“Twisters” is the best action-adventure movie of the Summer of 2024, and many a summer.

The movie about storm-chasers in Oklahoma has a “ripped-from-the-headlines” immediacy, incredible depictions of tornadoes and a sweet romance at the eye of the storm.

Director Lee Isaac Chung, who was nominated for two Oscars (director, original screenplay) for his semi-biographical feature film, “Minari” (2021), sensitively and astutely avoids the danger of schadenfreude, which is when one experiences pleasure witnessing another person’s pain.

This is why many of us are rubberneckers as we drive past the scene of an interstate highway accident, are avid listeners of true-crime podcasts, or are glued to The Weather Channel telecasts of the latest tornadic activity or natural disaster in the United States and around the word. It’s human nature. Your eye’s on the storm.

I hesitate to recommend “Twisters” as entertainment per se, even though it provides a summer-full of thrill rides, down to the roaring tornado soundtrack vibrations rumbling through the movie theater seats.

“Twisters” will have you on the edge of your seat, riveted to the action on the screen and marveling not only at the special effects depicting the tornadoes, but also at the skill and believability of the actors portraying the storm-chasers.

In the movie, ”Twisters,” a storm-chaser, Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones), returns to Oklahoma to track tornadoes with the use of new technology. She’s been asked by Javi (Anthony Ramos) to apply her “weather intuition” to fine-tune technology to better track tornadoes to warn residents.

Kate meets Tyler (Glen Powell), a storm-chaser who has a YouTube channel to broadcast his derring-do as the “Tornado Wrangler.” It’s dislike at first sight for Kate and Tyler. In meteorological terms, theirs is an occluded front, i.e. a composite of two fronts formed when a cold front overtakes a warm or quasi-stationary front. You guess which, Kate or Tyler, is which front.

The onscreen presence and chemistry of Glen Powell (“Anyone But You,” 2023; “Hit Man,” 2023; “Top Gun: Maverick,” 2022) and Daisy Edgar-Jones (“Where the Crawdads Sing,” 2022; TV’s “War of the Worlds,” 2019-2022) is compelling and enjoyable. Anthony Ramos (“In the Heights,” 2021; ‘Hamilton,” 2020) has some nice moments.

The interesting cast of supporting actors includes Maura Tierney (Cathy, Kate’s mother); Tyler’s crew: Sahsa Lane (Lily), Katy O’Brian (Dani) Tunde Adebimpe (Dexter), and Kate’s team: Kiernan Shipka (Addy), Brandon Perea (Boone), Daryl McCormack (Jeb) and Nik Dodani (Praveen).

The cinematography by Director of Photography Dan Mindel (Director of Photography, “Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker,” 2019 ; “Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens,” 2015) is spectacular, as is the editing by Terilyn A. Shropshire (editor, “The Woman King,” 2022) and the special effects and visual effects.

The screenplay is sheer-force melodrama, and very effective and serviceable melodrama, by Mark L. Smith (“The Boys in the Boat,” 2023; Oscar nominee, adapted screenplay, “The Revenant,” 2015) from a story by Joseph Kosinski (Director, “Top Gun: Maverick,” 2022) based on characters created by Michael Crichton (1942- 2008; screenwriter, “Twister,” 1996) and Anne-Marie Martin (screenwriter, “Twister’).

Director Lee Isaac Chung seems to know the tornado territory well. The son of Korean immigrants grew up in Arkansas, graduated from Yale University and received an MFA in film-making from the University of Utah. His film, ”Minari,” was based on his experiences as a Korean immigrant youth growing up in Arkansas.

The soundtrack includes a bevy of country music songs, including “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” by Luke Combs, “Arkansas” by Chris Stapleton, ”Dead End Road” by Jelly Roll, “Feelin’ Country” by Thomas Rhett, “Out of Oklahoma” by Lainey Wilson and “Ain’t in Kansas Anymore” by Miranda Lambert.

“Twisters” shows an understanding not only of the risks of tornadoes for those in the path of devastating storms, but also the risks to those who track tornadoes and try to warn us, before it’s too late.

“Twisters,” MPAA Rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Parents are urged to be cautious. Some material may be inappropriate for pre-teenagers.) for intense action and peril, some language and injury images; Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Run time: 2 hours, 2 minutes. Distributed by Universal Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous: The end credits for “Twisters” includes a montage of scenes from the film, out-takes from the film, television reports about tornadoes, historic photos of tornadoes, and hints of a possible sequel. “Twisters” was filmed from May to July and November to December 2023, in Oklahoma, including Prairie Surf Studios, Oklahoma City. Some fun quotes from “Twisters” to sprinkle at your backyard barbeque: “If you feel it, chase it.” and ‘You don’t feel your fears, You ride ‘em.”

At The Movies: “Twisters” was seen in the Dolby Theatre at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16. The format is highly-recommended for this film.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Weekend Box Office, Aug. 2-4: “Deadpool & Wolverine” continued two weeks straight at No. 1 with a tremendous second week gross of $97 million in 4,230 theaters, $395.5 million, two weeks.

“Deadpool & Wolverine” is the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever, rising past Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” (2004), which grossed $371.1 million. “Deadpool & Wolverine” has surpassed ”Deadpool: $363 million and “Deadpool 2” $324.6 million.

2. “Twisters” kept stirring up a storm, staying in place (as deadly tornadoes do) with $22.6 million in 4,009 theaters, $195.5 million, three weeks. 3. “Trap,” starring Josh Harnett and the latest chiller from Manoj Nelliyattu, aka M. Night Shyamalan, who grew up in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery Township, opened with $15.6 million in 3,181 theaters. 4. “Despicable Me 4” dropped one place with $11.2 million in 3,376 theaters, $313.9 million, five weeks. 5. “Inside Out 2” dropped one place, $6.7 million in 2,615 theaters, $613.4 million, seven weeks. 6. “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” starring Zachary Levi, opened with $6 million in 3,325 theaters. 7. “Longlegs” dropped two places, $4.1 million in 2,150 theaters, $66.9 million, four weeks. 8. “The Firing Squad,“ starring Kevin Sorbo, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Eric Roberts, and based on the true story of Christian prisoners facing execution, opened with $1.6 million in 702 theaters. 9. “A Quiet Place: Day One” dropped three places, $1.4 million in 1,039 theaters, $137.4 million, six weeks. 10. “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” dropped three places, $601,000 in 437 theaters, $192.9 million, nine weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Aug. 4 is subject to change.

Unreel, Aug. 9:

“Borderlands,” PG-13: Eli Roth directs Haley Bennett, Kevin Hart, Cate Blanchett, Ariana Greenblatt, Jamie Lee Curtis and Gina Gershon in the Action, Comedy, Science Fiction film. A team of misfits tries to save a missing girl who has special powers. The movie is based on a popular videogame.

“It Ends with Us,” PG-13: Justin Baldoni directs Blake Lively, Jenny Slate and himself in the Drama, Romance. A woman embarks on a new life. The movie is adapted from the best-selling novel by Collen Hoover.

“Girl You Know It’s True,” No MPAA rating: Simon Verhoeven directs Tijan Njie and Elan Ben Ali as Robert Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan, respectively, in the Biography, Music, Drama. The 1980s’ pop duo Milli Vanilli and their rise to fame and fall is told. The movie is based on a true story.

“Dance First,” No MPAA rating: James Marsh directs Aidan Gillen and Gabriel Byrne in the Biography, Drama. The life of playwright Samuel Beckett is told.

Movie opening dates information from Internet Movie Database as of Aug. 4 is subject to change.

Four Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes