30 Years Later, HBO Has Made the Best Disaster Classic Easier To Watch

It’s not every day you get to revisit a blockbuster that helped define an entire genre, but 30 years after its release, this disaster classic is getting exactly that kind of second life. Thanks to HBO, the film will become more accessible than ever very soon, giving both longtime fans and new audiences a chance to experience the high-grossing movie that has maintained its hold on pop culture and set the standard for modern disaster films.

Starring the late Bill Paxton and Oscar-winner Helen Hunt, the new HBO Max addition is Twister. Twister was released in theaters on May 10, 1996, and three decades later, it is joining the HBO Max streaming catalog on April 1, 2026. Directed by Jan de Bont from a screenplay by Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton and Anne-Marie Martin, the classic hit was a huge commercial success upon its release, grossing more than $499 million at the box office against a budget of just $88 million.

Does the Best Disaster Classic Have a Sequel?

In addition to writing the disaster movie, Crichton produced alongside Kathleen Kennedy and Ian Bryce, while Steven Spielberg, Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, and Gerald R. Molen served as executive producers. While Twister was a major financial hit, critics weren’t too kind to the film, as it currently holds a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 142 reviews. Nevertheless, it has greatly influenced the rebirth of natural disaster films for an entire generation, including the launch of its sequel, Twisters decades later.

The disaster follow-up, directed by Lee Isaac Chung from a screenplay by Mark L. Smith, was released in July 2024. It stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kate Carter, a former storm chaser who is brought back into the business by a friend and former colleague, Javi (Anthony Ramos). Also starring in Twisters are Glen Powell, Kiernan Shipka, David Corenswet, Brandon Perea, Tunde Adebimpe, Sasha Lane, Harry Hadden-Paton, Katy O’Brien, and David Born. The sequel was slightly better received, earning a Certified Fresh 75% on Rotten Tomatoes from 398 reviews.

You can watch Twister on HBO Max starting next month. Stay tuned to Collider for more news.