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‘Minari’ Director Scores Explosive Success With New Disaster Movie ‘Twisters’

‘Minari’ Director Scores Explosive Success With New Disaster Movie ‘Twisters’

From left: Actor Glen Powell, director Lee Isaac Chung, actors Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos at the premiere of Universal's 'Twisters' at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles, July 11. AFP-Yonhap

From left: Actor Glen Powell, director Lee Isaac Chung, actors Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos at the premiere of Universal’s “Twisters” at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles, July 11. AFP-Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul

Lee Isaac Chung, the Korean-American director known for his Oscar-winning film “Minari,” is making waves at the U.S. box office with his disaster film “Twisters.”

“Twisters,” a sequel to the 1996 film “Twister,” opened in 4,151 theaters across the United States and Canada on Friday. According to data provider Box Office Mojo, opening-day ticket sales grossed $32.2 million.

The box office gross nearly matches the $33 million Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” earned on its opening day during the same period last year, an encouraging record for Chung in his first big-budget film as a director.

A poster for the disaster film 'Twisters', which will be released in theaters in Korea on August 14. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea

A poster for the disaster film “Twisters”, which will be released in theaters in Korea on August 14. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea

The disaster film tells the story of storm chasers, including Kate Carter (played by Daisy Edgar-Jones), who works for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The film is expected to be a similar success to other big-budget films released this year.

“The natural disaster thriller’s opening weekend outlook now stands at $74 million, well above industry estimates of $50 million to $55 million earlier this week,” according to Variety, an American entertainment news outlet.

“That puts the film in competition with Universal’s “Despicable Me 4″ ($75 million) for the fourth-biggest three-day opening of the year (though that animated sequel opened on a Wednesday and its proceeds were split over a five-day period).”

The film has received positive reviews from audiences of all ages and genders and has been hailed as a remarkable achievement by director Chung.

“It’s also a notable win for Chung, the acclaimed filmmaker behind the indie hit ‘Minari.’ The film’s demos have been impressive, with the film popular with both women and men and appealing to both young and old, which could lead to a new franchise,” the Hollywood Reporter said.

Chung also rose to fame in Korea with “Minari,” a 2020 film that chronicled the life and struggles of a Korean immigrant family in the U.S. For the film, veteran actor Youn Yuh-jung won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2021.