New doc Never Stop Chasing traces the career of storm chaser Reed Timmer
The 2026 documentary Never Stop Chasing immerses audiences in the life of famous tornado chaser Reed Timmer as he continues to navigate storms through danger, devastation, and loss. In nationwide theaters August 21, the film will run in the Kansas City area at AMC Town Center 20 and AMC Studio 28 from opening day to August 27.
Spanning more than two decades, Timmer’s career has created lasting connections and meaningful relationships with both his team and other storm chasers. Director Ken Cole met the adrenaline pursuer in college, and since then, they have not only become friends but also collaborators.
“We all knew Reed as this brilliant student, but he would also drive and get close to tornadoes, where a lot of us would be afraid to do that. He really is larger than life,” says Cole. “I thought now was a very interesting time to come back to his life; he’s a bit older now, and he’s experienced a lot of things, not only incredible tornado intercepts but losses as well.”
According to Cole, this documentary presented an interesting challenge when it came to production. Because of the film’s unique focus and Cole’s goal to make everything as authentic as possible to enhance the viewing experience, the process involved a 22-camera setup, embedding in the Dominator, and drones capturing every aspect.
“Not only do you have one chance, but it is history,” says Cole. “Some of the tornadoes in here, like the amazing but destructive Greenfield tornado, the EF4, EF5 tornado with all of those crazy vortices, that’s historic. Being able to capture that is the challenge.”
For the first time, Cole had the resources to make this film into a full theatrical extravaganza, heightened by the film playing in Dolby Vision and Atmos. All of it comes together in an epic avalanche of visuals, light, and sound, making you really feel like you are chasing with Timmer.
“We wanted to come from the perspective of shooting something of the quality that could be in Dolby Vision, to not only be inside the Dominator but feel that intensity of the low-frequency rattling your chest,” explains Cole. “That level of immersion was the goal of this movie.”
Courtesy of Angry Sky/Abramorama
While this film encapsulates the danger and rush of Timmer’s life as a storm chaser, there is also the subject of loss blended into the storyline. The documentary features storm chasers Tim and Paul Samaras and their partner Carl Young, who all tragically lost their lives while chasing the 2013 El Reno tornado. Also included in this film is the passing of Timmer’s best friend and storm-chasing partner Joel Taylor in 2018.
On how he was able to balance these themes, Cole explains: “I think it’s because that tension, the light and the dark side, is something every storm chaser has to grapple with, so as a chaser myself, you can go and witness something beautiful, but then you have to deal with the consequences and the loss. Why do we keep chasing in the face of personal devastation and the destruction of life and property? With this documentary, I really wanted to lean into that and present those two sides. For me, the answer is that Reed and the other chasers love nature and weather so much that sometimes when you love something, there are painful parts, but if you truly love it, you want to pursue and understand it.”
Because of the close relationship between Cole and Timmer, the trust built over decades of friendship led to a much more fluid documentary in which any pretenses fell away and only authenticity remained.
“When I’m there with Reed, I’m just Ken,” says Cole. “He’s known me forever, so he doesn’t have to put up his guard. We brought in shooters and cinematographers who have worked with him in the past, and so as the team chases so many hours, it’s almost like the camera people and the production people disappear, and that is what gets viewers that truth.”
An important moment of the documentary is when the trusty Dominator 3 breaks down after landing in a ditch the previous day, and audiences get to watch as Timmer’s vehicle is hauled away.
“I knew that was an important story point, but with all of the arcs that we built throughout the movie, I think that was the surprise because it played into this idea of never stop chasing,” says Cole. “Even when the trusty ol’ Dominator gets hauled away, you have to keep going.”
This documentary offers a unique opportunity, especially for us living in Tornado Alley, to experience what it is like to be inside of a tornado and to chase with someone as legendary as Reed Timmer. After all the work Cole has done to make this film as immersive as possible, he says it has definitely been worth it.
“I think this documentary is something that has to be experienced in theaters. If you have ever wanted to know what it is like to be inside a tornado, go see it in theaters. I am very excited; I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
Tickets for NEVER STOP CHASING are available through AMC’s website.
