During a special New York Imax screening of Spring Breakers, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco made a surprise appearance, greeting the excited fans gathered to watch A24’s wild, bikini-filled film on one of the largest screens in the country.
Fans went wild when the two walked in, with one attendee exclaiming, “Oh my God. I need to call everybody I know.”
“Hi guys,” Gomez greeted the audience. “Did you guys enjoy one of my favorite movies ever?”
She then whipped out her phone to snap a selfie with the crowd at AMC Lincoln Square, mentioning that she would send it to “Spring Breakers” director “Harmony [Korine] and the girls,” referencing her co-stars Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, and Rachel Korine.
During their brief visit, Gomez and Blanco previewed a track titled “Bluest Flame” from their upcoming album I Said I Love You First, and handed out USB drives containing the unreleased song to the attendees.
“The label is probably gonna shoot us, but, thanks guys,” Blanco joked. As they left the theater, he encouraged everyone, “Listen to that shit.”
Gomez starred in Harmony Korine’s R-rated 2013 crime comedy alongside James Franco, Hudgens, Benson, Rachel Korine, and Gucci Mane. At the time of the film’s release, she was 20 years old, and it was seen as a dramatic departure from her Disney image, as she had previously led Wizards of Waverly Place from 2007 to 2012.
In a 2024 interview with Variety, Gomez shared that she’s “proud” of Spring Breakers “despite its uniqueness.” Reflecting on her decision at the time of the film’s release, she told The New York Times, “It’s me kind of taking baby steps. But I know that people will judge my involvement in the movie as a whole. I’m prepared to accept that.”
