“The Storm Chaser’s Revival: A Tornado of Spectacle and Heart” is a fitting nickname for Twisters (2024), the long-awaited standalone sequel to the 1996 blockbuster Twister. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, best known for his Oscar-nominated Minari, this film brings together the thrills of natural disaster cinema with a modern sensibility and a cast of charismatic new stars.
Set in Oklahoma’s notorious Tornado Alley, the story follows Kate Carter, a meteorologist and former storm chaser who is haunted by a past tragedy. Five years after a failed experiment that claimed the lives of her friends, Kate is drawn back into the world of storm chasing when her old friend Javi, now working for a tornado radar company, seeks her help to test a revolutionary new tracking system.
What unfolds is a high-stakes adventure where science and spectacle collide. Kate finds herself caught between the earnest, tech-driven approach of her old team and the reckless, social media-fueled antics of Tyler Owens, a charismatic “Tornado Wrangler” who chases storms for fame and fortune. As tornadoes of increasing intensity threaten the region, Kate and the rival teams must work together to protect innocent lives and test the limits of human ingenuity against the raw power of nature.
Twisters is more than just a big-budget thrill ride. The film deftly balances jaw-dropping visual effects with genuine character drama, exploring themes of survivor’s guilt, redemption, and the ethical dilemmas of scientific experimentation. Daisy Edgar-Jones delivers a nuanced performance as Kate, while Glen Powell brings his trademark charm and energy to the role of Tyler. The chemistry between the leads, combined with a strong supporting cast and a rousing country soundtrack, makes for a summer blockbuster that is both emotionally engaging and viscerally exciting.
With its blend of nostalgia for the original film and a fresh perspective on the disaster genre, Twisters has been praised as a worthy successor that honors its roots while charting new territory. The movie’s heart lies in its exploration of humanity’s relationship with nature and the courage it takes to confront the unknown. Whether you’re a fan of the original or a newcomer to the franchise, Twisters offers a thrilling, heartfelt, and visually stunning experience that is sure to leave audiences breathless.
Twisters 2024
- English Name: Twisters | Korean: 트위스터스 | Japanese: ツイスターズ
- Directed by: Lee Isaac Chung
- Screenplay by: Mark L. Smith
- Based on: Story by Joseph Kosinski, Characters from Twister (1996)
- Produced by: Steven Spielberg, Thomas Hayslip, Ashley Jay Sandberg, others
- Cinematography: Chung-hoon Chung
- Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney, Sasha Lane, Harry Hadden-Paton, Daryl McCormack, Kiernan Shipka, Nik Dodani, David Corenswet, Katy O’Brian, Tunde Adebimpe
- Production companies: Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures
- Distributed by: Universal Pictures (US), Warner Bros. Pictures (International)
- Release dates: July 10, 2024 (Indonesia), July 19, 2024 (US, UK, others)
- Running time: 122 minutes
- Country: United States
- Language: English
- Budget: $155–200 million
- Box office: $372 million worldwide
- Rating: PG-13
Table of Contents
Movie Rating
Rotten Tomatoes: 78% (Critics), 92% (Verified Audience)
Metacritic: 65
Director Lee Isaac Chung’s Filmography
Lee Isaac Chung is best known for Minari (2020), a critically acclaimed drama that earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Director. His style is characterized by thoughtful storytelling, strong character development, and a focus on emotional authenticity.
For Twisters, Chung brought these qualities to the disaster genre, blending spectacle with character-driven drama. The production faced challenges, including filming during Oklahoma’s tornado season and a brief hiatus due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Chung has stated that the shoot was grueling and high-pressure, but the results are a testament to the dedication of the cast and crew.
Twisters Cast
Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones – Instagram):
Character Info: A meteorologist and former storm chaser who is haunted by a past tragedy. She is drawn back into the world of storm chasing to test a new tornado tracking system and confront her fears.
