The stand-alone follow-up to 1996’s popular “Twister” – under the seemingly unlikely direction of the man who helmed sweet Korean-American family drama “Minari,” Lee Isaac Chung – had been projected to make closer to US$50 million.
But strong reviews and a cast led by Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones helped propel the film – about storm chasers caught in the middle of fast-converging tornadoes – to what The Hollywood Reporter said was the top domestic opening ever for a natural disaster film.
“The spectacle, the special effects and the set pieces are bigger and better (than the original film),” said analyst David A Gross. “It’s perfect summer entertainment.”
“Twisters” ousted the previous top earner, another Universal film, animated comedy “Despicable Me 4,” which placed second with US$23.8 million in ticket sales for the Friday-through-Sunday period.
Holding steady in third was Disney and Pixar’s coming-of-age animation “Inside Out 2,” at US$12.8 million. In its six weeks out, it has earned US$596.4 million domestically and an additional US$847 million globally.
In fourth, down two spots, was horror mystery “Longlegs” from indie studio Neon, at US$11.7 million. Nicolas Cage stars in the tale of an FBI agent (Maika Monroe) tracking a creepy serial killer.
And in fifth, slipping one spot, was Paramount’s apocalyptic horror film “A Quiet Place: Day One,” at US$6.1 million. Lupita Nyong’o plays a seriously ill woman in a New York invaded by keen-eared extraterrestrials.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
- “Fly Me to the Moon” (US$3.3 million)
- “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” (US$2.7 million)
- “Bad Newz” (US1.1 million)
- “MaXXXine” (US$819,000)
- “The Bikeriders” (US$700,000)