Natural disaster thriller ‘Twisters’ storms to top of North American box office

UNIVERSAL’S weather thriller Twisters spun up a huge maiden weekend, earning an estimated US$80.5 million to top the North American box office, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said on Sunday (Jul21). The standalone 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)

SEE ALSO

Apple is in talks to license more films from Hollywood

Mizuho fund to invest in Japan’s popular but cash-needing anime

Ho Rui An: Debut art show disrupts and delights

Bad Boys: Ride or Die (US$2.7 million)

Bad Newz (US$1.1 million)

MaXXXine (US$819,000)

The Bikeriders (US$700,000). AFP