The Twilight Saga is one of the most successful franchises in history, having generated $3.4 billion worldwide at the box office. Based on four best-selling novels by Stephenie Meyer, the five films in the series follow 17-year-old Bella Swan as she moves to Washington State and meets the mysterious Edward Cullen. While Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson star as Bella and Edward
If you’re interested in the Twilight Saga, or even if you just want to revisit the movies ahead of Halloween, we’ve got you covered with this helpful guide on the order to watch them all. The films are listed in chronological order, so you can follow along with the story as it was originally meant to be told.
Twilight (2008)
“Twilight” is a 2009 American romantic vampire film directed by Catherine Hardwicke, based on Stephenie Meyer’s 2005 novel of the same name. Melissa Rosenberg wrote the screenplay, and the film was produced and distributed by Summit Entertainment. The film stars Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan, a teenager who falls in love with Edward Cullen, a vampire played by Robert Pattinson.
The film grossed over $407 million at the box office and has a run time of 121 minutes. “Twilight” is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
The first Twilight movie introduces us to Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan, who moved from Arizona to Washington to live with her father. She notices the Cullens when she starts high school. They’re a group of siblings who primarily keep to themselves. Of course, she ends up sitting next to Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) in Biology class, which starts an odd relationship between the two – until Edward saves Bella from being hit by a car with supernatural powers.
As the two get to know each other, Edward falls in love with Bella and is worried about harming her because he doesn’t know how to control his powers yet. On the night of Bella’s birthday, Edward finally reveals himself as a vampire to her and she is understandably scared at first. But she comes to accept him and even convinces him to let her become a vampire too so they can be together forever. The two then face many challenges together, including battles with other vampires and werewolves who want to harm them.
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
New Moon, the second film in the Twilight saga, is directed by Chris Weitz and based on Stephenie Meyer’s novel of the same name. The screenplay is by Melissa Rosenberg and the movie is produced by Temple Hill Entertainment. It was distributed by Summit Entertainment and had a run time of 130 minutes (138 minutes for the extended cut). The box office figures for New Moon are impressive, coming in at $709 million. You can stream it on Amazon Prime Video.
New Moon opens with Bella in her senior year of high school and in a relationship with Edward. While celebrating her birthday with the Cullens, Bella gets a paper cut, which causes Edward’s brother Jasper to instinctively attack her. Although Jasper was stopped before hurting Bella, Edward believes she can never be safe around him or his family. He ends their relationship and moves away with the rest of his family.
Bella then spends more time with Jacob Black – until she finds out he and other members of his Quileute tribe can transform into werewolves. To keep Bella safe from the pack, the Cullens return to Forks. While Bella is happy to have them back, she is distraught over her broken relationship with Edward.
She begins to chase the thrill of life-endangering moments just so she can feel close to Edward. This inadvertently makes Edward believe that Bella has died jumping off a cliff. His sister Alice (Alice Green) even sees a vision of it. The guilt causes Edward to appear before the Vampire royalty known as the Volturi in the hopes of ending his own life.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)
Directed by: David Slade
Based on: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
Screenplay by: Melissa Rosenberg
Produced by: Temple Hill Entertainment
Distributed by: Summit Entertainment
Run time: 123 minutes
Box office: $698 million
Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
Following the Volturi’s decision at the end of New Moon, Eclipse focuses on Bella and Edward trying to decide when she will be turned into a vampire. The two disagree about it.
While that is going on, Victoria (Rachelle LaFevre) – who was a member of the group of vampires that originally hunted Bella – wants to enact revenge. She builds an army of vampires to attack the town of Forks, where Bella lives. The Cullens then find a common cause with the Quileute werewolf pack in order to fend off the vampires.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part One (2011)
Directed by: Bill Condon
Based on: Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Screenplay by: Melissa Rosenberg
Produced by: Temple Hill Entertainment
Distributed by: Summit Entertainment
Run time: 117 minutes
Box office: $712 million
Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
The first part of Breaking Dawn begins with Edward and Bella’s wedding. The two then depart to their honeymoon destination, Isle Esme. While there, they consummate their marriage and make love for the first time. Shortly after, Bella discovers she is pregnant.
Edward and his father Carlisle (Peter Facinelli) believe that Bella won’t be able to give birth to a vampire baby successfully. They recommend she abort the pregnancy, but Bella refuses. Members of Jacob’s pack of werewolves also believe that both Bella and the baby must die before it can be born. On top of all of this, there is also the problem of the Volturi.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part Two (2012)
Directed by: Bill Condon
Based on: Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Screenplay by: Melissa Rosenberg
Produced by: Summit Entertainment
Distributed by: Lionsgate
Run time: 115 minutes
Box office: $829 million
Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
Breaking Dawn – Part Two picks up where the last film left off – with Bella adjusting to becoming a new mother and a vampire at the same time. Their daughter, Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy), is a half-vampire who ages more quickly. But she is seen while in the woods with Edward’s father by a vampire from another coven, and the Volturi learns that the Cullens have what is known as an immortal child – aka a vampire who was turned too young and will never age.
This is a no-no for the Volturi. Their leader, Avo, heads to Forks to kill the Cullens. Alice Cullen has a vision of the Volturi, however, which gives the Cullens time to prepare for the attack.
