How a 2024 disaster sequel turned Oklahoma storm chasing into a global box-office phenomenon

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Twisters, a standalone sequel to the 1996 classic, defied industry expectations by grossing over $372 million worldwide. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, the film blends high-stakes spectacle with a grounded, Americana-inspired aesthetic, proving that the summer blockbuster remains a powerful draw when paired with strategic marketing and immersive theater experiences.

Development for a Twister follow-up began in 2020, with Joseph Kosinski pitching a new generation of storm chasers to studios. While an earlier version proposed by Helen Hunt was rejected, the project gained momentum under director Lee Isaac Chung, who was hired in December 2022. Chung drew inspiration from diverse sources, ranging from the films of Akira Kurosawa to the driving intensity of The French Connection. To ensure authenticity, the cast participated in a weather boot camp organized by meteorologist Kevin Kelleher, and the production utilized practical effects like jet engines and wind machines to simulate the fury of tornadoes.

The film’s production was a logistical challenge, moving from Georgia to Oklahoma to capture the story's authentic setting. Filming faced frequent delays due to severe weather and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, requiring the crew to rebuild sets—such as an El Reno farmer's market—multiple times. Despite the technical hurdles, the film achieved a record-breaking $81.3 million opening weekend in the United States and Canada, bolstered by Universal’s aggressive marketing campaigns across sports leagues like NASCAR and the NBA, and a heavy emphasis on the 4DX theater format.

While critics praised the film’s visuals and the chemistry between leads Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell, its scientific premise faced scrutiny. The film’s core plot involves using sodium polyacrylate beads and silver iodide to dissipate tornadoes, a method experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and academia have dismissed as physically implausible. Despite these scientific inaccuracies, the film resonated with audiences, earning an 'A-' grade on CinemaScore and securing its place as a successful piece of summer cinema that prioritized the big-screen experience over rigid realism.

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