"Twisters" sweeps theaters with blockbuster box office success
Great reviews from critics and excellent opinions from viewers. It is good, even very good. This is what a summer blockbuster should look like. "Twisters," the long-awaited sequel to the 1996 production, is fully deservedly taking over American theaters.
4:06 PM EDT, July 22, 2024
- As we release Twisters into the world today, I just wanted to look up and tip my hat to the legend that is Bill Paxton. A great friend of mine who saw poetry in the natural world. His boots are impossible to fill, but this life is all about chasing the greats – Glenn Powell wrote on his X account. The premiere screening and promotion of the film with the song "Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma" resulted in a record turnout in the state theatres.
"Twisters," with a budget of $200 million, has become a worthy successor to "Twister," directed by Jan De Bont. The 27-year-old production was ranked second among the biggest hits of the season. It is considered a model of disaster cinema with iconic roles by Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt.
During the premiere weekend, "Twister" earned $41 million in the United States, which, after adjusting for inflation, amounts to about $80 million today. The sequel achieved a similar result at the start – $80.5 million (slightly less than the second part of "Dune" – $82.5 million – the most popular film for older viewers this year). The 1996 hit, adjusting for inflation, earned as much as $992 million worldwide. Strangely, audiences had to wait so long for its sequel.
The first information about the realization of the continuation of "Twister" appeared very quickly, just a few weeks after the film's premiere. However, there was a lack of an interesting idea for the script, and when too many disaster films using digital special effects began to appear, the project was put on hold. The unexpected death of Bill Paxton, who was to be the film's star, also stood in the way of the sequel's realization.
In one of the interviews promoting "Twisters," Glen Powell ("Top Gun: Maverick," "Set It Up") said: - I know I can’t match or replace him. I have great respect for him and his roles. He was usually a supporting hero, but in "Twister," he proved he could also be a blockbuster star. Besides, Bill Paxton was probably the most decent guy in Hollywood.
In the sequel, the characters chase tornadoes again using the latest technology. Although we are dealing with completely new characters, they have just as much passion and charm as their predecessors. There is good chemistry between Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones ("Where the Crawdads Sing"), which makes the scientific, dramatic, and romantic breaks between the spectacular scenes of the raging elements enjoyable to watch and a relief, as we can rest from the excess of strong impressions during them.
On Rotten Tomatoes, "Twisters" received 78% positive reviews from critics and as much as 92% positive ratings from viewers.