Summary
Glen Powell’s response to theTwisterskiss scene backlash reveals important details about the film and the franchise’s future. As of the time of writing,Twistersis the ninth highest-grossing movie of 2024 after it raked in aworldwide box office total of roughly $319 million, becomingGlen Powell’s second highest-grossing film after the massive success ofTop Gun: Maverick. Powell has had a massive year after the surprise breakout success ofAnyone But You, the critical acclaim ofRichard Linklater’sHit Man, and the positive box office showing and critical praise forTwisters.
Powell’s recent success has inspired speculation about all sorts of potential sequels, such asAnyone But You 2,Hit Man 2, andTwisters 2. Meanwhile, Powell has already signed on to star inTop Gun 3with Miles Teller and Tom Cruise and is attached to star in anuntitled JJ Abrams movie alongside Jenna Ortega. The sky is certainly the limit for Powell at this stage in his career, althoughTwistershas received some backlash regarding a missing kiss scene between his character Tyler and Daisy Edger-Jones' Kate. In turn, however, the audience response shows how much people are invested in the film and modern disaster franchise.
The Reaction To Twisters Cutting The Kiss Scene Shows How Much Audiences Care
Powell views the public outcry as a positive sign of viewer engagement
At the very least, the public outcry regarding Kate and Tyler’s missing kiss scene is a clear sign of viewer engagement. This is a point that Powell made himself when recently discussing the issue onThe Best Man’s Ghostwriterpodcast, which will be released in its entirety on June 12, 2025. “I’m taking it very personally!” Powell said. “I’m sure you’ve seen the behind-the-scenes, where I did get to kiss Daisy Edgar-Jones, which really is all that counts. [Laughs] We had a great time, and I’m really proud of the movie.“Powell is wisely careful not to criticize the direction of the film.
Powell continues, “I really think that even that [backlash] shows that people care, which is really great. I just love how excited people have gotten about that movie, and Daisy and I send each other the TikToks and the gifs. There’s so much funny stuff coming out of it. It’s fun. That’s what summer movies are about. It creates this conversation and cultural moment, and people dress up and do the thing. It’s been really awesome. So, kiss or no kiss, everybody’s a winner.” While a classic movie-ending kiss would have sealed the deal of the nostalgia-driven thriller,it’s also interesting to consider why the kiss was cut out.
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Why Twisters Cut Kate & Tyler’s Kiss Scene
Director Lee Lissac Chung felt it wasn’t the point of the ending
Director ofTwistersLee Issac Chung explained his reasoningfor cutting the Kate and Tyler kiss scene. “I feel like audiences are in a different place now in terms of wanting a kiss or not wanting a kiss. I actually tried the kiss, and it was very polarizing — and it’s not because of their performance of the kiss. This [no-kiss shot] was the other option that I had filmed on the day, and I got to say, I like it better. I think it’s a better ending. And I think that people who want a kiss within it, they can probably assume that these guys will kiss someday. And maybe we can give them privacy for that.”
Chung went on to further explain why he felt a classic kiss scene was unnecessary toTwisters’story. “In a way, this ending is a means to make sure that we really wrap things up with it in a celebratory, good way. If it ends on the kiss, then it makes it seem as though that’s what Kate’s journey was all about, to end up with a kiss. But instead, it’s better that it ends with her being able to continue doing what she’s doing with a smile on her face.” It’s a smart deviation from the traditional action/disaster movie ending that certainly threw viewers off guard, butChung’s rationale makes sense considering the narrative context.
Audiences Being Invested In Twisters' Missing Kiss Is Great For The Sequel
An end of movie kiss might have wrapped up Twisters too neatly
As Powell pointed out,the whirlwind of audience responses about the missing kiss between Kate and Tyleris a great sign of the level of interest in the movie and sets up an intriguing premise moving forward into the franchise. If there’s this much interest in a cut kiss, people could be even more invested in a sequel to see if Kate and Tyler actually get together in the next movie, since the film becomes just as much of a rom-com as it is a disaster movie. It feels like the old television sitcom trick where the two potential love interests never end up together to keep the suspense going, which could be a strong foundation for futureTwistersmovies to build from.
Twisters
Cast
A follow-up to the 1996 original film Twister, Twisters is a sequel set years after the original, said to be fast-tracked by Steven Spielberg and Mark L. Smith, with Frank Marshal as producer. Little details exist about the film, but Helen Hunt is expected to reprise her role as Jo, with the film likely to pay homage to the late Bill Paxton.
