How to watch Twisters at home

If you feel it, chase it—that little pearl of wisdom applies to obsessive storm chasers and humble film fans alike. Despite its somewhat clumsy attempt to tie into an existing franchise (if you can even call the original 1996 film that), Twisters felt like a breath of fresh air when it was released last July. In my review for /Film, I called it a “satisfying, crowd-pleasing effort (that) somehow balances the fine line between its IP commitments and a refreshingly self-contained experience,” and I stand by every word. Sure, its impressive box office returns were fueled by a number of factors (not least of which is the Glen Powell effect), but deep down I believe audiences responded to its retro charm as the kind of Amblin-esque film we just can’t get enough of anymore.

While the film was practically made to be experienced on the biggest screen possible, that probably won’t stop anyone from wanting to relive director Lee Isaac Chung’s earnest and down-to-earth homage to his Midwestern roots. Universal Pictures gave its summer blockbuster an extended run in theaters, but now viewers will soon be able to experience all that windswept destruction and unbearably charged romance (even without the much-discussed kiss) for themselves without ever having to leave their living rooms. The studio has announced that Twisters will be available to rent or buy on digital platforms as early as August 13, 2024. But that’s not all! Fans will also get access to some behind-the-scenes extras.

I have good news and even better news. For those of you who haven’t seen Twisters in theaters yet, well, you still can! Starring Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones, the disaster film follows a group of storm chasers across the plains of Oklahoma as they attempt to do the impossible and collect enough research data to (believe it or not) prevent tornadoes from forming and causing so much destruction in the first place. However, much like the original film starring Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, they soon realize they are completely at the mercy of one of nature’s most terrifying forces. And much like Twister, the hints of romance between Powell’s ruthless cowboy Tyler and Edgar-Jones’ buttoned-up Kate ensure that sparks fly even more than the actual tornadoes (even if the aborted kiss at the end still sours us). But for those who want to catch all the action again from home, “Twisters” will soon be available on digital platforms such as Apple TV, Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), Comcast Xfinity, Cox and Microsoft Movies & TV.

To make the deal even more attractive, viewers who purchase digital copies of the film will also get access to a number of behind-the-scenes extras. These include a gag reel (another lost art form that we don’t see often enough these days) and even a number of deleted scenes – although the press release is conspicuously lacking in further details on exactly which scenes those might be. Also missing are details on the upcoming Blu-ray, 4K and DVD release of Twisters. However, if we stick to Universal Pictures Home Entertainment’s traditional release schedule, we can expect that to happen within a few months.