The Twilight Saga is iconic. Whether it’s because of the Team Jacob vs Team Edward rivalry or the fact that it started in the 2000s right after the end of the Harry Potter franchise, it ushered in the vampire fantasy craze on TV and film that isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The Twilight movies are about a young Bella Swan who falls in love with a century-old vampire, Edward, while trying to figure out her feelings for her werewolf best friend, Jacob. Based on the novels by Stephanie Meyer, the Twilight books were adapted into five movies between 2008 and 2012, earning more than a billion in box office revenue.
Starring Kristen Stewart as Bella, Robert Pattinson as Edward, and Taylor Lautner as Jacob, the Twilight movies took the world by storm. They cemented the vampire/werewolf fantasy as a cash machine for studios. For new and returning viewers, the best way to dive into Bella and Edward’s world is by watching all the movies from the first film in 2008 to the final installment in 2012.
1. Twilight is the First Entry in the Twilight Saga Franchise
2008’s Twilight introduces viewers to the world of the awkward teenage girl, Isabella Swan, as she leaves her mother and stepfather to go to the small town of Forks, Washington. She plans to live with her father, Sheriff Swan, while she finishes high school. Bella is the new girl at school, and as she starts making friends, one person catches her eye—Edward Cullen. Edward and his family don’t mix with the locals, but he’s interested in Bella. This gets everyone talking. In a meme-worthy confrontation, Bella confronts Edward after realizing he is a vampire when he stops a car to save her in the school parking lot. Their fantasy romance story is off to a good start, but a trio of vampires prowls in Forks, and they have Bella’s scent.
The dramatic ending to the first movie warrants a sequel, and fans don’t have to wait too long for it. There’s also something about Bella’s portrayal in the first movie that makes her relatable to fans. Despite having the franchise’s lowest budget, Twilight outperforms with its campy and original feel. The dark and gloomy vibe sets it apart from the more generic blockbuster additions to the franchise. It is the closest to the essence of the books and has the heart that endears it to viewers. This film was an excellent adaptation for readers of the novels that brought most of what they loved about the books to the screen. At the same time, Twilight was slightly underwhelming for the uninitiated. However, overall, it’s a great start to the franchise and nostalgia at its finest.
2. Twilight: New Moon is a Fitting Sequel to the First Film
After the first movie’s events, the second installment in the franchise, Twilight: New Moon, based on the book of the same name, sees Bella abandoned by Edward to keep her safe. After months of mourning the love she lost with Edward and his family’s departure from the town, Bella is forced to spend more time with her other friends. She gets closer to her best friend, Jacob, who introduces her to a world of other supernatural creatures she didn’t know existed. Jacob comes from a long line of werewolves, and now that he has been initiated into a pack, his sole duty is to protect his clan and everyone else from blood-sucking monsters. Bella and Jacob grow closer, complicating things because Bella still loves Edward and isn’t ready to give up on their love.
Twilight: New Moon is a fan favorite because it builds on Jacob’s backstory and how the werewolves tie into the vampire world. It also helps that Jacob finally ditched that long synthetic wig for a shorter haircut that accentuates his features. Seeing the huge wolves in action highlighted how serious this franchise would be, and fans weren’t disappointed. The sequel grossed over $700 million against a $50 million budget. Despite negative reviews by critics, Twilight: New Moon is still a favorite of die-hard fans.
3. Twilight: Eclipse Turns Enemies Into Allies to Protect Bella
In Twilight: Eclipse, Edward and Bella are finally reunited. But before Bella becomes a vampire, he has a proposal for her. While their relationship is taking a huge step forward, a foe from the first film intends to raise an army of vampires to kill Bella and the Cullen family. To protect her, Jacob and Edward must put their differences aside and do what’s best for her, creating some uncomfortable moments in the film. Twilight: Eclipse has some of the best special effects, as the vampires and werewolves must band together to stop the army of vampires coming to kill them all. While there are casualties at the end of the fight, Bella is safe and ready to take the next step in her relationship with Edward.
Twilight: Eclipse did everything right for a trilogy; the budget was bigger, which gave viewers well-written character relationships and special effects, and the villains were as intimidating as expected. The weighty decision Bella has to make between continuing with normal life or becoming a vampire for the rest of eternity is handled pretty well as she maneuvers through the complex relationships in her life. Twilight: Eclipse grossed over $300 million, almost $4 million more than the previous film.
4. Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is the Beginning of the End of the Twilight Saga
To become a vampire, Bella has to accept the marriage to Edward, and the first part of the final film starts with her preparation for the wedding. It’s all laughter and flowers as they say their vows and sail off into the sunset for their honeymoon. After waiting for what seemed like decades, Bella and Edward finally get intimate despite her being a fragile human. Still, it comes with some unexpected consequences, and it’s not just the broken bed and sliced pillows. Bella and her new family must unite to protect her and those she loves from an even more sinister threat, the Volturi.
Although Twilight: Breaking Dawn only slightly outperformed other movies in the domestic box office, it was still a significant success thanks to the international markets, grossing over $700 million during its theatrical release. Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 is the most cinematic film in the franchise. However, the storytelling is sacrificed for a slower pace to set up the next film. While the story drags on in certain scenes, this installment in the franchise is breathtakingly beautiful, with the added melodrama that Twilight fans were dying to see.
5. Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 Brings Edward and Bella’s Love Story to a Close
The final film in the Twilight saga is Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2, in which Bella is now a vampire. The Cullens have found themselves in trouble, with the Volturi still waiting for them to make a mistake. They are in danger of being wiped off the face of the earth. With a war of massive proportions brewing, the Cullen clan calls for help from other vampires around the world to prove their innocence to the Volturi. The fight between the vampires, werewolves, and the Volturi is epic for many reasons. The twists will leave first-time viewers in disbelief. Edward and Bella get their happy ending, bringing this romantic fantasy saga to a beautiful close.
The movie grossed over $800 million when released in November 2012. Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 is the best movie in the franchise because Bella is a newborn vampire, and new vampires and their unique powers are introduced. It widens the scope of the vampire lore in the franchise, teasing fans about the power of the Volturi and their role in keeping vampires’ identities a secret from the world. The reviews by critics and fans were mixed, with some liking the maturity of the franchise in its final film and others pointing out all the glaring plot holes. Many didn’t like the infamous CGI of the new Cullen family member, but most Twilight fans were just happy to see Bella and Edward get the happily ever after they had longed for. Jacob also finds love in the most unexpected way, so it is a win-win for everyone.
