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An Oklahoma Multiplex Is the Top-Gross Theater for ‘Twisters’

An Oklahoma Multiplex Is the Top-Gross Theater for ‘Twisters’

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The Oklahoma-set film “Twisters” continues to climb at the North American box office.

The long-awaited sequel to the 1996 blockbuster “Twister” is expected to gross $74.6 million in its three-day opening weekend in the Netherlands, Variety reported Saturday.

The legacy sequel, which officially hit theaters on Friday, exceeded opening day expectations, grossing $32.2 million. The film’s first-day haul includes a strong $10.7 million from preview screenings, as fans were able to see the action vehicle in IMAX and other premium large-format theaters on Wednesday night, as well as on Thursday night.

Before the weekend, several industry publications and tracking services initially predicted that Twisters would gross $50 million to $55 million at the domestic box office in its opening weekend. The forecasts were revised upward on Friday, with expectations for an opening weekend gross of as much as $72 million.

But Deadline reported Saturday that “Twisters” could become even more popular, grossing as much as $80 million in its opening weekend, putting it on par with last year’s box office behemoth “Oppenheimer.”

Which Oklahoma theater has grossed the highest amount of ‘Twisters’ so far?

Filmed in Oklahoma in 2023, “Twisters” is a new, contemporary chapter that follows in the wake of the ’90s hit “Twister,” which was also filmed in the Sooner State. The new “Twisters” stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kate Carter, a former Oklahoma storm chaser who has a devastating encounter with a tornado in college, prompting her to move to New York City, where she studies storm patterns from the safety of a screen.

Kate is lured back to Tornado Alley by her boyfriend Javi (Anthony Ramos) to test a new tracking system. Out in the field, amid record-setting tornadic conditions, they cross paths with Tyler Owens (star Glen Powell), a charming and reckless social media superstar who thrives on posting about his storm-chasing adventures with his boisterous crew.

At just over two hours long, “Twisters” is rated PG-13 for its intense action and danger, some language and images of injuries.

“Twisters” has received strong reviews, including from The Oklahoman, and as of Saturday had 77% positive reviews from critics and a 92% positive audience score on RottenTomatoes.com.

Two-time Oscar nominee Lee Isaac Chung, an Arkansas native, made the case for Oklahoma as the right place to make “Twisters.” The filmmaker not only grew up on a farm just across the border from Westville, Oklahoma, but also filmed his Academy Award-winning, semi-autobiographical immigrant drama “Minari” near Tulsa in 2019. And he clearly understood how to make a standalone sequel that would appeal to America’s heartland.

Deadline reports that audiences in the so-called “flyover states” are the driving force behind “Twisters”‘s massive box office haul. The highest-grossing theater to date for “Twisters” is the Regal Warren in Moore, which has taken in more than $130,000 for the popcorn flick, the trade publication said.

How did rising star Glen Powell help ‘Twisters’ rise to the top?

Powell’s stardom also plays a role in Twisters’ box office success. Deadline reports that 24 percent of Friday’s audience went to the film because of Powell, according to PostTrak.

Powell, Edgar-Jones and Ramos have been tireless in promoting the new film, with the trio taking the stage at Luke Combs’ Friday night concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. They entertained the crowd by shotgunning beers with the country music superstar, who has a single in the film called “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma.”

In looking at the demographics for the event film’s box office grosses to date, Deadline reports that the audience for “Twisters” was 51% white, 26% Hispanic/Latinx, 10% Black and 9% Asian American. IMAX and other premium large-format tickets account for about 43% of sales for “Twisters.”

And “Twisters”’s stellar box office performance wasn’t just due to movie fans nostalgic for the original “Twister.” According to Deadline, 46 percent of the audience between the ages of 18 and 34 showed up.

How will ‘Twisters’ new box office estimates help make this film one of the biggest opening weekends this year?

If “Twisters'” revised opening weekend projection of nearly $75 million proves accurate, the storming standalone sequel could land in the top five for the first three-day weekends of the year.

As Variety reports, an opening of $75 million would put the storming sequel on par with “Despicable Me 4,” which grossed $75 million in its first three-day weekend, giving the animated hit the fourth-biggest three-day debut of the year.

The top three North American opening weekends so far this year are: “Inside Out 2,” with about $155 million; “Dune: Part Two,” with $82 million; and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” with $80 million.