Twister and the Forgotten Disaster Genre
The success of Twister + the rise and fall (and rise?) of disaster films
If you pay any attention to the new movies that’s swarming our theaters, then you probably know about the recent Twisters. It serves as a sequel to the original 1996 hit film, and has become viral with its 4DX showings.
Twisters has become just as successful as its predecessor it seems, but it also feels like the beginning of bringing back the forgotten disaster film. Although popular in the 1970s, the genre began to decline, and then revived itself in the 1990s before declining again. Now, in 2024, it seems as if the genre might be trying to come back.
The Bumpy Road
So, disaster movies are nothing new. The 70s saw the beginning of it all with films like Airport, The Towering Inferno, and Earthquake. But it wasn’t even a full decade when the trend died, with audiences losing interest in the late-70s.
And for awhile, that was it. The 80s came into theaters with buddy comedies, action flicks, and slasher horror. To audiences of the 80s, Airplane was nothing compared to Hellraiser. So much so that the comedy film Airplane! was made to make fun of the cliches once seen in the disaster movies of the 70s.
While it may have skipped a generation, the 90s came back embracing the genre once again. Jurassic Park’s revolutionary CGI made way for the big ticket films of the era: Armageddon, Deep Impact, Independence Day, and, of course, Twister. Though I would argue that Twister had the biggest impact, as it became an instant classic overnight.
That’s mostly because of the practical effects littered throughout the movie, captivating audiences with its insane action sequences. Universal Studios Orlando even made an attraction for it in the park, allowing guests to “ride out” a twister themselves.
By the early 2000s, the disaster film died out again. Sure, there were a few gems like The Day After Tomorrow and even 2012, but the hype for natural disasters and unworldly events was practically gone. CGI wasn’t as new and innovating as it once was, and it wasn’t really until Avatar that people got excited over CGI again.
The 2010s and 2020s proved stagnant for the disaster genre, even if there were attempts to make something with its maggot-infested corpse.
The 2010s threw films like San Andreas and Geostorm into the ring to see if they would win the fight, but even The Rock couldn’t save them. Quite the opposite, actually, as more and more satires on the apocalypse were released, and oftentimes faired better with audiences than the dramatic disasters. The World’s End, This Is The End… Hell, Shaun of the Dead was doing it in 2004.
Then again, it’s a bit unfair to compete against Simon Pegg. Anyway, I digress.
The 2020s came in strong with the highly-memed Moonfall. It was seen as a 2-hour “so bad it’s good” laughing stock, and as you can imagine, dampened the chances for the genre even further.
So, really, it was a risky move for Universal to even consider making Twisters.
Why Twister is so Memorable
4DX wasn’t available when Twister came out, so the film couldn’t lean into such fun gimmicks. Instead, Twister offered a disaster film with a plotline outside of the disaster.
While, yes, the film does revolve around storm chasing, it more so focuses on the complicated relationships between the characters. Bill, Jo, and Melissa have a tug-o-war love triangle, and Jo is forced to face her unhealed childhood trauma.
Certainly, people watched for the insane tornadoes, but people stuck around for the characters. Twister is a drama movie just as much as it is a horrifying action film.
It didn’t have the same luxury as Independence Day—another fantastic disaster film—with the more extravagant storyline of alien invasion. Twister, instead, focused on what occurred in nature, making it critical that they made a film with characters that hooked audiences.
Perhaps the most memorable character, however, was one that had no speaking lines… that being the flying cow, obviously. We love the cow. <3
It wasn’t just the characters though, it was also the fantastical special effects and cinematography that made up the film. These shots had to look perfect, so much so that Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt were temporarily blinded while working on set. But it wasn’t just that, they also had to get hepatitis shots after getting infected by flying debris.
Plus, the rumors of Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt feuding on set surely didn’t make operations any easier.
But with a star team made up of industry giants like Steven Spielberg, it only made sense that the film was destined to succeed. When the film finally released in 1996, it grossed over $41.1 million in its opening weekend. Not only did it take up the no. 1 spot in the domestic box office, but it later became the second highest-grossing film of that year. So, yeah, Twister was a big deal.
So much so, in fact, that Universal Studios Orlando invested in creating that theme park attraction I mentioned earlier. Twister… Ride it Out was created to capitalize on the success of the film. It soon became a staple of the park, but its popularity began to dwindle as years went on.
Perhaps that came with Islands of Adventure, as the second park offered more thrilling experiences. It’s hard to compete with rides like Jurassic Park River Adventure or The Incredible Hulk Coaster, and although Twister… Ride it Out had its fans, it eventually closed its doors in 2015.
Ultimately, Twister left an impact on people. The film is now considered a classic, and the defunct attraction is fondly missed by fans.
The sequel, Twisters, is seemingly on its way to become just as successful. Plus, the 4DX experience mimics the beloved attraction before it, with theater goers blown away with their watch. And so, the legacy continues…
Is There a Connection?
Are disaster movies making a comeback? And, if so, why are they?
A possible reason for the return of disaster films may come from the need of cheap excitement. When I say “cheap,” I don’t mean it in a negative way either. Although movie tickets can get pricey (especially 4DX ones), they offer a cheaper alternative for entertainment than going to your average theme park.
Right now, people need to laugh. People need thrills. People need a break from everyday life. More than ever, disaster films have a chance to make a huge comeback.
Coupled with the last few years being filled with literal historic events, watching some fictional ones can help keep us grounded. Being tossed around in a movie theater while being hit with water and wind may seem silly, but it’s just what people need right now.
It’s fun. It’s ridiculous. It’s stupid.
But all in the best way possible.
It’s a way for people to socialize and experience something together. It’s a way for people to connect.
It may seem crazy to suggest that Twisters of all things has the ability to bring meaningful connection, but if you watch any video of the 4DX theaters, you’ll see the joy throughout the theater. Laughs and smiles everywhere—something we’ve needed for awhile.
If modern disaster movies follow the same path as Twisters, then the genre might be able to make a come back.
Disaster movies are a tough one to get right with modern audiences, but clearly Twisters has done something right. Hopefully, more movies will follow suit.
I don’t think anyone can possibly beat, say… Sharknado, though.