This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FSU chapter.
If you’re anything like myself, you believe the Twilight Saga is the golden child of the YA genre. Back in middle school, I remember reading each book, and the rest is history. I don’t know whether it was the love triangle, Bella’s teenage angst or the overall aesthetic, but I was hooked from the first page. Naturally, the movies made by love increase tenfold.
Thanks to TikTok, the Twilight Renaissance is alive and well, which gives me my daily boost of serotonin. Yet, I have noticed a little bit of discourse over which movie is the best. Though I love each development in the saga, I am here to set the record straight, once and for all. Even if it feels like I’m choosing a favorite child, someone has to do it; I will take one for the team. It’s time to rank each movie in the Twilight Saga.
According to TikTok, this is definitely an unpopular opinion, but I am standing firm. Breaking Dawn Part 1 feels like an unnecessary cash grab because it could have been combined with Breaking Dawn Part 2. Nonetheless, it’s not a completely lost cause. The romance is sweet, but it all comes crashing down way too fast for me to comprehend. While this movie has a few redeeming qualities, it lacks balance and an overall purpose. Of course, I love the honeymoon montage and iconic wedding scene, but Reneesme’s birth scene is just too traumatic for me. This movie is like a filler episode, except it’s over two hours long and the main character dies at the end.
Who doesn’t love a good meet-cute? I blame this movie for allowing middle school-me to believe she would be paired with a mysterious vampire in biology class, but that’s beside the point. Twilight is the perfect way to introduce characters and establish the beauty that is Forks, Washington. I am forever thankful that Catherine Hardwicke directed the first installment of my favorite series and gifted us with vampires playing baseball during a thunderstorm. To this day, I believe that the baseball scene is the greatest moment in cinematic history, hands down. On the other hand, the blue tint feels like a 2010 Instagram filter, which can be good or bad depending on your vibe.
As the final installment, Breaking Dawn Part 2 is action-packed, while also serving as a neatly wrapped ending for long-time fans. It’s a bittersweet goodbye, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. After four years, Bella is finally a vampire and can live her life alongside Edward, Renesmee and the rest of the Cullen clan. As expected, not everything in the vampire world is peaches and rainbows, which leads to a final fight scene that rivals the likes of both Marvel and DC. Nine years later, I have yet to re-experience the emotions I felt when Aro and Carlisle faced off against each other. On the flip slide, I always have to end this movie before the credits start rolling (and my tears follow suit).
Two words: newborn army. Without a doubt, Eclipse brings the most action to the saga. We get the vampire-werewolf alliance, Victoria’s plan to wreak havoc on the Cullens, and even a little bit of love triangle drama. Picking up right after the tumultuous events of New Moon, Bella has to come to terms with the nearing event of becoming a vampire and what that means for her future. For any wolf-pack stans out there (like myself), then this movie finally gave us more than five minutes of screen time for the Quiluetes. Holding true to the title of the film, Bella faces an eclipse between her love for both Edward and Jacob. In the end, one will overshadow the other.
1. New Moon (2009)
Photo by Vivek Doshi from Unsplash
New Moon is undoubtedly the shining gem of the Twilight Saga. There is no logical explanation for why I am literally addicted to the soundtrack of this movie, but I will not be questioning it. New Moon explores both the reality of heartbreak and the beauty of friendship. Right after establishing her relationship with Edward, Bella finds herself alone in Forks. Enter Jacob Black: Bella’s most loyal friend and a werewolf. After the saddest break-up scene I’ve ever witnessed, Jacob swoops in to help Bella see the light. Due to a birthday-party-turned-disaster, Edward believes it’s best to remove himself from Bella’s life completely and ensure her safety. In theory, it’s a good plan, but it does not pan out well for anyone. The Romeo and Juliet vibes are strong with this one, but I love the addition of a happy ending.
