# Twisters Hits $100M Domestic Box Office in 5 Days
Universal's Twisters has reached the first major domestic box office milestone for any 2024 summer release, crossing $100 million in just five days after delighting audiences with the best opening-weekend gross ever recorded for a natural disaster film. Director Lee Isaac Chung's action blockbuster pulled in approximately $12 million on its first Discount Tuesday, lifting the combined domestic total to around $102 million — a striking result for a non-franchise original IP at a time when studios are obsessed with sequels and superheroes.
Record-Breaking Opening Weekend
Twisters opened to $81 million domestically over its first three days, making it the third-biggest opening weekend of 2024 at the time, behind only Dune: Part Two and Inside Out 2. More significantly, the number surpassed every previous debut for a natural disaster film — not adjusted for inflation — clearing the bar set by Roland Emmerich's The Day After Tomorrow, which opened to $68.44 million back in 2004.
The film had been projected to generate somewhere between $50 million and $55 million at the top end, making the actual result a genuine industry surprise.
Not a Sequel — But Carrying a Famous Name
Despite sharing its name with the beloved 1996 tornado thriller, Twisters is not a direct sequel. The original Twister was a massive commercial hit, grossing over $240 million domestically and approximately $493 million worldwide. The 2024 film borrows the setting and spirit while telling an entirely new story with a new cast, positioning it as a spiritual successor rather than a continuation.
Twisters faces tough competition ahead, however. Deadpool & Wolverine was already being predicted to open at record-high numbers in the weeks following Twisters' debut, which analysts expected would push the disaster film down the rankings.
Glen Powell's Career Moment
One of the most discussed elements of Twisters' success is its leading man. Glen Powell has been on an extraordinary run, following his high-profile supporting role in Top Gun: Maverick with a string of hits — the romantic comedy Anyone But You and the darkly funny thriller Hit Man. His presence in Twisters gave the film genuine marquee appeal at a moment when his star was still rising.
Opposite Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones brings proven box office credibility of her own. Best known for the TV series Normal People, Edgar-Jones also led Where the Crawdads Sing, which earned close to $150 million worldwide.
Critical and Audience Reception
Twisters earned strong reviews alongside its strong earnings. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 77% "Fresh" rating from critics and a 92% audience approval score. Its CinemaScore — an A- — reflects the enthusiasm of opening-day audiences.
Collider's Jeff Ewing praised the film for "strong visuals, memorable scenes, and impressive scale alongside stellar character work from an exceptionally talented and charismatic cast."
Between its box office momentum and its broadly positive reception, Twisters established itself as one of the defining summer blockbusters of 2024 — a rare win for an original disaster story in a superhero-dominated marketplace.
