Taylor Swift 'Official Release Party of a Showgirl' showing on Long Island

Her orange-sequined jacket catching the sun, Eileen McCoy arrived at the Regal UA Farmingdale theater just after 2:30 p.m.

The Friday afternoon showing of "Taylor Swift/The Official Release Party of a Showgirl" would be her first of two, she said — she had tickets to see the same movie with a friend the following day.

"The Official Release Party of a Showgirl," an 89-minute film featuring a music video and behind-the-scenes footage and commentary tied to Taylor Swift's 12th studio album, is screening at movie theaters Friday through Sunday.

On Long Island, it will screen at AMC theaters in East Northport, Garden City, Glen Cove, Huntington, Rockville Centre, Stony Brook and Westbury. It is also playing at Showcase Cinema de lux in Farmingdale, as well as Regal Deer Park and Regal UA Farmingdale & IMAX.

McCoy, a nurse from West Babylon who turns 54 on Saturday, described herself as "a late Swiftie" who started following Swift's music around the time the album "1989" was released.

"She's strong, she's independent, she is a philanthropist, she gives everywhere she goes," she said. "She's so generous with her staff… who doesn't like somebody like that?"

The connection goes deeper than music for others, too. Deanna Coyne, 32, of Levittown, arrived in a T-shirt reading "Karma is the guy on the Chiefs coming straight home to me," nodding to Swift's engagement to Kansas City football team tight end Travis Kelce. Coyne said Swift's songs helped her through treatment for Stage 2 breast cancer.

"When I was stuck on the couch, feeling the lowest emotionally and physically I've ever felt, I'd put on the Eras Tour and it was an escape from reality," Coyne said. "She almost feels like a friend, a light in my life that I can always rely on."

For Leslie Carbajal, 23, of Farmingdale, the draw was seeing Swift's creative process.

"This album's a little bit different from the rest," she said. "It's really different, but I like it."

Carbajal, wearing sparkly eyeshadow and a Swift cardigan, named "Opalite" and "Father Figure" as early favorites.

At AMC Stony Brook, teens celebrated birthdays in Swift sweatshirts, couples raced to the theater after work, and Brittney Lauro and her mother, Chris, arrived in concert T-shirts.

"I brought my computer to the hospital when I was giving birth and the Eras Tour tickets were dropping," Brittney said. "I think she has a brilliant mind and her writing is fantastic. The world needs upbeat songs right now."

Dana Wolf, 29, of Port Jefferson Station, said she and her boyfriend streamed the album at midnight until 4 a.m. and again on the drive to the theater. "We try to go to everything," she said. "It's fun to make an event out of it."

For fans, the release was less about industry details and more about shared excitement.

"The camaraderie of everyone being here for the same thing is so special," said Daniel Mejia, 23, Brentwood, wrists stacked with friendship bracelets. "There's nothing like it."