- Selected filmography : Where the Crawdads Sing (2022):
- Role: Kya Clark, a young woman who raises herself in the marshes of North Carolina and becomes embroiled in a murder investigation.
- Description: This adaptation of the bestselling novel was a box office and streaming hit, praised for Edgar-Jones’s compelling performance and the film’s atmospheric storytelling.
Tyler Owens (Glen Powell – Instagram):
Character Info: A charismatic “Tornado Wrangler” and social media star who chases storms for fame and thrills. He initially clashes with Kate but becomes an unlikely ally.
- Selected filmography : Top Gun: Maverick (2022):
- Role: Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin, a cocky but skilled fighter pilot.
- Description: The blockbuster sequel to Top Gun was a global phenomenon, praised for its action sequences and emotional depth.
Javi (Anthony Ramos): Kate’s old friend and colleague, now working for a tornado radar company. He convinces Kate to return to storm chasing.
Boone (Brandon Perea): A videographer and member of Tyler’s crew.
Cathy (Maura Tierney): Kate’s mother.
Lily (Sasha Lane): A drone operator and member of Tyler’s crew.
Twisters plot summary
Kate, a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) employee in New York, is haunted by guilt after losing her friends during a tornado while in college. In Oklahoma, Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones) leads a storm chasing team that includes her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos), Praveen (Nik Dodani), Addy (Kiernan Shipka), and her ex-boyfriend Jeb (Daryl McCormack).
Their goal is to attempt a groundbreaking method to release a cooling agent into the center of a tornado, hoping to cause it to collapse. The team excitedly chases the storm, with Javi monitoring the tornado’s path while the other four head toward the storm. As they get closer, the wind grows stronger and knocks over the barrels, but they quickly set them upright and keep going.
As the tornado approaches, they flee in their truck but successfully release the sodium solution with the help of a drone. However, the tornado does not collapse and instead grows stronger. The four abandon their truck and run toward an overpass, but Praveen is the first to be sucked into the tornado’s path, and Addy is hit by flying debris.
Jeb tries to protect Kate as she clings to a railing, but he too is pulled into the tornado. Kate suffers a serious leg injury and is only saved after the tornado subsides. Five years later, Kate is living in New York and working at a NOAA office when Javi surprises her with a proposal.
Javi now works for a company called StormPAR in Oklahoma, testing a new system to scan tornadoes and prevent greater damage in affected areas. Still traumatized by the loss of her loved ones, Kate refuses Javi’s offer to join him. However, she changes her mind after Javi shows her a news article about a town in Oklahoma devastated by a tornado.
Kate, along with the team members Scott and British journalist Ben, joins Javi at the StormPAR base in Oklahoma. They are joined by Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a famous storm chaser from Arkansas known as the “Tornado Wrangler,” and his team: Boone (Brandon Perea), Dani (Katy O’Brian), Lily (Sasha Lane), and Dexter (Tunde Adebimpe).
Tyler prepares a show for his followers, and the two teams set off to chase a tornado that has touched down on a nearby farm. The StormPAR team sets up their scanners, but Kate has a panic attack while installing the last one and misses the tornado’s path.
Kate and Javi watch as Tyler’s crew drives into the path of a second tornado, using drills in their truck to anchor themselves to the ground and launching fireworks into the tornado. The next day, Javi introduces Riggs to Kate before they set off after another tornado. Meanwhile, Lily launches a drone to find their target.
They realize there are two tornadoes at once. Kate uses her intuition to detect the tornado’s pattern and leads the StormPAR team in the opposite direction of Tyler’s crew. The Wrangler crew disappears before reaching the tornado.
Meanwhile, Kate and Javi prepare all the scanners, but the tornado begins to approach them. One scanner is destroyed, putting them in danger, but they manage to escape safely. Eventually, the two teams reunite in a nearby town ravaged by the tornado, and Kate learns that Tyler and his crew use merchandise sales to help residents and provide free food.
