Universal's weather thriller Twisters&nbsp;spun up a huge maiden weekend, earning an estimated $80.5 million to top the North American box office, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

The stand-alone follow-up to 1996's popular Twisters&nbsp;-- under the seemingly unlikely direction of the man who helmed sweet Korean-American family drama "Minari," Lee Isaac Chung -- had been projected to make closer to $50 million.

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But strong reviews and a cast led by Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones helped propel the film -- about storm chasers caught in the middle of fast-converging tornadoes -- to what The Hollywood Reporter said was the top domestic opening ever for a natural disaster film.&nbsp;

"The spectacle, the special effects and the set pieces are bigger and better (than the original film)," said analyst David A. Gross. "It's perfect summer entertainment."

Twisters&nbsp;ousted the previous top earner, another Universal film, animated comedy Despicable Me 4,&nbsp;which placed second with $23.8 million in ticket sales for the Friday-through-Sunday period.

Holding steady in third was Disney and Pixar's coming-of-age animation Inside Out 2,&nbsp;at $12.8 million. In its six weeks out, it has earned $596.4 million domestically and an additional $847 million globally.

In fourth, down two spots, was horror mystery Longlegs&nbsp;from indie studio Neon, at $11.7 million. Nicolas Cage stars in the tale of an FBI agent (Maika Monroe) tracking a creepy serial killer.

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And in fifth, slipping one spot, was Paramount's apocalyptic horror film A Quiet Place: Day One,&nbsp;at $6.1 million. Lupita Nyong'o plays a seriously ill woman in a New York invaded by keen-eared extraterrestrials.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

Fly Me to the Moon&nbsp;($3.3 million)

Bad Boys: Ride or Die&nbsp;($2.7 million)

Bad Newz&nbsp;(1.1 million)

MaXXXine ($819,000)

The Bikeriders&nbsp;($700,000)

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Universal's weather thriller Twisters spun up a huge maiden weekend, earning an estimated $80.5 million to top the North American box office, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

Universal's weather thriller Twisters spun up a huge maiden weekend, earning an estimated $80.5 million to top the North American box office, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday. The stand-alone follow-up to 1996's popular Twisters -- under the seemingly unlikely direction of the man who helmed sweet Korean-American family drama "Minari," Lee Isaac Chung -- had been projected to make closer to $50 million. Wait, is that Priyanka Chopra? Actress sports a mohawk in leaked pics from The Bluff But strong reviews and a cast led by Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones helped propel the film -- about storm chasers caught in the middle of fast-converging tornadoes -- to what The Hollywood Reporter said was the top domestic opening ever for a natural disaster film. "The spectacle, the special effects and the set pieces are bigger and better (than the original film)," said analyst David A. Gross. "It's perfect summer entertainment." Twisters ousted the previous top earner, another Universal film, animated comedy Despicable Me 4, which placed second with $23.8 million in ticket sales for the Friday-through-Sunday period. Holding steady in third was Disney and Pixar's coming-of-age animation Inside Out 2, at $12.8 million. In its six weeks out, it has earned $596.4 million domestically and an additional $847 million globally. In fourth, down two spots, was horror mystery Longlegs from indie studio Neon, at $11.7 million. Nicolas Cage stars in the tale of an FBI agent (Maika Monroe) tracking a creepy serial killer. Anne Hathaway steals the spotlight at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour show in Germany And in fifth, slipping one spot, was Paramount's apocalyptic horror film A Quiet Place: Day One, at $6.1 million. Lupita Nyong'o plays a seriously ill woman in a New York invaded by keen-eared extraterrestrials. Rounding out the top 10 were: Fly Me to the Moon ($3.3 million) Bad Boys: Ride or Die ($2.7 million) Bad Newz (1.1 million) MaXXXine ($819,000) The Bikeriders ($700,000) Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Universal's Twisters storms to top of N.America box office

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Universal's Twisters storms to top of N.America box office