Swift and AMC’s partnership with “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” have not been disclosed.

Bad Bunny says goodbye to Puerto Rico in one final concert after a historic residency.

Saturday was a concert for Puerto Ricans by Puerto Ricans to remind the world about the power of “la isla del encanto,” or “the island of enchantment.”

“We’re not going to quit. The entire world is watching!” Bad Bunny thundered into his microphone as he looked into a camera streaming his last show in Puerto Rico this year to viewers around the world following a historic 30-concert residency in the U.S. territory.

The crowd roared as thousands watching via Amazon Music, Prime Video and Twitch joined them, marking the first time Bad Bunny was streamed across the globe.

The residency was more than just a series of concerts. Saturday marked the end of an extended love letter that Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio sang to Puerto Rico. He tapped into what it means to be Puerto Rican, to delight in the island’s beauty, defend its land and fight for its people.

“This is for you,” Bad Bunny said from the rooftop of an iconic Puerto Rican house installed at the concert venue as he raised his glass and the crowd raised their glasses in return.
‘We are still here’

Saturday marked the eighth anniversary of Hurricane Maria, which slammed into Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm on Sept. 20, 2017.

An estimated 2,975 people died in the sweltering aftermath of the storm that razed the island’s electric grid, leaving some communities without power for up to a year. Anger and frustration over the pace of reconstruction continues to simmer as chronic power outages persist.

In a Sept. 11 report, the U.S. Office of Inspector General found that 92% of approved and obligated projects related to Puerto Rico’s crumbling grid were incomplete, and that $3.7 billion of available funds had not been obligated.

“Over seven years after Hurricane Maria, FEMA does not know when Puerto Rico’s electrical grid will be completely rebuilt. The grid remains unstable, inadequate, and vulnerable to interruptions,” the report stated.

On Saturday, the number of estimated deaths were imprinted on the back of T-shirts and written on Puerto Rican flags that the crowd waved into the air.

“We are still emotional and carry the trauma of having gone through a horrible thing,” said Marta Amaral, 61, who attended Saturday’s concert. “Beyond the sadness and remembering the negativity of having gone through a traumatic event, this is a celebration that we are still here, standing.”
A surprise guest

At every concert this summer, Bad Bunny invited new celebrities — among them LeBron James, Penélope Cruz, Darren Aronofsky, DJ Khaled and Kylian Mbappé — and sang with different musicians, including Rubén Blades, Residente, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Rai Nao and Jorge Drexler.

But on Saturday, the noise from the crowd hit new levels as Bad Bunny rapped with Puerto Rico heavyweights Ñengo Flow, Jowell y Randy, Dei V and Arcángel and De la Ghetto. Thousands of fans flexed their knees in unison to thumping rap and reggaetón.

Then, the crowd gasped in disbelief as Marc Anthony appeared on stage after Bad Bunny pleaded with his fans to join him because he was going to sing a song he hadn’t sung in public in some 20 years.

“Yo te quiero, Puerto Rico!” the crowd cried as the two singers embraced at the end of the iconic song, “Preciosa,” whose lyrics say, “I love you, Puerto Rico.”
‘An emotional night’

Thousands gathered outside the concert venue on Saturday hours before the concert, with Puerto Rico’s national flower, the vibrant flor de maga, tucked behind their ear, and the traditional straw hat known as the “pava,” set at a jaunty angle on their head.

But not all were celebrating.

Darlene Mercado milled around, asking strangers if they knew of anyone with tickets she could buy for herself and her daughter, who had flown in from New Jersey.

They were around number 122,000 in a virtual waiting line to buy tickets for Saturday’s sold-out concert and weren’t able to get any after waiting eight hours online.

“This is not only the anniversary of the hurricane, but it’s also the anniversary of me no longer having cancer and it’s my birthday. We wanted to celebrate everything with a bang,” she said.

Saturday’s concert was open only to residents of Puerto Rico, as were the first nine concerts of Bad Bunny’s residency, but the remainder was open to fans around the world.

Overall, the concerts attracted roughly half a million people, generating an estimated $733 million for Puerto Rico, according to a new study by Gaither International.

Most foreign visitors came from the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Spain, with an average stay of nearly nine nights, the study found. Overall, roughly 70% of concertgoers were female, with an average age of 33, according to the study.

Among those attending was Shamira Oquendo.

“It’s going to be an emotional night,” the 25-year-old said, noting that Hurricane Maria was her first hurricane. “It was very sad. A lot of people around me lost their things.”
‘Yo soy boricua!’

