Much like meteorologists and storms, box-office forecasters have plenty of tools at hand to predict how a movie will do when it opens. But sometimes weather can be unpredictable—and similarly, sometimes, as in the case of Twisters, a movie can bring in tons more money than expected.
According to Variety, Twisters just blew through an $81.25 million opening weekend, way more than the $50-$55 million projections; though it didn’t come close to the year’s best opening (Inside Out 2, which is also the highest-grossing movie of the year so far), it’s very close to 2024’s second-biggest opening (Dune: Part Two, which made $82 million in its first weekend).
What’s the reason behind Twisters‘ surprise success, beyond rabid fans of the 1996 original and/or hunk of the moment Glen Powell? Variety talked to theater owners in the midwest—Twisters is set in Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City was home to Twisters‘ top-earning theater over opening weekend—who pointed to the film’s blend of blockbuster fun and real-life relatable storm peril.
Unsurprisingly, the film has performed exceptionally well in 4DX—with auditoriums with seats “equipped to shake, vibrate, and occasionally shoot out water in sync with the action that’s unfolding on screen.” All you need is a wind machine and it’s like you’re actually in the movie.
With Deadpool & Wolverine out this Friday, Twisters will have some major competition. But it’s already nearly made back its $155 million budget worldwide, and will continue to bring in audiences even if it bumps to second place behind Marvel’s team-up. Could Twisters 2 (or would it be Twister 3?) be in the cards?
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