The success of Twisters rests on its budget and box office performance, and how they compare will determine if the film is a hit. The 2024 action blockbuster starring Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones was announced with the need to live up to lofty expectations. Twisters was announced as a sequel to the original 1996 movie that Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton headlined. The original Twister was a massive box office success, earning $495.7 million worldwide against its reported $92 million budget.

The fate of the Twister franchise is now in the hands of Twisters‘ cast of young, up-and-coming Hollywood stars. Universal took the bet that the fresher faces could help eventize the film’s theatrical release to a designated degree. This path happened instead of Helen Hunt returning for Twisters or the studio shelling out major paydays for more established and bankable stars. But with a CGI-heavy production due to the tornado chases at its core, how much Twisters cost to make and how much its box office needs to succeed are notable.

Twisters’ Budget Is Reportedly $200 Million

Double The Cost Of The Original Movie

The budget for Twisters puts the movie in the blockbuster category in Hollywood. Universal gave director Lee Isaac Chung and the cast and crew a $200 million budget to complete the film, according to reports originally from The Oklahoman. The reported cost is comparable to most major studio tentpoles in 2024 that are part of franchises. The majority of the budget should have been allocated towards the actual production and making the VFX look realistic since Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell’s salaries should not be too substantial.

The price to make Twisters in 2024 is a big step up compared to the original production. Twister was made for less than $100 million, although that number would be higher with inflation. The original’s $92 million budget adjusts to nearly $200 million in 2024 after inflation. By that token, Twisters budget is not that surprising or outlandish compared to the original movie. The difficulty with this approach, though, is that it also raises the box office expectations for the sequel.

Twisters Needs To Make At Least $400 Million To Be A Box Office Success

The Movie Must Make More To Be Profitable

Applying the reported $200 million budget to Twisters‘ chances of success, the movie’s box office target becomes clear. It is commonly stated in Hollywood that movies need to double their budget at the box office to break even. Any total that eclipses the two-and-a-half or three-times multiplier is typically where a movie can be deemed profitable. This does not factor in merchandising, home video sales, streaming deals, and more. That means that the sequel needs to make $400 million to be a success. Twisters‘ box office must earn $500-$600 million to be profitable, exceeding the original’s run.

A sequel’s goal is always to eclipse the original’s box office, even when it takes 28 years to make, as in Twisters‘ case. The optimism has remained high that this movie will do just that. Strong marketing and reviews have helped incentivize audiences to watch Twisters in theaters. That is why projections for Twisters‘ opening weekend at the box office began tracking at $45-50 million (via Deadline). This would help make it possible for the movie to become a box office success story just like its predecessor.

How Much Twisters Has Made At The Box Office

It Is Currently Playing In Theaters

The pathway to Twisters making a profit at the box office has begun. The film is currently playing in international territories and generating strong buzz in various regions. The international release started on July 10, 2024, over a week before being released domestically. As of this writing, Twisters has made $11.5 million at the box office thanks to the early international rollout (via Box Office Mojo). This comes from Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia, and other countries getting the movie in advance.

There are still plenty of markets domestically and internationally waiting for the film. For that reason, it is too early to determine how well Twisters will do at the box office. The opening weekend projections are promising, as is the headstart internationally. However, it will need to have low drops from week to week to have the level of legs necessary to become a box office hit. Given the franchise’s history and Powell’s recent successes, the chances of Twisters performing well and turning a profit look good.

Sources: The Oklahoman, Deadline, Box Office Mojo