“Twisters” storms to $80.5 million blockbuster opening

Moviegoers flocked to “Twisters” this weekend, driving the standalone sequel to a $80.5 million opening from 4,151 North American theaters, surpassing expectations by $30 million and marking the summer’s biggest live-action debut.

Premiering at Harkins Bricktown Cinemas in Oklahoma City, the film exceeded even the highest aspirations, according to Universal’s head of distribution, Jim Orr.

“Twisters,” directed by Lee Isaac Chung, stands out as a PG-13 sequel benefiting from the legacy of the original 1996 hit “Twister,” though it features a new cast of storm chasers. Michael O’Leary of the National Association of Theatre Owners noted the film’s broad appeal and anticipated strong word of mouth.

Produced by Universal, Warner Bros., and Amblin at a cost of $155 million, the film’s promotional push included a country music-heavy soundtrack featuring Luke Combs, whose single “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” has over 56 million streams. Critics were mixed but audiences gave it an A- CinemaScore and 4.5 stars on PostTrak, with 24% citing Glen Powell as a main draw.

B&B Theatres’ CEO Bob Bagby reported near sell-outs in 4DX auditoriums, praising the film’s focus on entertainment without a political agenda. Universal also saw success with “Despicable Me 4” at No. 2, adding $23.8 million, and Disney-Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” in third place, nearing a global total of $1.4 billion.