MOVIE NEWS – Twisters is set to dominate the box office when it opens on July 17, 2024, but before its North American debut, the film premiered in Europe on June 8, with Tom Cruise present to support his Top Gun: Maverick co-star, Glen Powell. Cruise and Powell starred together in the 2022 film, which grossed over $1 billion and established Powell as one of Hollywood’s new leading men.

According to People, Cruise attended the premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square in London on June 8, and after its Los Angeles screening on July 11, lead actor Anthony Ramos shared with the outlet what it was like to see Tom Cruise getting excited while watching the film. “He kept hitting me,” he said.

“Glen was behind me, my brother was next to me, and Tom was behind my brother. Tom kept hitting me throughout the entire movie. After the third time, I turned around and said, ‘Yo, Tom Cruise is really getting into this!’ He kept hitting me.”

Ramon plays Javi in Twisters, whose character draws Daisy Edgar-Jones’ Kate Cooper back into tornado chasing to test a new tracking system. The 32-year-old actor mentioned that Tom Cruise was just enthusiastic about expressing his joy at seeing his Top Gun: Maverick co-star in what is expected to be the summer’s blockbuster.

“He kept hitting me because he was excited about different scenes, and he was laughing. He laughed out loud throughout the entire film. He wasn’t afraid to show his emotions. I was very grateful for that.”

Cruise, who “hugged it out” with Ramon after the movie, celebrated the event by posting a photo on his Instagram featuring himself and Powell with big smiles. The caption read, “Fun night with friends, watching a movie!!” Check it out below.

Twisters Looks to Open Big at the Box Office

Opening on May 10, 1996, Twister, starring Helen Hunt, Cary Elwes, and the late Bill Paxton, grossed $41.1 million in its opening weekend and eventually earned $495 million worldwide on a $92 million budget. Those are big numbers, but the long-awaited sequel hopes to follow in its predecessor’s footsteps.

Early reports from Universal indicate that Twisters is expected to earn between $40 and $45 million in its opening weekend, which is a conservative estimate based on current pre-sale ticket numbers. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, some – like The Quorum – are projecting Twisters could earn upwards of $60 million, which would be a significant win for the film in today’s market.

Regardless, there’s no denying that expectations are high for Twisters (which features a cameo by Bill Paxton’s son), as audiences hope it captures some of the magic that made the original so fun to watch in theaters, and they’ll feel the same excitement Tom Cruise did while watching it.

Twisters hits theaters on July 17, 2024, and you can check out the trailer below. 1996’s Twister is available to stream on Max.

Source: MovieWeb