‘Twisters,’ starring Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones, is one of the most anticipated movies of the summer. And, ahead of its release in theaters on July 19, the original ‘Twister’ has entered Max’s Top 10 of most-watched titles in the US, according to FlixPatrol.
The 1996 blockbuster was added to the Max streaming service on July 1, quickly gaining traction and impressively climbing the charts. The movie starred Academy Award winner Helen Hunt and the late Bill Paxton.
The movie follows storm chaser and scientist Dr. Jo Thornton-Harding (Hunt), who as a girl watched from her family’s storm cellar as her father was killed by a massive tornado. Alongside her estranged husband, Bill Harding (Paxton), she is set to study the largest tornado ever to strike in Oklahoma.
‘Twister’: an iconic blockbuster that resurges on streaming
The original film was helmed by Jan de Bont, also known for directing ‘Speed’ (1994), and written by Michael Crichton and Anne-Marie Martin. At the time of its release, it became the second-highest grossing film of the year, with global earnings of $495,700,000.
The star-studded cast also included Cary Elwes (“The Princess Bride”), Jami Gertz (“The Lost Boys”), Lois Smith (“Minority Report”), Alan Ruck (“Succession”), Todd Field (“Eyes Wide Shut”), Jeremy Davies (“Saving Private Ryan”) and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Boogie Nights”).
Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos and Glen Powell star in ‘Twisters’ (IMDb)
While it was a commercial success, the movie received mixed reviews. Critics praised de Bont’s direction, which they described as “thrilling,” as well as the action sequences and visual effects. However, the script received criticism for its characters and generic plot.
Will the standalone sequel correct those aspects? We’ll have to wait and see. However, the first trailers for the film, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, promise great action. Apart from Powell and Edgar-Jones, the sequel stars Anthony Ramos.