Puerto Rico’s party with Bad Bunny ended early Sunday, but the superstar who recently clinched 12 Latin Grammy nominations will go on a worldwide tour in December, with concerts planned in countries including Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Spain, France and Sweden. Notably, he is skipping the U.S., citing concerns over the arrest of immigrants.

On Saturday, Bad Bunny thanked his fans for their love.

“I’m going to miss you a lot. I’m going to miss this energy,” he said as he urged the crowd to embrace love no matter the situation.

At that moment, friends and family in the crowd began to hug each other, some with tears in their eyes.

After more than three hours of singing with Bad Bunny, fans were not quite ready to let go. As the crowd filed down the stairs and into the night, one man yelled, “Yo soy boricua!” and the crowd responded, “Pa’ que tu lo sepas!”

It’s a traditional cry-and-response yell that lets people around them know they’re Puerto Rican and proud of it.

Dánica Coto, The Associated Press

Release party for Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ album is coming to AMC theaters.

AMC Theatres announced on Friday that it will host a release party for Swift’s 12th studio album, “ The Life of a Showgirl,” which is set to debut Oct. 3.

The nearly-90-minute show, aptly titled “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl,” will play at all 540 AMC theaters in the U.S. from Oct. 3 through Oct. 5, the company said. AMC will also air the show that weekend in Mexico, Canada and across Europe.

“Looks like it’s time to brush off that Eras Tour outfit or orange cardigan,” Swift wrote in an Instagram post, later adding: “Dancing is optional but very much encouraged.”

“ The Life of a Showgirl ” follows last year’s “ The Tortured Poets Department ” and Swift’s record-breaking tour, which raked in over $2.2 billion across two years and five continents, making it the highest-grossing tour of all time.

Following the tour, Swift partnered with AMC and released a concert movie, which had the biggest opening for a concert film to date. By working directly with AMC Theatres, she circumvented Hollywood studios.

This time around, AMC will be releasing a music video for one of her new album tracks, “The Fate of Ophelia.”

Moviegoers will also get to see behind-the-scenes footage of Swift, who is known for creating intricate music videos. Other lyric videos and “Taylor’s never-before-seen personal reflections on songs” will also be aired, according to AMC.

Tickets are available online.

“The Life of the Showgirl” is Swift’s first release since she regained control over her entire body of work. The pop star said in May that she purchased the catalog of recordings of her first six albums from private equity firm Shamrock Capital, their most recent owner.

Swift’s fiancé, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, helped roll out the new album by hosting her on their podcast “New Heights” in August.

Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement later that month.

Filmmaker, journalist Avi Lewis to enter NDP leadership race, OTTAWA — Filmmaker and journalist Avi Lewis is expected to officially announce his intention to run for the federal NDP leadership today.

Lewis is expected to release a video later today and hold a formal campaign launch in Toronto next week, according to his campaign team.

Lewis ran unsuccessfully as a candidate for the NDP in the 2021 and 2025 elections in two Vancouver-area ridings.

His grandfather David Lewis was a founding member and former leader of the federal NDP, while his father Stephen Lewis led the Ontario NDP.

Lewis is one of the co-authors of the Leap Manifesto, a 2015 document that outlined 15 policy points aimed at steering Canada away from fossil fuels.

Jagmeet Singh resigned as leader after the party was reduced to seven seats in the April election, and B.C. NDP MP Don Davies is currently serving as interim leader.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2025.

David Baxter, The Canadian Press

#Disney says production on ‘Camp Rock 3’ is underway in Vancouver with Jonas Brothers.


In its announcement, Disney says Joe, Nick and Kevin Jonas will return in “guest starring” roles as the Gray brothers, the members of fictional music trio Connect 3.

“Camp Rock 3” follows the brothers as they return to their beloved camp after losing the opening act for their major reunion tour. They hope to find a new wave of young stars to fill the bill.

Fellow “Camp Rock” star Demi Lovato is attached as an executive producer, but hasn’t been announced as part of the cast.

“Camp Rock” is ranked alongside “High School Musical” as one of the most successful TV movie franchises in Disney Channel’s history. Both the original 2008 film and its 2010 sequel were filmed in and around Haliburton, Ont.

A new wave of campers will join the third film, including Disney alum Liamani Segura, who appeared in “Descendants: Wicked Wonderland” and Malachi Barton, of “Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires.” Vancouver-based actor Casey Trotter is also listed as a new addition to the cast.

Earlier this year, the Jonas Brothers surprised fans when they stopped at a “Camp Rock” trivia night at a Toronto bar, saying they happened to be nearby while filming a Christmas movie.

