From left, actor Glen Powell, director Lee Isaac Chung, actors Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos attend Universal's "Twisters" premiere at the Regency Village theater in Los Angeles, July 11. AFP-Yonhap
Lee Isaac Chung, the Korean American director known for his Oscar-winning film "Minari," is making waves in the U.S. box office with his disaster film "Twisters.”
"Twisters," a sequel to the 1996 film "Twister," debuted in 4,151 theaters across the United States and Canada last Friday, earning $32.2 million in ticket sales on its opening day, according to data provider Box Office Mojo.
The outcome nearly matches the $33 million earned by Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" on its opening day during a similar period last year, marking an encouraging record for Chung in his first big-budget film as a director.
A poster for disaster film "Twisters," which will hit theaters in Korea, August 14. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea
The disaster film tells the story of storm chasers, including Kate Carter (played by Daisy Edgar-Jones), who works for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The film is expected to follow a similar box office success to other big-budget movies released this year.
"Outlook for the opening weekend of the natural disaster thriller is now at $74 million — way north of the industry estimates for $50 million to $55 million earlier this week," according to Variety, a U.S.-based entertainment news outlet.
"That puts it in competition with fellow Universal release "Despicable Me 4" ($75 million) for the fourth-biggest three-day debut of the year (though that animated sequel opened on a Wednesday and had grosses dispersed across a five-day holiday weekend frame)."
The film is receiving positive reviews from audiences of all ages and genders, and is being hailed as a notable achievement for director Chung.
"It's also a notable win for Chung, the acclaimed filmmaker of indie hit "Minari." The film's demos are impressive: It is playing evenly among females and males, as well as appealing to both younger and older adults in what could lead to a new franchise," the Hollywood Reporter said.
Chung has also gained fame in Korea with "Minari," a 2020 film that portrayed the life and struggles of a Korean immigrant family in the U.S. For this film, veteran actor Youn Yuh-jung won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2021.
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