“Twisters” (Universal, 2025) is a disaster film that serves as a standalone follow-up, rather than a direct sequel, to the 1996 hit “Twister.” Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, the movie plunges audiences back into the heart of Oklahoma’s Tornado Alley, focusing on the harrowing and often reckless world of storm chasing.
The plot centers around Kate Carter (played by Daisy Edgar-Jones), a former storm chaser and meteorologist. Haunted by a devastating encounter with an EF5 tornado during her college years that resulted in the deaths of her friends, Kate has since retired from fieldwork and now studies storm patterns from the perceived safety of a New York City office.
She is lured back to the open plains by her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos), who presents a groundbreaking new tornado tracking system. However, her return puts her in the path of Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a charismatic, reckless, and social media-savvy “tornado wrangler” who thrives on posting his dangerous storm-chasing adventures for his massive online following. Tyler leads a motley crew of thrill-seeking chasers.
As the storm season intensifies, an unprecedented outbreak of terrifying phenomena, unlike anything seen before, is unleashed upon Oklahoma. Kate, Tyler, and their competing teams find their paths colliding as multiple storm systems converge, forcing them into a desperate fight for survival. While Kate aims to understand and potentially mitigate the immense power of these storms with science, Tyler is driven by a mix of adrenaline, fame, and a desire to help those affected by the destruction.
The film emphasizes high-stakes action, cutting-edge visual effects showcasing colossal and destructive tornadoes (including an “EF6” and a fire tornado), and the intense peril faced by those who pursue these forces of nature. It explores the dynamics between scientific pursuit and the more daring, often showy, aspects of modern storm chasing. “Twisters” is rated PG-13 for intense action and peril, some language, and injury images.
