Moviegoers ran toward the tornadoes this weekend, propelling 鈥� 鈥� to a blockbuster opening. The standalone sequel to the 1996 hit made $80.5 million in ticket sales from 4,151 theaters in North America, according to studio estimates Sunday.
That鈥檚 about $30 million more than analysts expected initially, and makes for the biggest opening of a live-action movie yet .
鈥淲e had big aspirations for it to begin with, and it certainly exceeded those,鈥� said Jim Orr, who heads distribution for Universal. 鈥淲e鈥檙e seriously over-indexing between coasts which is fun to see as well.鈥�
Its overperformance recalled 鈥� 鈥� debut last year on the same weekend. There are some similiarities: The studio, Universal, and the numbers. But there are also important differences: 鈥淥ppenheimer鈥� was 3-hours long, R-rated ("Twisters" is PG-13) and historical, not to mention the collective enthusiasm around its release date companion, 鈥淏arbie.鈥�
鈥� ," meanwhile, is a franchise. It may not be a direct sequel to 鈥淭wister鈥� but it is benefiting from the brand recognition. The original Jan de Bont-directed film starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton was a financial hit at the time and has only become more beloved over the years. This film, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, does not include any of the characters from the original and introduces a new crowd of storm chasers.
鈥淭his is just further evidence that when you create something that鈥檚 compelling and interesting and has broad appeal, that all across the country people will show up,鈥� said Michael O鈥橪eary, the president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners. 鈥淚 think the word of mouth on this movie is going to be exceptional.鈥�
The Universal, Warner Bros. and Amblin production cost $155 million to produce and millions more to promote. Part of the push included a country music heavy soundtrack, with a new Luke Combs single 鈥淎int No Love in Oklahoma鈥� which has racked up more than 56 million audio streams. The soundtrack as a whole, featuring the likes of Bailey Zimmerman, Tucker Wetmore, Tanner Adell, Lainey Wilson, Tyler Childers, Thomas Rhett and Miranda Lambert, has over 75 million streams.
Critics were mixed but mostly positive about the 2-hour thriller. Audiences gave it an enthusiastic A- CinemaScore and 4.5 stars on PostTrak. Also of note: 24% of moviegoers polled by PostTrack said actor Glen Powell was a main draw.
鈥淥ur director crafted exactly what audiences want to see in theaters: A very immersive, exciting, mayhem everywhere story with a charming cast,鈥� Orr said.
Bob Bagby, the chair of the theatre owners association and the CEO of Kansas City-based B&B Theatres, which has about 580 screens, said their 4DX auditoriums have been nearly sold out all weekend. 4DX is an 鈥渋mmersive鈥� presentation format for films that includes seat-shaking and wind effects.
鈥淭wisters鈥� has also whipped up some spirited online discourse and debate, some about the film not explicitly referencing climate change and some about the lack of a kiss between Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones. A video showing the kiss that was left on the cutting room floor made the rounds on social media over the weekend.
Bagby appreciated that there was no 鈥渟urprise political or social agenda.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 in the movie business. We show everything. There鈥檚 been many movies about global warming and that鈥檚 important,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut sometimes you go to the movies and you don鈥檛 want to be brought back to reality and lose your escape. You just want to have a good time.鈥�
Universal also had the No. 2 movie in the country with 鈥淒espicable Me 4," now in its third weekend. It added $23.8 million from North America, where it is still playing in over 4,000 theaters, bringing its domestic total to $259.5 million.
Third place went to another animated juggernaut: Disney and Pixar's 鈥淚nside Out 2,鈥� now in its sixth weekend, and boasting a global total of $1.4 billion. It is quickly closing in on 鈥淔rozen 2鈥� to earn the title of the biggest animated movie of all time.
Last year on this weekend 鈥淏arbenheimer鈥� helped propel the box office to over $311 million. This weekend was never going to match that, but progress is still being made after a difficult start for the crucial summer moviegoing season.
"Things have really turned around since May," said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore.
And another force is storming theaters next weekend in 鈥� ,鈥� which is tracking to open in the $160 million range. That would be enough to unseat 鈥淚nside Out 2鈥� for the biggest opening of the year. How it will affect 鈥淭wisters鈥� in its second weekend is a big unknown. O'Leary said he believes it's a plus having compelling movies going head to head.
Dergarabedian added: "We could be looking at a weekend where people want to go see two blockbusters back to back. It鈥檒l give that second weekend of Barbenheimer a run for its money.鈥�
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. 鈥淭wisters,鈥� $80.5 million.
2. 鈥淒espicable Me 4,鈥� $23.8 million.
3. 鈥淚nside Out 2,鈥� $12.8 million.
4. 鈥淟onglegs,鈥� $11.7 million.
5. 鈥淎 Quiet Place: Day One,鈥� $6.1 million.
6. 鈥淔ly Me to the Moon,鈥� $3.4 million.
7. 鈥淏ad Boys: Ride or Die,鈥� $2.7 million.
8. 鈥淏ad Newz,鈥� $1.1 million.
9. 鈥淢aXXXine,鈥� $819,242.
10. 鈥淭he Bikeriders,鈥� $700,000.
Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press
