The best red carpet photos from the star-studded 1996 premiere of 'Twister'

• "Twister," starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, topped the box office in 1996.
• The movie proved the allure of CGI-fueled disaster movies, featuring iconic scenes like a flying cow.

When "Twister" came out in 1996, audiences couldn't get enough of Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton as storm-chasers trying to run from destructive tornadoes.

The movie topped the domestic box office in its first two weekends in theaters, proving audiences would flock to big-spectacle disaster movies that were fueled by computer-generated action (complete with a flying cow).

Close to 30 years after its release, there's now a legacy sequel with "Twisters," out July 19, starring Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Anthony Ramos.

In celebration of audiences returning to storm hunting, here's a look back at the star-studded premieres the original "Twister" had in 1996.

Helen Hunt played storm-chaser Jo Harding in the movie.

Helen Hunt on the "Twister" red carpet.      Ron Galella/Getty

At the time of the premiere, Hunt was dating actor Hank Azaria.

Hunt and Hank Azaria married in 1999 and divorced 17 months later.      Ron Galella/Getty

Bill Paxton played Bill Harding, a former storm-chaster turned weatherman who's the ex-husband of Helen Hunt's character.

Bill Paxton on the "Twister" red carpet with his wife, Louise Newbury.      Ron Galella/Getty

Cary Elwes played rival storm chaser Jonas Miller.

Cary Elwes with his wife Lisa Marie Kubikoff at the "Twister" premiere.      Ron Galella/Getty

Stars flocked to the premiere — including Kevin Bacon...

Kevin Bacon at the "Twister" premiere.      Ron Galella/Getty

Wesley Snipes...

Wesley Snipes at the "Twister" premiere.      Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty

... and Keanu Reeves.

Keanu Reeves at the "Twister" premiere.      Ron Galella/Getty

Van Halen wrote and performed the movie's song, "Humans Being."

Eddie Van Halen at the "Twister" premiere.      Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection/Getty

Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar also made an appearance at the premiere.

Sammy Hagar at the "Twister" premiere.      Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection/Getty

Rock royalty Mick Fleetwood and Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac also showed up.

Mick Fleetwood and Stevie Nicks at the "Twister" premiere.      Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty

It wouldn't be a proper 1990s party without Steven Seagal.

Steven Seagal with date Arissa Wolf.      Ron Galella/Getty

Days after the red carpet premiere, Jane Fonda held her own screening of the movie as a benefit function.

Jane Fonda at her own "Twister" screening.      Rick Diamond/Getty

At the time, Fonda was married to one of the richest men in the world, Ted Turner.

Fonda and Ted Turner divorced in 2001.      Rick Diamond/Getty

The event brought out the movie's stars and also... Woody Harrelson.

Woody Harrelson at Jane Fonda's benefit "Twister" screening.      Rick Diamond/Getty