Oklahoma landscapes and resilience shine in summer blockbuster 'Twisters'

Maira Gus, director of Visit Bartlesville, attended the Oklahoma premiere of "Twisters," the highly anticipated summer blockbuster, on Monday, June 15.

The film, produced by Steven Spielberg and Universal Pictures and directed by Academy Award-winning director Lee Isaac Chung of "Minari," showcases Oklahoma's stunning landscapes, utilizing Osage County for various scenes.

"The way they portrayed Oklahoma was beautiful, even though tornadoes are terrifying," Gus noted. "The views and the landscape were just stunning."

Gus, who was invited to the premiere because of the film's connection to Bartlesville, shared her enthusiasm for the film.

More: Officials say up to 1,200 Bartlesville homes damage by Monday's tornado

"I got to go to the premiere of 'Twisters,' and they absolutely knocked it out of the park," she said. "The cast and crew stayed in Bartlesville for weeks while filming in neighboring Osage County. Anyone who has driven through Osage County will recognize it instantly in the movie."

When asked how "Twisters" compared to the original 1996 film "Twister," Gus explained without too many spoilers.

"It's a reboot with new characters, but there was a nod to the original with the appearance of Dorothy." She described the film as a human story about dealing with the aftermath of tornado damage, which will resonate deeply with Oklahomans.

"We recently had a tornado , and watching the film made it more terrifying," Gus said. "It demonstrated the resilience and toughness of Oklahomans. There's a strong message of Oklahomans taking care of each other after a tragedy."

Actor Anthony Ramos, who plays a key role in the film, praised Oklahomans before the screening.

"He said, 'You guys are tough because you deal with this all the time,'" Gus recounted. "The film showed the reality of tornadoes, the watching of the weather, looking at the sky as the storm rolls in, taking shelter, the scary part, and the caring for people afterward."

Bartlesville native Liz Nelson, who has appeared in Oklahoma productions such as "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "Reservation Dogs," made a background appearance in Twisters.

"It was fun to see Liz in the film," Gus said.

With "Killers of the Flower Moon" released in 2023 and now "Twisters" in 2024, Oklahoma has seen two major feature films in just a few years.

"It's great for Oklahoma," Gus said. "The film credits specifically mentioned the Oklahoma Film and Music Office and the Filmed in Oklahoma Act, which made the production possible."

Gus encouraged everyone to see the film in theaters.

"If you love summer action blockbusters, you have to see this. Oklahomans should be proud of this movie."

As Oklahoma gears up for the nationwide release of "Twisters," the state's resilience and beauty are set to captivate audiences everywhere, hitting theaters nationwide on June 18.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Oklahoma landscapes and resilience shine in summer blockbuster 'Twisters'