She also learns from Tyler that Riggs profits from the residents’ misfortune by buying up damaged land for resale. That night, Tyler invites Kate to a local rodeo. During the event, Kate notices strong winds before a tornado warning is issued.
Sirens sound, and people panic, but Kate and Tyler do their best to help others to safety. They spot a group with a child in danger and try to lead them to an empty swimming pool, but a car is sucked into the vortex. A motel clerk, not crawling as instructed, is also caught by the tornado.
People hold onto the pool ladder until the tornado passes. Afterward, Kate sees Scott investigating the damage for Riggs. She argues with Javi about Riggs’ true intentions, and Javi blames Kate for the deaths of Praveen, Addy, and Jeb before driving off.
Kate drives to her mother Cathy’s (Maura Tierney) farm in Sapulpa. She watches an old video shot by Jeb and looks at her old school science project. Tyler follows her and is invited by Cathy to stay for dinner and the night. He discovers Kate’s tornado experiment notes.
Kate, still suffering from guilt over her friends’ deaths, talks with Tyler about his idea to try a new experiment model. The next day, they use Tyler’s truck to release the sodium solution into a new tornado’s path, but it fails to weaken the storm.
Twisters Ending (Spoilers included)
After this, Javi appears, apologizes to Kate, and provides her with scan data. He rejoins the team as they track another tornado heading toward El Reno. While chasing the tornado, Javi and Scott’s truck flips over but is blown back onto its wheels just before the tornado hits a power plant and catches fire, forcing everyone to retreat.
They head to town to help people evacuate, but Scott orders Javi to stay behind for work. Javi declares he will no longer work for Riggs and drives away, leaving Scott behind. In town, Kate, Tyler, and Javi help people take shelter in a movie theater.
Kate drives Tyler’s truck toward the tornado with the solution. As the storm rips open the theater’s roof and begins to pull people inside, Kate reaches the tornado and successfully drills into the ground and launches the solution. Lily is nearly pulled in but is saved as the solution takes effect and the tornado dissipates.
Javi takes Kate to the airport in New York, promising to continue working together for the people. Tyler shows up to say goodbye and encourages Kate with his motto, “If you feel it, chase it.” Tyler, who has feelings for Kate, ignores an airport employee’s warning and drives his truck into the ground to catch up with her. They see the clouds approaching and hear an announcement that flights are delayed due to strong winds. The two smile and return to the truck.
The film ends with Kate, Javi, and Tyler’s Wrangler crew forming a team to overcome tornadoes together.
twisters connection to twister
Twister and Twisters are both natural disaster action movies produced in the United States, centered around massive tornadoes. While the two films are related as part of a series, they do not have a directly connected storyline and are more like a reboot or spin-off.
Twister, the original film released in 1996, is set in Minnesota and Oklahoma and depicts the process of a massive tornado forming and the scientists who risk their lives to study and confront it. The film was highly popular at the time for its innovative special effects, realistic action, and the emotional depth of its characters. It starred Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton.
Twisters, the sequel released in 2024, also centers on a massive tornado but unfolds with new characters and a new story. Utilizing the latest film technology, it presents even more spectacular and realistic tornado scenes. While it inherits the world of the original Twister, it is produced as an independent work. Rising stars such as Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell star in the film.
Movie Location
The film was shot on location in Oklahoma, particularly in and around Oklahoma City, to authentically capture the atmosphere of Tornado Alley. Key filming locations include Prairie Surf Studios (where sets for Kate’s workshop and other interiors were built), Will Rogers World Airport (for the final scenes), and various rural and urban sites throughout the state.
Box Office Perfotmance
Twisters opened to $80.5 million in the US, making it the biggest domestic opening ever for a natural disaster film. The film went on to gross $267 million domestically and $104 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $372 million. It performed particularly well in North America and key international markets, cementing its status as a major box office hit for 2024895.
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