Twisters (2024) is an electrifying disaster movie that revitalizes the legacy of the 1996 classic Twister with heart-pounding action, modern visuals, and a fresh cast. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung (Minari), this standalone sequel stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kate Cooper and Glen Powell as Tyler Owens, delivering a thrilling ride through Oklahoma’s Tornado Alley. Released on July 19, 2024, and available on Peacock, Amazon Prime, and VOD, Twisters has grossed over $370 million globally, cementing its status as a 2024 blockbuster. In this movie review, we dive into why this storm-chasing epic is a must-see for fans of action movies and disaster films in 2025, despite some narrative shortcomings.
Plot Overview: A Whirlwind of Action and Emotion
The Premise of Twisters
Twisters follows Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a former storm chaser scarred by a traumatic tornado encounter in her college years, now studying weather patterns safely from New York City. Lured back to Oklahoma by her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) to test a revolutionary tornado-tracking system, Kate crosses paths with Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a charismatic, reckless YouTube star known as the “Tornado Wrangler.” As storm season escalates, unprecedented twin tornadoes and other terrifying phenomena converge over central Oklahoma, forcing Kate, Tyler, and their rival teams into a life-or-death battle against nature’s fury.
Why the Story Thrills
Running at 122 minutes, Twisters delivers relentless action with a modern twist, blending scientific intrigue with high-stakes storm-chasing. The film’s standalone narrative avoids recycling the original Twister’s plot, focusing instead on new characters and technology, like the nod to the “Dorothy” device from 1996. Critics, like NME’s Jordan Bassett, call it “the most entertaining film of the year” for its “dizzying set-pieces” and “heart,” though some X posts criticize its “rushed developments” and “sensory overload.” The chemistry between Kate and Tyler, paired with the ecological undertones, adds depth to the disaster movie spectacle.
