‘Twisters’ Thrives at Box Office Despite Streaming Release

Despite its recent release on digital streaming platforms, Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Anthony Ramos’ disaster thriller, Twisters, continues to draw audiences to theaters. The film, a standalone sequel to the 1996 blockbuster Twister starring Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, premiered in theaters on July 19 before becoming available for streaming via premium video on demand (PVOD) on August 13.

Even with the option to watch at home, Twisters has demonstrated strong performance at the box office. According to Deadline, the film is expected to secure the No. 5 position at the Labor Day weekend box office, with projected earnings of $8.1 million across 3,005 North American theaters. This performance will bring its domestic total to approximately $258.9 million, underlining its continued appeal to moviegoers.

The Labor Day weekend is also seeing significant competition from other high-profile releases. 20th Century Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine, featuring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, is projected to dominate the weekend’s box office, potentially earning between $19 million and $20 million. If these estimates prove accurate, the film will push its domestic total to over $603 million, reinforcing its success in the superhero genre.

Another strong contender from 20th Century Studios is Alien: Romulus. This latest installment in the sci-fi horror franchise is anticipated to land at No. 3 for the weekend, with estimated domestic ticket sales of $11.75 million from 3,120 theaters. This will elevate the film’s running domestic total to $91.1 million, showcasing its robust performance despite fierce competition.

In the realm of romantic dramas, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s It Ends with Us, starring Blake Lively, is projected to earn $9.5 million through Labor Day. This will bring its domestic total to $135.7 million, reflecting its ongoing success and appeal to audiences.

Among the new releases for the weekend, only one is expected to break into the top five. Reagan, a biopic featuring Dennis Quaid as the 40th U.S. President Ronald Reagan, is projected to debut with $9 million in 2,754 theaters. Distributed by ShowBiz Direct, Reagan had a production budget of $25 million before accounting for prints and advertising, indicating a substantial investment in bringing this historical figure’s story to the big screen.

The other new release, Sony Pictures’ horror thriller Afraid, starring John Cho, is projected to earn $4 million in its opening weekend. This AI-themed thriller, distributed by Sony Pictures, is expected to secure the No. 8 spot in its debut, according to Deadline. The film had a production budget of $12 million before its marketing and distribution expenses, reflecting a more modest investment compared to some of the other weekend releases.

As the box office figures are still being tallied, it is important to note that this report will be updated on Monday with the latest domestic and international box office estimates. The final numbers are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, providing a clearer picture of the weekend’s overall box office performance and confirming the impact of these various releases.

In summary, Twisters continues to prove its staying power at the box office even with the convenience of digital streaming options, while other major releases like Deadpool & Wolverine and Alien: Romulus also show strong performances. The competition among new releases, including Reagan and Afraid, highlights the dynamic and evolving landscape of the film industry, with audience preferences playing a crucial role in shaping box office outcomes.