Lee Daniels’ ‘The Deliverance’ Leads Netflix, ‘Twisters’ Returns to #1 at iTunes
Tom Brueggemann
“Twisters” (Universal) wasn’t the biggest film of the summer (it will end up #4 for U.S./Canada, #6 worldwide). But it is becoming the comeback kid among the group, both theatrically and at home.
The tornado-focused special effects disaster film just had a very rare weekend in theaters. In its seventh weekend, losing 200 screens (though still over 3,000), its gross increased 17 percent. That comes in its third week at home on PVOD (renting for $19.99, no price change). And right at the same time, “Twisters” returned to #1 at iTunes, edging out the second weekend of “Inside Out 2” (Disney), 2024’s biggest hit.
The Pixar film retains its top spot at Fandango, with the advantage that its $24.99 rental cost gives it with that site listing by revenue earned, not transactions like iTunes does. In any event, the split decision this week continues a now multi-month trend of no film placing #1 at both for two consecutive weeks.
After a rare repeat at Netflix, where Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry’s “The Union” led for two weeks, “The Deliverance,” another original film, replaced it this week. Lee Daniel’s demonic thriller with a cast including Andra Day, Glenn Close, and his “Precious” star Mo’Nique replaced “The Insiders,” a Netflix comedy which placed at #1 during the week.
M. Night Shyamalan’s “Trap” (Warner Bros.) fared best among new PVOD releases, landing at #3 at both Fandango and iTunes. It was released after its fourth weekend in theaters. Eli Roth’s “Borderlands” (Lionsgate) after only three weekends is #4 at Fandango, #7 at iTunes. “Harold and the Purple Crayon” (Sony) with an unusual initial rental of $9.99 is lower, #8 at iTunes, #9 at Fandango.
John Woo’s “The Killer,” an English-language remake of his Hong Kong action masterpiece, which is streaming at Peacock, is #7 at Fandango. That site like Peacock is owned by NBC Universal, and has the exclusive VOD rights.
Older titles debuting at Netflix and getting elevated viewing are “Aloha” at #2 and “Sonic the Hedgehog” at #3. Their in-house sports documentary series “Untold” completes their top 10 originals with “Sign Stealer,” currently at #8.
A sign that Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (WB) is about to open big. The 1988 original, easily seen on Max, is #6 at iTunes at the moment (renting for $3.99).
Top 10s
iTunes ranks films daily by number of transactions, while Fandango at Home lists by revenue. The listings below are for Monday, September 2 (iTunes) and the week of August 26-September 1 (Fandango).
The distributors listed are current rights owners. Prices for all titles are for lowest for either rental or download.
iTunes
1. Twisters (Universal) – $19.99
2. Inside Out 2 (Disney) – $24.99
3. Trap (WB) – $19.99
4. Despicable Me 4 (Universal) – $19.99
5. Longlegs (Neon) – $19.99
6. Beetlejuice(WB) – $4.99
7. Borderlands (Lionsgate) – $19.99
8. Harold and the Purple Crayon (Sony) – $9.99
9. Bad Boys: Ride or Die (Sony) – $19.99
10. The Fall Guy (Universal) – $5.99
Fandango at Home
1. Inside Out 2 (Disney) – $24.99
2. Twisters (Universal) – $19.99
3. Trap (WB) – $19.99
4. Borderlands (Lionsgate) – $19.99
5. Longlegs (Neon) – $19.99
6. Despicable Me 4 (Universal) – $19.99
7. The Killer (Universal) – $19.99
8. Bad Boys: Ride or Die (Sony) – $19.99
9. Harold and the Purple Crayon (Sony) – $9.99
10. A Quiet Place: Day One (Paramount) – $19.99
Netflix Movies
These are the most-viewed, current rankings on Netflix’s domestic daily chart on Monday, September 2. Originals include both Netflix-produced and acquired titles it initially presents in the U.S. Netflix publishes its own worldwide weekly top 10 on Tuesdays based on time viewed, and usually includes films for which it doesn’t have domestic rights.
1. The Deliverance (Netflix original)
2. Aloha (2015 theatrical release)
3. Sonic the Hedgehog (2020 theatrical release)
4. The Union (Netflix original)
5. Migration (2023 theatrical release)
6. Incoming (Netflix original)
7. 3:10 to Yuma (2007 theatrical release)
8. Untold: Sign Stealer (Netflix original documentary)
9. The Emoji Movie (2017 theatrical release)
10. Trolls Band Together (2023 theatrical release)