David Friend, The Canadian Press

Bad Bunny says he didn’t include U.S. in concert tour for fear of #ICE raids, Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny said in an interview that he did not include the United States in his 2025-2026 concert tour because of fear that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would raid the concert venues.

“People from the U.S. could come here to see the show. Latinos and Puerto Ricans of the United States could also travel here, or to any part of the world,” he told i-D magazine. “But there was the issue that … ICE could be outside (my concert venue). And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”

The musician has previously been critical of ICE operations, which have intensified under U.S. President Donald Trump. He posted an Instagram video in June in which he expressed outrage at federal agents in Puerto Rico for not “leaving these people working here alone.”

Bad Bunny – born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio – kicked off the concert tour with a two-month residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan. The residency, titled “I Don’t Want to Leave Here,” spans 30 concerts on the Caribbean island and concludes on Sept 14. The shows also included some Hollywood stars.

The artist will continue his concert tour promoting the new album “Debí tirar más fotos” after the residency. The “Debí tirar más fotos World Tour” will begin on Nov. 21 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and culminate in Brussels, Belgium, on July 22, 2026. The tour will touch Latin America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

“There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the US, and none of them were out of hate,” Bad Bunny said in the interview. “I’ve performed there many times.” He added: “I’ve enjoyed connecting with Latinos who have been living in the United States.”

Bad Bunny, who endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election, has used his new album and world concert tour to promote Puerto Rican culture and its different musical genres and amplify the voices of marginalized people.

By Gonzalo Jimenez, Isa Cardona, CNN

Lady Gaga named artist of the year at MTV’s Video Music Awards. Gaga, currently on tour with her album “Mayhem,” took the stage in a black ruffled dress with giant sleeves and purple accents. She thanked her fans as she held the VMAs Moon Person trophy.

“I cannot begin to tell you what this means to be rewarded for being an artist, being rewarded for something that is already so rewarding,” Gaga said before leaving the venue to perform a concert at Madison Square Garden.

Gaga’s win prevented Beyonce or Swift from emerging as the most-honored artist in VMA history. The pair remain tied at 30 VMAs each.

Host LL Cool J kicked off the ceremony at the UBS Arena in New York with a promise of show-stopping performances from legends such as Ricky Martin and Mariah Carey and a tribute to the late British rocker Ozzy Osbourne.

“Music is the force that brings us together,” host LL Cool J said. “Tonight we are leaving everything else at the door.”

Gaga went into the ceremony with the most nominations - 12 - for songs including “Die with a Smile,” her duet with Bruno Mars.

“Die with a Smile” was in the running for the night’s top honor, video of the year. Competitors included “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild.”

The VMAs began airing on MTV PARA.O in 1984 and became known for memorable moments such as an onstage kiss between Madonna and Britney Spears and Gaga’s appearance in a raw meat dress. CBS aired Sunday’s ceremony live.

New categories were added this year for best country video and best pop artist.

The nominees for country video include “Think I’m in Love with You” by Chris Stapleton, “Liar” by Jelly Roll and Wallen’s “Smile.”

(Reporting by Alicia Powell in New York and Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Editing by Himani Sarkar)

A group of activists wearing keffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags gathered around the TIFF sign at King Street and University Avenue, placing small rolled-up blankets smeared with fake blood — staged to resemble dead infants — at its base.

The protest broke out just as ticketholders were beginning to enter the nearby Roy Thompson Hall for the early evening premiere of crime drama “Roofman.” Police stood blocking demonstrators at the intersection, preventing them from moving any further.

Several protesters said they were rallying against Barry Avrich’s “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” a film about retired Israel Defense Forces Major-General Noam Tibon’s mission to rescue his family during the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.

The documentary’s team told The Canadian Press last month that they are not political filmmakers, nor activists but storytellers.

They added that films are meant to stimulate “debate from every perspective that can both entertain us and make us uncomfortable.”

The documentary was initially pulled from TIFF’s lineup over footage rights and security issues, sparking backlash from some politicians, Jewish groups, and entertainment figures.

Days later, TIFF reinstated the film and promised clearer communication around their programming decisions.

Neither TIFF nor the “Road Between Us” team immediately responded to requests for comment Saturday.

Some protesters also decried government inaction as Israeli strikes continue in Gaza and not enough aid is being allowed in.

Protester Mohammad Latifa Abdul Qader said he was concerned about TIFF “art-washing” Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza.

“Art shouldn’t be used for promoting genocide. It should be a platform for promoting things of integrity, like justice and peace, and helping people,” he said.

