Disasters Topple All Comers in Record Year at Box Office

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LOS ANGELES -- Aliens and tornadoes were Hollywood's heroes in 1996 as Independence Day and Twister conquered duds like The Cable Guy and Striptease to lead the film industry to a record $5.8 billion year.

Megahits were the key, with 12 films breaking the $100 million mark in North American ticket sales, industry observers said.

"The momentum created by these blockbusters set the pace for the year," said Paul Dergarabedian of Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc., which tracks movie receipts. The number of tickets sold also rose, reversing 1995's slight decline. "It's been a tremendous year for the industry, even with the Olympics biting into the late-summer box …