Where Twister Was Filmed (& Why The Locations Look So Authentic) (2024)

Summary

  • Twister, a classic disaster movie, was primarily filmed on location in Oklahoma for authenticity.
  • Residents of Wakita served as extras in Twister, forging a unique connection with the film production.
  • Despite production challenges, Twister was a huge box office success, grossing over $494 million worldwide.

The scenic vistas and incredible wide shots of Twister have led many fans to wonder, "Where was Twister filmed?" Twister is a classic of the natural disaster movie genre. Starring Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Cary Elwes, Alan Ruck, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, Twister tells the thrilling story of storm chasers going after tornadoes. With its blend of campy action and tons of heart, it's also one of the consummate '90s movies.

It was not an easy film to get off the ground, however. Twister was plagued by production problems from the start, with unpredictable weather disrupting shoots and an even more unpredictable director causing at least 20 people to walk off the set (via EW). Through all those woes, Twister came out a huge success, grossing $494,580,615 at the worldwide box office (via Box Office Mojo). Nearly 20 years later, a new Twister is coming out, and it's clear the excitement of the first film has not worn off. And the original film's authentic shooting locations added to its authenticity.

Related

Is Twister A True Story? How Accurate The Movie Is To Real Storm Chasing

Twister is a fictional disaster movie that turned into a beloved classic and even though there's science embedded in the plot, it's not all factual.

Twister Was Mostly Filmed On Location In Wakita, Oklahoma

Iowa And A California Sound Stage Were Also Used

Twister was primarily filmed on location in Oklahoma (via New York Times). The scene of Bill (Paxton) and Jonas (Elwes) fighting outside a desolate diner was filmed in Maysville with the establishment being built especially for the film (via Giggster). When waterspouts nearly overturn Bill's truck on a bridge, that sequence was filmed near Kaw City and Kaw Lake. The drive-in movie theater scene was filmed at a real drive-in in Guthrie, while the scenes in Wakita were filmed in the actual town, with the old-fashioned houses a perfect backdrop.

Filming on site was no easy task, considering Oklahoma is known for its extreme weather, including city-destroying tornadoes.

Other scenes of Bill and Jo (Hunt) having a heart-to-heart and watching a tornado bare down on them were filmed in various locations in Iowa, but the ending was primarily shot in Eldora, Iowa. The sequence of Bill and Jo inside the tornado was filmed on a soundstage at the Warner Brothers Burbank Studios in California. Filming on site was no easy task, considering Oklahoma is known for its extreme weather, including city-destroying tornadoes. The director, Jan de Bont, told the New York Times,

"It was like nothing that I've encountered in my life. We were filming in the middle of nowhere with a crew of 350 people. We had major rainstorms, and we were shooting with tornadoes all around us. We had the worst flooding last year in Oklahoma. We kept getting stuck in mud. The whole thing was like moving a circus around dirt roads."

That the crew was able to make such a fantastic film, let alone a film at all, is a testament to everyone's skill and commitment to the production.

Local Oklahoma Residents Served As Twister Extras

Wakita Was Glad To Have The Movie In Their City

Where Twister Was Filmed (& Why The Locations Look So Authentic) (2)

Two years before filming began, Wakita was hit by a massive hailstorm carrying grapefruit-sized chunks of ice (via Enid News). Much of the debris had still not been cleaned up when the Twister location scout arrived, but they deemed that perfect, considering the end of their film required the town of Wakita to be leveled anyway. And it wasn't just the Oklahoma backdrops that helped get Twister made — residents of Wakita were also happy to perform as extras in the film.

After production, the filmmakers allowed the citizens of Wakita to take whatever debris they wanted from the sets for personal use.

It was a perfect marriage of community and filmmaking, and both sides were pleased with the arrangement. Many Wakita residents worked as extras. One resident recalled,

"They had a casting call in Wakita, so we could sign up to be extras and pretty much everybody did. And they called us and they fed us and they paid us (about $100 per day) and we could see the stars. It was a pretty good deal for us."

Bill Paxton left a note for the residents, thanking them for their hospitality that read,

"To the citizens of Wakita, thanks for helping me feel at home. Best always, Bill Paxton."

That letter, videos, pictures, and more can all be found in the Twister Museum in Wakita, a symbol of the town's fondness for the movie putting their little community on the map. Tornado Alley is a very recognizable location and the people who live there are true Mid-Westerners. It would have been hard for de Bont and his crew to fake it. Having a real town with the actual people involved as extras gave a critical authenticity to Twister.

