A new documentary about the 2011 Joplin tornado is now on Netflix. How to watch
Fourteen years after an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, a new documentary highlights the aftermath from the eyes of residents who experienced the incident.
“The Twister: Caught in the Storm,” debuts on Netflix on March 19, and it follows a group of now-adults recalling May 22, 2011, the day a deadly tornado killed 161 people and injured more than 1,000 others. The day was also the graduation ceremony for hundreds of students at Joplin High School.
The 90-minute film includes never-before-seen footage of the tornado taken by Emmy award-winning storm chasers Jeff and Kat Piotrowski, along with recordings from residents who lived through the aftermath of the deadly tornado.
“In the fierce 200 mph winds of the twister, they discover the power of their resilience as they fight for survival — each with transformative stories spurred by their experiences of that day,” Netflix said in describing the documentary.“This catastrophic event ravaged Joplin and yet it overcame, rebuilt, and became an enduring symbol of hope.”
“That Sunday, the weather was beautiful,” a resident interviewed by Netflix said in the trailer.
“To think we were all just celebrating life 24 hours prior to the worst thing that could happen,” another resident said.
The tornado ranks as the seventh-most deadliest tornado in United States history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The winds destroyed 17,000 trees and tossed thousands of cars, trucks, fire engines and helicopters. The path of the tornado also landed a direct hit on Mercy Hospital Joplin (then called St. John’s Regional Medical Center), one of the area’s two main hospitals. Joplin, located in southwest Missouri, has a population of about 53,000.
With $2.8 billion in total damages, the tornado ranks as the costliest single tornado in U.S. history, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Watch the trailer below:
This story was originally published February 25, 2025 at 4:43 PM.
