It’s been fifteen years since the release of the firstTwilightfilm, kickstartinga vampire sagathat would come to dominate pop culture over the next five years. Much to the delight of teenage girls and the dismay of their boyfriends, it was impossible to escape from the story of Bella Swan, and Team Edward/Jacob became a generational feud that would put friendships on the line. However, it didn’t take long for the backlash to kick in, and when it did, it hit hard.
Twilightbecame a cultural punching bag for its detractors, and buzz against the series eventually turned so toxic that it disappeared from the public consciousness after the final installment,Breaking Dawn - Part 2. A decade later,Twilightbecame outright nostalgic for the teenagers who grew up with it. This, combined with a reevaluation of the largely sexist backlash against the franchise, makes it apparent thatTwilighthas largely rehabilitated its initial reception.
Twilight Is Fueled by Online Nostalgia
The first and most obvious factor inTwilight’s resurgence is nostalgia; people who grew up watching the movies are understandably inclined to revisit the series after so long. This nostalgia also coincided with the recent return of the emo and goth culture of the early 2000s, as the firstTwilightwas released at the height of this movement. Thanks partly to a soundtrack including Paramore, Linkin Park, Muse, and merchandise dominating Hot Topic, Stephanie Meyer’s saga played a crucial role in shaping2000s emo culture. Since emo has returned to the limelight, it makes sense thatTwilightwould as well.
But beyond this, there was also genuine nostalgia for the series itself. In 2020, Stephanie Meyer released the long-rumoredMidnight Sun, telling the events from the first novel from Edward Cullen’s point of view. Coinciding was a rapid spread ofTwilightmemes across TikTok, where accounts were dedicated entirely toTwilight-related content. Some of these accounts included a cosplayer showcasing her costume as Alice Cullen and re-enacting scenes from the films and a comedian who received over 50 million likes across all her videos where she impersonated Jasper Cullen.
However, the clearest sign of the franchise’s resurgence came in July 2021, when all five films from theTwilight Sagahit Netflix(they’ve since been taken down). Within a week, the movies occupied all five spots on Netflix’s “most-watched” list. Through the combination of a new book in the series, a resurgence in emo culture ubiquitous with the films, and nostalgia amid a global pandemic that led many to find safety in their comfort movies, it was clear thatTwilightnostalgia was, in fact, real. Even if the franchise doesn’t hold the level of cultural domination it once did, it’s safe to say its fans remain devoted and invested.
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Twilight Is a Modern Camp Classic
The other significant factor inTwilight’s reclamation comes from many people realizing, in hindsight, that they were way too mean-spirited about the franchise during the peak of its popularity. Detractors once argued thatTwilightwas problematicand heavily romanticized an abusive relationship since Edward regularly puts Bella in danger and sometimes hurts her, and she doesn’t seem to mind; they asserted that Meyer’s work was sending damaging messages to young girls and warping their perceptions of an ideal romantic connection.
But the fact is, severalTwilightfans will readily admit to acknowledging the questionable (albeit unintended) implications, and most will admit to not taking the messages too seriously. At its heart,Twilightis and always has been a campy fairy tale, not too different from a Disney movie, and part of the fun of watching it has always come from getting swept up in the dramatic romance’s ridiculousness. It’s clear there was also a double standard to this backlash; after all, boys get pulpy franchises likeThe Fast and the Furiousall the time, and no one complains there.
On top of that, the films are sincerely enjoyable to watch, albeit for reasons unintended. Sure, the characters are nonexistent, the narrative beyond ridiculous, and the plot twists absurd, but the entire enterprise has a sincerity that cannot be faked. The now iconic baseball scene would not be nearly as laugh-out-loud hilarious if not played with such a straight face, nor would Bella’s gut-busting reaction after learning about Jacob’s unfortunate nickname for her newborn daughter.
Further irony comes from how thoroughly lead actorsKristen Stewartand Robert Pattinson were criticized for their performances upon release. Several years later, knowing both of them are openly embarrassed about their acting in the series, and with Pattinson proving an excellent Batman and Stewart giving a (well-deserved) Oscar-nominated performance forSpencer, knowing both are good actors makes their work here extra hilarious.
Camp classics likeThe Rocky Horror Picture ShowandThe Roomhave endured for so long because there was passion behind them, and their fans sincerely enjoy watching them. TheTwilightSagadeserves to be included in their company. They may not be “good,” but they’re a hugely enjoyable watch.
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Twilight Has Been Reclaimed
Almost a decade afterTwilightvanished from the public eye, it’s come back with full force, and frankly, a franchise that unites its fans and gives them joy should be celebrated. Especially in an age where toxic fandom is seemingly inescapable, the passion from Twi-Hards is a reminder that celebrating the things you love is infinitely more valuable than tearing down the things you hate.
While it’s debatable whether the films and books strictly qualify as “good,” they’re much more enjoyable than we initially believed (even for unintentional reasons). So, it seems time that we accept and embrace the possibility ofTwilightbeing reclaimed.