Najlaa Alzaanin, a Gaza native, said she was demonstrating to urge Canada’s government to take action.

“My entire family is still trapped in Gaza... and now they are being starved,” said Alzaanin, who came to Canada from Palestine as a student in 2019.

“I’m here to show support for my family and ask the Canadian government to do what they have to do to end this genocide.”

She said she also wants the government to fulfil a promise it made last year when it announced a special measures program to help bring those impacted by the Gaza crisis to Canada.

“Canada hasn’t fulfilled the promise they made,” she said.

“Our families are living a nightmare trying to survive. They are literally dying every minute.”

Police said there were about 12 protesters on festival street, and they left on their own. The Canadian Press video shows at least a couple of dozen people at one point in the demonstration.

More than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed in the nearly two-year war in the Gaza Strip, local health officials said Thursday.

The war began when Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages.

Protesters said they had not yet seen “The Road Between Us,” which makes its world premiere next Wednesday.

With files from the Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 6, 2025.

Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, hits second hole-in-one in last nine . In the final round of the tournament, the tee shot from 16-year-old Woods on the par-three No. 3 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., rolled into the hole, delighting those watching on.

Woods celebrated in lowkey fashion, shaking hands with his playing partner and eventually picking his ball out of the hole – only after fixing some divots on the green.

Woods would eventually go on to finish tied for 31st in the Junior Players Championship standings at seven over, 16 shots behind eventual winner Miles Russell – Russell became the first two-time winner of the event.

Woods’ ace on Sunday was his second in the last nine months, having achieved the same feat at the PNC Championship in December last year.

Playing alongside his dad in the two-day, 36-hole competition which featured 20 major champions and their family members playing in a scramble format, the younger Woods hit his first ever hole-in-one on the par-three fourth hole.

The then-15-year-old was walking off the tee and didn’t initially realize that his ball had dropped in for eagle.

As the crowd roared, Charlie sheepishly asked: “Did it go in?”

Proud father Tiger was grinning ear to ear as they celebrated with a hug and a playful shove from the elder Woods.

“It was one of the highlights that we’ve ever had. We’re talking about earlier on the hole previous, he made his first eagle,” Tiger said at the time. “And now he just made his first hole-in-one. It was a magical two-hole stretch. I’m just so happy for him and for the enjoyment we had as a family.”

Charlie Woods has enjoyed a successful season in 2025, finishing tied-ninth at this month’s Junior PGA Championship, although that finish meant he narrowly missed out on automatic qualification to the Team USA squad for the upcoming Junior Ryder Cup. He was not selected with a captain’s pick.

Ben Morse, CNNmonths

Halsey bids big and Colman Domingo hosts Venice amfAR gala.

Hosted by an impassioned Colman Domingo in a bright green custom Valentino jacket, the event took place at the Arsenale during the Venice Film Festival.

More low key and intimate than it’s Cannes Film Festival counterpart, the event still attracted its share of celebrities including Jude Law, in Venice to promote “The Wizard of the Kremlin,” in which he stars as Putin.

The evening started with champagne, canapés, Italian spritz and negronis on the waterfront terrace as a DJ spun tunes and guests viewed the artwork to be auctioned off later in the evening.

As those attending were seated for a traditional Venetian dinner of Ombrina fish, Paris Jackson performed an acoustic set on stage.

During the dinner there was a live auction of contemporary artworks, jewellery and destination vacations raising US$3.4 million.

Director Julian Schnabel, who will present his latest film “In the Hand of Dante” at the festival next week, donated one of his sought-after plate portraits (a portrait of the winning bidder painted on broken dishes.) Introduced on stage by Jude Law, he decided on the spot to offer up two portraits to the two highest bidders raising 500,000 euros ($586,000) for each, one of which went to singer Halsey.

Talking earlier on the red-carpet Halsey revealed how amfAR had helped her in a very personal way:

“I, a couple years ago got diagnosed with two pretty severe autoimmune diseases and amfAR also contributes to autoimmune and cancer research. So the work they do allows people like me with less access than me to get treatment that they really, really need to live the lives that they deserve to live. So, it’s never been closer to home that it is right now.”

Schnabel was also presented with an Award of Inspiration from the charity in recognition of his longstanding commitment to amfAR’s lifesaving research.

The night ended with a high octane performance from pop star Ava Max, who got everyone on their feet dancing and then it was a rush to a sea of water taxis, waiting to whisk the guests off back to their Venice hotels or on to the after-party.

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR has raised nearly $950 million in support of its programs.

Louise Dixon, The Associated Press