Twisters, the latest installment in the Amblin-produced, Michael Crichton co-written franchise, has made quite the impact at the U.S. and Canada box office. With a whopping $50M in earnings from Friday-Sunday, it has surpassed the start of the original 1996 movie which only brought in $41M. Additionally, Twisters has already accumulated $12.5M from 38 international markets within just a day.
Global Presence
Universal is handling the domestic release of Twisters, while Warner Bros has taken charge of the international distribution. This is a shift from the original film’s distribution strategy, where Warner Bros handled the U.S./Canada release and Universal took care of the international markets. With 38 more markets lined up for release this week, including major territories like France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and China, the offshore earnings are estimated to reach $45M-$50M by Sunday, amounting to a worldwide total of over $100M.
Japan and Korea are yet to release the film, promising even more earnings in the coming days.
Buzz and Expectations
Amidst all this success, Twisters is facing tough competition from upcoming releases like Deadpool & Wolverine, which are anticipated to break records for R-rated movies. The film has already been well received, even getting a nod from nature itself when an active volcano erupted during its screening at the Taormina Film Festival. In the U.S., Twisters will be screened in 4,000 theaters, including Imax, PLFS, and ScreenX formats.
Universal’s confidence in the movie is evident, as they have been screening it for weeks leading up to the release. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the film, with special Imax and PLF screenings scheduled on Wednesday. Previews will continue on Thursday for the PG-13 rated movie, with presales on par with other successful releases like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
The original Twister was a box office hit, raking in $241.8M domestically and $494.5M worldwide (inflation and currency adjustments not considered). With these impressive numbers, the latest installment is poised to follow in its footsteps. Universal’s animated feature, Despicable Me 4, also continues to perform well, maintaining its position in second place at the box office.
With Twisters making a strong opening statement at the box office and garnering both critical acclaim and audience approval, it is set to be a major player in the summer movie lineup. As it continues its global release and faces tough competition, the film’s success story is far from over.
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