‘Twisters’ Rakes in $80.5M at Box Office as ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Anticipation Grows

NEW YORK — “Twisters” took the box office by storm this weekend, raking in a massive $80.5 million from 4,151 theaters across North America, according to estimates released Sunday by Universal Studios. Surpassing initial analyst projections by $30 million, the film marks the summer’s largest opening for a live-action movie.

Jim Orr, Universal’s distribution head, expressed delight over the unexpected success. “We had big aspirations for it to begin with, and it certainly exceeded those,” he stated. The movie’s broad appeal extended across the country, reminiscent of last year’s “Oppenheimer” premiere by the same studio.

Though both films share impressive numbers, “Twisters” sets itself apart as a franchise. This sequel, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, introduces a new cast of storm chasers and banks on the nostalgic value of its 1996 predecessor, “Twister,” without bringing back its original characters.

The $155 million production employed a heavy promotional push involving a country music-heavy soundtrack. Luke Combs’ “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” led the album, which has accumulated over 75 million streams, featuring artists like Lainey Wilson and Tyler Childers.

Reviews were generally positive. The thriller scored an A- on CinemaScore and a strong 4.5 stars on PostTrak, with 24% of surveyed viewers citing actor Glen Powell as a significant draw. Michael O’Leary, CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners, remarked, “This is just further evidence that when you create something compelling, people will show up.”

The 4DX immersive format, offering seat-shaking and wind effects, was a significant hit for B&B Theatres, according to CEO Bob Bagby. “Our 4DX auditoriums were nearly sold out all weekend,” he noted.

Online, the film sparked debates over its omission of climate change references and a missing kiss between Powell and co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones. A clip of the cut scene circulated on social media over the weekend.

Bob Bagby appreciated the film’s focus on entertainment, remarking that sometimes viewers just want a good time without political or social agendas. “We show everything, but sometimes you need an escape,” he said.

Universal not only dominated with “Twisters” but also secured the No. 2 spot with “Despicable Me 4,” earning $23.8 million this weekend. Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” claimed third place, adding to its already monstrous global total of $1.4 billion.

As another highly anticipated movie, “Deadpool & Wolverine,” is set to open next weekend with projected earnings of $160 million, the box office landscape remains competitive. “We could be looking at a weekend where people want to see two blockbusters back to back,” commented Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.

For now, here’s the breakdown of box office sales from Friday through Sunday according to Comscore:

1. “Twisters,” $80.5 million.

2. “Despicable Me 4,” $23.8 million.

3. “Inside Out 2,” $12.8 million.

4. “Longlegs,” $11.7 million.

5. “A Quiet Place: Day One,” $6.1 million.

6. “Fly Me to the Moon,” $3.4 million.

7. “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” $2.7 million.

8. “Bad Newz,” $1.1 million.

9. “MaXXXine,” $819,242.

10. “The Bikeriders,” $700,000.