Twilight Saga makes big-screen comeback, all 5 films returning this October

Highlights:

• Lionsgate has announced that all five Twilight Saga films will return to cinemas in October.
• The franchise, based on Stephenie Meyer’s novels, ran from 2008 to 2012 and grossed more than $3.3 billion worldwide.
• The films starred Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, alongside an ensemble cast.
• An animated TV reboot of Twilight is also in development.

Twilight heads back to the big screen

The Twilight Saga is set to return to cinemas this October, more than a decade after the release of its final film. Lionsgate, which acquired franchise production company Summit Entertainment in 2012, confirmed the news on social media with the tagline “Forever Begins Again”.

While specific release dates have not yet been revealed, further details are expected shortly.

Five films, global success

The series, based on Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling novels, follows the love story of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen as Bella learns Edward is a vampire. Their romance is complicated by rival vampires, werewolves, and Bella’s close bond with Jacob Black, a werewolf.

The five films are:

• Twilight (2008)
• New Moon (2009)
• Eclipse (2010)
• Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (2011)
• Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012)

The cast included Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner in the lead roles, alongside Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, and others.

Box office phenomenon

The first film, released on 21 November 2008, grossed $408.4 million worldwide against a modest budget, launching its lead actors into international stardom. Across all five films, the saga went on to earn more than $3.3 billion globally.

The franchise also inspired a dedicated fan base, endless internet memes, and regular rewatches more than a decade later.

Enduring cultural impact

In 2023, on the 15th anniversary of the first film, director Catherine Hardwicke reflected on its ongoing appeal:

“Everybody wants to have that first love. That’s just undeniable. That’s just a head rush that makes you feel ecstatic. A love that’s like a drug… and that’s what I was really trying to create in the movie.”

What’s next for Twilight

The big-screen re-release comes as an animated Twilight TV reboot is also in development, signalling that the franchise’s popularity continues to endure.