Where Twister Was Filmed (& Why The Locations Look So Authentic) (3)
Twister

PG-13

Adventure

Thriller

Action

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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In Twister, Bill and Jo Harding, advanced storm chasers on the brink of divorce, must join together to create an advanced weather alert system by putting themselves in the cross-hairs of extremely violent tornadoes. Jo's childhood was stricken by the trauma of losing her father to a deadly F5 tornado, setting her on the path of a storm chaser. Having developed a new technology with her team named "Dorothy," Jo seeks to make Tornadoes more predictable to give people a chance to make it to safety. Jo's obsession created a rift between her husband, but new breakthroughs may bring them back together as the two pursue their greatest challenge yet - an incoming system that will produce yet another F5.

Director
Jan de bont

Release Date
May 10, 1996

Cast
Jami Gertz , Helen Hunt , Cary Elwes , Bill Paxton , Phillip Seymour Hoffman , Alan Ruck , Todd Field , Jeremy Davies

Runtime
113 minutes

Budget
$92 million
Where Twister Was Filmed (& Why The Locations Look So Authentic) (2024)

FAQs

Where Twister Was Filmed (& Why The Locations Look So Authentic)? ›

Realistic Settings Amplify the Experience Directed by Jan de Bont, Twister leaned heavily on its authentic locations to create a visceral experience for viewers. Much of the film was shot in Oklahoma and parts of Iowa, regions known for their...

What is unrealistic about the movie Twister? ›

The movie often acts as though only the funnel cloud of a tornado is dangerous. In reality, the funnel cloud is just the center of the tornado, around which debris can still dangerously swirl. This error is often indirectly averted, however, as demonstrated by the famous Flying Cow sequence.

How much of Twister is real? ›

The movie Twister was inspired by the work of real-life storm researchers at the NSSL and incorporates accurate tornado-tracking technology. The real-life tornado tracking device was called TOTO and had similar features to the fictional device Dorothy portrayed in the movie.

Is the town in Twister real? ›

Twister, a classic disaster movie, was primarily filmed on location in Oklahoma for authenticity. Residents of Wakita served as extras in Twister, forging a unique connection with the film production. Despite production challenges, Twister was a huge box office success, grossing over $494 million worldwide.

Why was Twister filmed in Oklahoma? ›

The small town of Wakita, Oklahoma, stood as a testament to the film's commitment to realism, serving as the scene for the tornado destruction.

Was there real tornadoes in the movie Twister? ›

The tornadoes in the film were created with computer animation.

What happened to Joe's mom in the movie Twister? ›

This tornado is so strong that the storm cellar door is ripped off, and Jo's father (Richard Lineback) is pulled into the storm to his death. Jo, her mother (Rusty Schwimmer), and Toby survive.

Are any of the original casts in Twisters? ›

There are no characters from the original movie back, so it's not really a continuation." In Twisters, Powell stars as social media personality and self-proclaimed "Tornado Wrangler" Tyler Owens, who chases storms for thrills (and likes).

What does Dorothy stand for in Twister? ›

Dorothy is a tornado instrument used by Jo and Bill Harding used to study the inside of the funnel. The purpose is to create a advanced warning system from 3 minutes to 15 minutes. It is a reference to the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz" and the character from the same movie (picture is seen on the can)

What color does the sky turn before a tornado? ›

While a green sky is often an indicator of a severe storm that can produce tornadoes and damaging hail, a green sky does not guarantee severe weather, just as tornadoes can appear from a sky without a hint of green. So, the reason for green skies before a storm isn't entirely known.

What does Jonas call his version of Dorothy? ›

The evil Jonas has ripped off Dorothy (his copycat machine is called D.O.T. 3).

Is there really a Wakita? ›

Located in northwestern Grant County, Wakita is situated twelve miles northwest of the county seat of Medford on State Highway 11A. The area was opened to non-Indian settlement during the Cherokee Outlet Opening on September 16, 1893.

What happened to Aunt Meg's house? ›

In "Twister," Aunt Meg, played by Lois Smith, lived in Wakita, where her home was destroyed by an F5 tornado.

Where was Twisters 2024 filmed? ›

A new behind-the-scenes featurette for the summer blockbuster "Twisters" debuted Monday, providing insight into how Oklahoma not only served as the filming location but also became a character in the stormy action movie.

What town did the tornado hit in Twister? ›

In "Twister," Aunt Meg, played by Lois Smith, lived in Wakita, where her home was destroyed by an F5 tornado.

Where are the tornadoes in Twister real? ›

The tornadoes in the film were created with computer animation.

What part of Iowa was Twister filmed? ›

BOONE COUNTY, Iowa —

Portions of the popular 1996 film were shot in Iowa, including the iconic Eldora Victorian farmhouse destroyed by visual effects in the movie.

What is Wakita, Oklahoma known for? ›

Wakita is notable as a location in the 1996 feature film Twister. This small town was transformed into a movie set for the 1996 action movie blockbuster, Twister, starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton in which Wakita was destroyed by an F4 tornado that was part of a storm system later spawning an F5 tornado.

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