Most people know that this summer's blockbuster hit, "Twisters," was filmed in Oklahoma. However, few are aware of the specific filming locations within Oklahoma City or the incredible effort that went into transforming our beloved city for the big screen.
Park Ave.
During the filming of "Twisters," several Oklahoma City streets and businesses were closed off for hours at a time. Remember when Kate relocates to New York City after that life-altering twister (you know the one)? Surprisingly, those scenes weren’t shot on location. They were actually filmed in downtown Oklahoma City between Broadway and Robinson. In May 2023, Park Avenue and surrounding streets were closed for 19 hours for filming. The attention to detail was remarkable: cars with New York City license plates were brought in to look like taxis, scaffolding was added to existing buildings and signs were crafted to transform local shops into convincing New York City storefronts.
Corporate Tower
Remember Kate’s new job at the National Weather Service Center in New York City? That scene was filmed at Corporate Tower, a multi-use office building on Robinson in downtown OKC. Corporate Tower was the perfect spot to replicate a NYC office building because of its size and modern amenities. We personally love this filming location because it’s right next to Visit OKC’s offices.
The Gilded Acorn
The Gilded Acorn is a local favorite for all things coffee, pastries and fine dining. Some might say its charming interior is reflective of a cozy New York City restaurant. Speaking of, remember the scene in "Twisters" where Kate and Javi reconnect at a cafe and Javi convinces Kate to come back to Oklahoma for one last chase? That scene was filmed at The Gilded Acorn, where a touch of movie magic transformed the local restaurant into a bustling NYC coffee shop. The Gilded Acorn is open for business daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Prairie Surf Studios
Prairie Surf Studios in downtown Oklahoma City played a significant role in the success of "Twisters." The studio not only constructed key sets but also served as the filming location for several scenes, including Kate’s workshop where she and Tyler further developed her “tornado-taming” experiment. The Oklahoma movie studio has played a huge role in other major productions including "Killers of the Flower Moon," "Reservation Dogs" and "Tulsa King." Prairie Surf is not open to the public, but the building makes a perfect backdrop for a selfie.
Will Rogers World Airport
The last scene of the movie, where Kate is about to catch her flight back to NYC, was filmed at Will Rogers World Airport—a spot that locals and visitors will recognize. It feels right that this final moment was captured in Oklahoma City. And that hopeful ending that almost felt like a cliffhanger? It has us wondering, will there be a second movie?
Harkins Theatres Bricktown
Although Harkins isn’t in the film, it was the location for the Oklahoma premiere of "Twisters". Stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glenn Powell and Anthony Ramos joined the movie’s director, Lee Isaac Chung, and other cast members on the red carpet to showcase their new movie. Go to Harkins.com for a complete list of showtimes and catch "Twisters" while it’s still in theatres, or rent it on YouTube, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.
Find additional insights into Oklahoma filming locations beyond Oklahoma City in VeloCITY.
Header image by Selena Romero
