Movie franchises come and go, but The Twilight Saga is truly immortal.
The supernatural drama series, an adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling young adult novels, follows the against-all-odds romance of high schoolers Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson).
Unlike most teen love affairs, the couple’s relationship is complicated by the reality that Edward is secretly a centenarian vampire with a thirst for blood. Bella’s life is thrown into further disarray when she befriends Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), a fledgling werewolf who descends from a pack that has an uneasy relationship with the Cullen clan.
‘Twilight’ turns 20: Here’s your refresher on the iconic vampire books
Following the 2008 debut of “Twilight,” the franchise exploded into a pop culture phenomenon, raking in $3.4 billion worldwide across five films. Bella and Edward’s star-crossed romance, which includes an angsty love triangle with Jacob, inspired legions of “Twihards” to declare their allegiance to “Team Edward” or “Team Jacob.”
In honor of the third installment “Eclipse,” released 15 years ago on June 30, 2010, we take a fresh bite and rank the movies from worst to best:
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5. ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 2’ (2012)
How do you say goodbye to a group of vampires who live forever?
The conclusion of The Twilight Saga makes a mighty attempt, focusing on Bella’s long-awaited transformation into a vampire and the raising of Bella and Edward’s half-human, half-vampire daughter Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy). Despite the cuteness of it all, that CGI face of newborn Nessie was … a choice.
The thrill of Bella exploring her vampiric powers is truly a treat; the lamb becomes the lioness thanks to her own super-speed, inexhaustible strength and nifty force field-generation. On the parenting front, Bella and Edward are thrust into a race against time, albeit a sluggishly paced one, as they gather family witnesses to prove to the Volturi that Renesmee is not a threat to vampirekind.
4. ‘Twilight’ (2008)
Arizona transplant Bella attempts to acclimate to life in Forks, Washington, after moving in with her divorced father (Billy Burke), only to become captivated by aloof classmate Edward and his equally enigmatic group of siblings.
Bella and Edward’s meet-cute is fraught with painfully awkward conversations, sullen stares and a near-death by runaway van. The exposition required by their oil-and-water dynamic means the film isn’t as action-heavy as its sequels (with the exception of a rogue trio of murderous vampires, of course).
But the suspenseful mystery packed into Bella’s pursuit of Edward’s true identity, enhanced by cinematographer Elliot Davis’ eerie visuals, makes for a riveting introduction to the franchise. And with an immaculate soundtrack boasting moody alternative-rock, “Twilight” is a haunting you won’t want to exorcise.
3. ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 1’ (2011)
For a paranormal love story, “Breaking Dawn − Part 1” is probably as close as Twihards will ever get to a feel-good flick. The film kicks off in a haze of marital bliss as Bella and Edward prepare for their wedding, after Edward proposes marriage as a condition for turning Bella into a vampire (leave it to an undead bloodsucker to keep tradition alive.)
Unfortunately, the couple’s newlywed fun is cut short when Bella unexpectedly finds herself pregnant on their honeymoon. Shockingly, Bella successfully gives birth in a body-horror extravaganza that is both gut-wrenching and mesmerizing. And if your heart wasn’t pounding already, Edward saves Bella from a post-delivery death in a nail-biting finale.
2. ‘New Moon’ (2009)
Bella hits rock bottom in this somber yet action-packed follow-up to “Twilight.” After Edward abruptly breaks up with her − in a cloaked effort to shield her from the dangers of the vampire world − grief-stricken Bella copes with a rebellious adrenaline junkie phase and her deepening friendship with Jacob.
Jacob, who has secrets of his own as he comes to terms with his werewolf power, is a shaft of earthy sunshine compared to Edward’s often icy veneer. Don’t get me wrong: The intense smolder of a bloodthirsty vampire would make my heart flutter, too. But Jake is cut from a softer cloth, and his warmth is an emotional salve for our distraught heroine Bella.
Bella’s brewing situationship with Jacob is thwarted by a whirlwind reunion with Edward in Italy. The happy ending is undoubtedly a win for the hopeless romantics (and not to mention Team Edward stans), but the pragmatist in me can’t help but root for the underwolf and his grounded charm.
1. ‘Eclipse’ (2010)
It’s not just the anniversary talking, folks. “Eclipse” is the soapy, hormonally charged climax of the franchise that solidifies the trifecta of Bella’s intense bonds with Edward and Jacob.
Bella’s reconciliation with Edward reaffirms her desire to become a vampire, while Jacob, futilely, maintains his dogged pursuit of her affections. The push and pull lends itself to some juicy dramatic tension, with Jacob even taking a punch to the face after a spur-of-the-moment kiss goes awry.
The impending invasion of Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) and her army of newborn vampires inspires an unlikely alliance between the Cullen coven and Jacob’s Quileute pack, setting the stage for some kickass action sequences. In the afterglow of their victory, Bella tells a battle-injured Jacob that she’s chosen Edward as her partner in a finale that’s as heartbreaking as it is infuriating.
