In a dramatic turn of events, legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg flew to the set of the 1996 thriller ‘Twister’ on a private jet, only to berate the film’s director, Jan De Bont, for 15 minutes without even stepping off the plane. This incident stemmed from safety concerns and crew dissatisfaction during the film’s production.
Key Takeaways
- Steven Spielberg flew to the ‘Twister’ set on a private jet to confront director Jan De Bont.
- The confrontation lasted 15 minutes, with Spielberg never leaving the plane.
- The incident was triggered by unsafe actions on set, leading to a mass crew walkout.
- Despite production challenges, ‘Twister’ was a box office success, spawning a sequel, ‘Twisters’.
The Spielberg Incident: What Happened?
The confrontation occurred after several key crew members quit due to unsafe working conditions. According to stunt coordinator Mic Rodgers, Spielberg’s intense reaction was a response to director Jan De Bont’s behavior, which included shoving an assistant cameraperson into a ditch without apologizing. This led to a mass exodus of the camera, audio, and wardrobe teams.
Spielberg, who had a vested interest in the film as a producer, took immediate action. He flew to the set on a private jet and demanded that De Bont meet him at the airport. Spielberg then proceeded to yell at De Bont for approximately 15 minutes, never once stepping off the plane.
The Fallout and Aftermath
Despite the tumultuous production, ‘Twister’ was a commercial success. The film grossed over $494.5 million worldwide on a $92 million budget. Spielberg’s involvement didn’t end with the original film; he returned as an executive producer for the sequel, ‘Twisters’, which has also been performing well at the box office.
‘Twisters’: A Sequel’s Success
‘Twisters’, released nearly three decades after the original, had a budget of $200 million. The film needed to gross at least $500 million to turn a profit. Impressively, ‘Twisters’ opened to $81 million domestically in its first weekend and has continued to perform strongly.
Box Office Performance
| Title | 3-Day Total | Cumulative (Domestic) |
|---|---|---|
| Twisters | $80.5 million | $80.5 million |
| Despicable Me 4 | $23 million | $259 million |
| Inside Out 2 | $12.7 million | $596 million |
| Longlegs | $11.7 million | $44.6 million |
| A Quiet Place: Day One | $6.1 million | $127.6 million |
‘Twisters’ also set a record for the highest-grossing opening in 4DX theaters, earning $2.1 million in this immersive format during its opening weekend.
Conclusion
The dramatic incident involving Steven Spielberg and Jan De Bont on the set of ‘Twister’ highlights the high stakes and intense pressures of filmmaking. Despite the challenges, both ‘Twister’ and its sequel ‘Twisters’ have proven to be box office successes, captivating audiences with their thrilling depictions of natural disasters.