Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart both shot to fame for their roles in the Twilight movies, but they have gone on to have successful careers since the franchise came to an end in 2012. It can be difficult for young actors to break free from the restraints of a big franchise. Audiences often associate them so closely with one particular character that they aren’t given the opportunity to prove themselves in other roles.
Pattinson and Stewart are still associated with the Twilight saga, but they are now developing more diverse careers in a wider variety of genres. Pattinson has worked with Christopher Nolan, Robert Eggers and the Safdie brothers, and he has recently joined the illustrious list of Hollywood leading men who have played Batman. Stewart’s successes have been a little less high-profile, but she has earned an Oscar nomination, which has helped banish the notion that she is anything less than a superb actor.
The King (2019)
Robert Pattinson Plays The Dauphin Of France
Robert Pattinson offers a strange performance in The King as the Dauphin of France. His accent and some of his eccentric mannerisms are at odds with the movie’s gritty tone, but this makes him all the more compelling. The Dauphin is a snobby villain who antagonizes and taunts the young King Henry at every opportunity, goading him into an all-out war with France.
Camp X-Ray (2014)
Kristen Stewart Plays Amy Cole
Camp X-Ray opens with footage of the September 11 attacks, and the rest of the movie examines America’s response, not just politically, but also mentally and emotionally. Kristen Stewart plays a guard at Guantánamo Bay who witnesses the dehumanization of the detainees. She also sees how the callous indifference of the men in power extends to their objectification of her. She is both seen through an exclusively sexual lens and encouraged to shed her more “feminine” traits of compassion and empathy.
Tenet (2020)
Robert Pattinson Plays Neil
For many people, Tenet was the movie that welcomed them back to theaters after the first wave of pandemic lockdowns forced their closure. While a cerebral sci-fi blockbuster from Christopher Nolan seemed like the perfect way to return to theaters, Tenet’s complex narrative left plenty of people scratching their heads. Tenet’s ambitious time-travel plot might require multiple viewings to fully understand, but its breathtaking visual set pieces need no explanation.
Spencer (2021)
Kristen Stewart Plays Priness Diana
Kristen Stewart has received a lot of undue criticism throughout her career for some of her performances, especially in the Twilight saga. Spencer is her emphatic response to the critics, and it landed her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. She is perfectly measured as Princess Diana, a role which requires her to revitalize a public icon while theorizing on her most private moments.
Good Time (2017)
Robert Pattinson Plays Connie
Good Time has been overshadowed by Uncut Gems somewhat. Both Safdie brother movies are tense roller-coaster rides through New York City, but Uncut Gems benefitted from a bigger budget, wider distribution, and the intriguing casting of Billy Madison himself, Adam Sandler. While Uncut Gems deserves its flowers, Good Time has never reached the same kind of audience.
Still Alice (2014)
Kristen Stewart Plays Lydia Howland
Still Alice is a great showcase for Julianne Moore’s talents, but Kristen Stewart is also on top form. Moore plays a linguistics professor who develops early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and Stewart plays one of her three children. In a movie that could so easily stray into melodrama and manipulation, Moore’s performance keeps the story feeling relatable. Her dynamic with Stewart feels authentic.
Love Lies Bleeding (2024)
Kristen Stewart Plays Lou Langston
Love Lies Bleeding stars Kristen Stewart as a gym manager who starts a relationship with a bodybuilder while she tries to outrun her family’s history of organized crime. In a movie filled to the brim with strange characters and stylish 1980s touches, Stewart’s performance stands out for its subtlety. Much like her character, she appears to be a relatively normal woman trying to go about her business while everyone around her refuses to let her be.
The Boy & The Heron (2023)
Robert Pattinson Plays The Grey Heron
Hayao Miyazaki has cried wolf before when claiming that his next movie will be his last, and The Boy and the Heron looks like another beautiful swansong that may turn out to be just another chapter. Miyazaki summons every ounce of his inimitable magic for The Boy and the Heron. It’s his best movie in years, and also one of Studio Ghibli’s best for a very long time.
