One of the highly-anticipated movies of the summer is “Twisters,” starring Glen Powell, who is coming fresh from the success of “Hit Man,” and “Normal People” star Daisy Edgar-Jones. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, this picture could spark a revival of the disaster film.
The movie follows Edgar-Jones as a scientist who, after suffering an incident during a storm, decides to leave storm chasing behind. However, when convinced by an old friend (Anthony Ramos) to come back to the field to test an innovative tracking technology, she clashes with reckless social media star and storm chaser Tyler (Powell), as they have to deal with an unusually intense storm season.
“Twisters” follows the trends of legacy sequels, being set in the same universe as the 1996 “Twister,” starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. While you might want to watch the original ahead of the new installment, we also recommend you other seven disaster films to keep the adrenaline going.
Seven disaster films like ‘Twisters’ to watch
The Impossible (2012)
Stream on: Fubo, Paramount+
J.A. Bayona’s film is based on the true story of a family’s survival during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Apart from a disaster film, it is also a poignant family drama. It stars Tom Holland, Naomi Watts, and Ewan McGregor.
Cloverfield (2008)
Stream on: Fubo, Paramount+
Matt Reeves, who is also known for War of the Planet of the Apes and The Batman, heled this found-footage monster film depicting a giant creature attacking New York City. It stars Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller, Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, and Odette Annable.
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
Stream on: Hulu, TNT, TBS, TruTV
Directed by Roland Emmerich, this film portrays the catastrophic effects of global warming and a new ice age. It stars Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sela Ward, Emmy Rossum, and Ian Holm.
Titanic (1997)
Stream on: Peacock, Paramount+
Directed by James Cameron, this beloved classic serves both as a romantic drama and a disaster movie, portraying the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
Contagion (2011)
To rent or buy
If you’re not too traumatized by the pandemic, this could be a great watch. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, this film realistically depicts the global outbreak of a deadly virus and the efforts to contain it. Its star-studded cast includes: Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Elliott Gould, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle, Sanaa Lathan, and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Deep Impact (1998)
Stream on: Fubo, Paramount+
“Deep Impact,” helmed by Mimi Leder, deals with a comet on a collision course with Earth and humanity’s efforts to prevent the catastrophe. Robert Duvall, Téa Leoni, Elijah Wood, Vanessa Redgrave, Maximilian Schell, and Morgan Freeman star.
The Perfect Storm (2000)
Stream on: Peacock
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, this film is based on the true story of a fishing boat caught in a massive storm. The film stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane, William Fichtner, Karen Allen, Bob Gunton, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and John C. Reilly.
