During the spring and summer season of 2023, shooting for the much-anticipated movie ‘Twisters’ took place across various locations from Oklahoma City to Burbank. This blockbuster assumed the legacy of the 1996 cult-favorite ‘Twister.’ Much like the original, the new ‘Twisters’ production journey was a road trip through the state, visiting locations such as Chickasha, Midwest City, Spencer, Kingfisher, Calumet, and several others.
‘Twisters’ transformed the landscape of Oklahoma into more than a mere filming location, but a key character within the script. The scenic beauty and grit of the state played a significant role, capturing hearts and paying homage to the people and the land itself. Daisy Edgar-Jones portrays a character named Kate—a vibrant role brought to life amidst Oklahoma’s grandeur.
In the movie, the peaceful ambiance of Chickasha was transformed into Crystal Springs—the fictional town devastated by tornadoes. Unique to any other movie the majority of the crew had worked on, this production led them to create a scene so grand that it was deemed ‘the biggest that it gets’ in terms of set size and crew population.
Adding a twist to the tornado-themed movie, ‘Twisters’ takes us back to the roots of its predecessor, showcasing a new team of storm chasers. The stellar casting with Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos brought palpable energy in their pursuit of the powerful whirlwinds rampant through Oklahoma.
The wait was finally over on August 23, when the follow-up film set a new record at the domestic box office, surpassing its forerunner’s total haul from the 1990s. Since its July 19th release, BoxOfficeMojo.com statistics showed the movie had garnered a staggering $241.7 million in North America alone.
In addition to its domestic success, ‘Twisters’ drew international acclaim as well. The digital rentals and purchases earlier in the month boosted its grand total to $336.8 million worldwide—a significant chunk of $95.1 million originating from foreign shores.
To commemorate this monumental success, Regal Cinemas scheduled a special re-release of ‘Twisters’ alongside the classic ‘Twister,’ in a unique 4DX immersive format, set to start on Aug. 30. This engaging format was intended to enhance the cinematic experience for the fans and draw a wider audience to the theaters.
The buzz amongst audiences inspired by ‘Twisters’ led to an educational initiative as well. The National Weather Service Norman, motivated by the interest the film had sparked, started hosting webinars focusing on the real science behind storms, aiming to teach about the precautions and spotting techniques associated with them.
The effort behind converting the laid-back town of Chickasha into the tornado-stricken Crystal Springs was no small task. The production crew decorated an entire four-block stretch, carefully curating debris to manifest the scenes of destruction. From selecting the ideal location near Chickasha High School to sourcing the props, achieving this transformation required an extensive amount of research, planning, and dedication.
John Cowan shares an intriguing behind-the-scenes insight: the filming in Chickasha was accompanied by the coincidence of a real-life small twister in Grady County. This real storm was just a few blocks away from their elaborate, artificially-created post-storm neighborhood set.
Unfortunately, despite the meticulous planning and execution, the filming had to experience an unforeseen halt. An actors’ strike in July caused the shooting to pause, leading the production team to take protective measures for the film sets. They were shielded with heavy-duty plastic and boards to survive the intervening period until normalcy returned.
The filming finally resumed in late 2023, post-strike. With around two more weeks spent in getting the set ready for shooting, the halt presented its own challenges. Navigating around the students returning from holidays and simultaneously filming required a significant amount of coordination and efforts.
The residents of the neighborhood had the unique experience of living in a movie set for nine months. For enduring the arduous period of the movie-making process, their perseverance was rewarded. They were treated to an exclusive early screening of ‘Twisters’ and given an opportunity to collect some exclusive memorabilia to remember the time when their neighborhood turned into a blockbuster movie set.