While it’s still too early to tell, it seems that 2018 was a big year for vampire movies. Not only did “The Hunger Games: Part II” gross more than $400 million worldwide, but also several other big-budget Hollywood films were based on the fashionable undead. From “Crimson Tide” to “Never Let Me Go”, “The Devil Wears Prada” to “Suicide Squad”, the year of 2018 was marked by a string of big-budget horror films with an emphasis on fashion and social commentary. As a result, many famous faces turned to Twitter to react to the year’s biggest and, hopefully, best movie moment. This was especially the case for the “Twilight Saga” which, after years of mostly disappointing sequels, managed to release one big-budgeted film that actually lived up to the hype. As one of the year’s biggest blockbusters, it’s no surprise that fans and celebs alike want to discuss the new “Twilight” film. But what is the new “Twilight”? How does it stack up against the original? And what will be the next big thing in vampire movies? Let’s take a look!
Biggest Hit of 2018
If we’re talking about the biggest hit of 2018, then we’re obviously talking about “Twilight: The Complete Saga”. The final installment in the “Twilight Saga” may not seem like such a big deal now that it’s 2018. After all, it’s been eight years since the release of “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” and thirteen years since the premiere of the original “Twilight”. Nevertheless, the final installment was the highest-grossing film of the year, bringing in more than $400 million worldwide. Needless to say, its cast and crew must have all been wondering what happened to change the game. Did the series really become a major player a decade after its premiere?
The film’s enormous success can be attributed to several factors. First of all, it didn’t hurt that the “Twilight Saga” had become a worldwide phenomenon. The saga began with the eponymous 2008 film which, at the time, was only known in certain parts of the world. Since then, “Twilight” and its four sequels have penetrated the cultural consciousness of fans all over the world. Even those who haven’t gotten into the habit of reading the “Twilight” series probably know about it thanks to widespread media coverage and word of mouth. With its target audience having such a large worldwide presence, it’s no surprise that “Twilight” became one of the biggest box office hits of all time. In fact, it’s now the 6th highest-grossing film of all time, just behind “Joker”, “A Star Wars Story”, “Black Panther”, “Coco”, and “The Avengers”.
Secondly, “Twilight” benefited from being the final film in a trilogy. Although the first two films were released almost ten years ago, “Twilight” managed to hold up surprisingly well. While it doesn’t live up to the hype of its prequel, it’s still a well-made film with solid acting and a thought-provoking premise. With the trilogy wrapped up, the audience members who went to see “Twilight” had a sense of satisfaction that the series was finally coming to an end. This in turn contributed to making the movie more exciting to watch.
Origins Of The “Twilight” Phenomenon
In order to understand why “Twilight” became such a phenomenon, it’s important to trace the franchise’s origin story. Back in 2008, Summit Entertainment revealed that they would be making a vampire movie and that it would be based on the popular Twilight saga. As it turned out, the film’s producer was none other than Stephenie Meyer who had written several bestsellers in the “Twilight” universe. A couple of years later, in 2010, it was officially announced that Summit had set up a separate production company just to produce “Twilight”. The main reason behind this new company was to give the film a cohesiveness that it wouldn’t have had otherwise. Most large film studios are hesitant to put their money into high-risk projects just to earn a profit. But Summit felt confident that “Twilight” would be a runaway success and that they could recoup their investment many times over. This proved to be true. A year after its release, “Twilight” earned more than $200 million in revenue, making it one of the biggest profitmakers of 2010. It also won several awards, including a Golden Globe and became the biggest holiday film of the year. Since then, the “Twilight” franchise has released four more films with a combined gross of more than $1 billion. And let’s not forget about “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” which was released back in 2010 but received a wide release this year due to its connection to “Twilight”. This makes it the longest-running film series based on a brand new theme. Naturally, it’s no wonder why Stephenie Meyer is considered the queen of vampires.
How Does “Twilight” Compare To Its Predecessors?
When talking about the “Twilight Saga”, it’s important to keep in mind that this is not your usual movie franchise. Thanks to its unique premise and strong literary background, the “Twilight” series is unlike anything else out there. The first two “Twilight” films are primarily character-driven narratives where the focus is on developing the characters and exploring their inner most feelings. But that’s not to say that the installments are without their merits. “Twilight” and its sequel were both critically acclaimed, with the original earning a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The series also won several awards, including a Golden Globe. Interestingly, despite its massive success, “Twilight” still manages to feel fresh and innovative. The story of a young woman named Bella Swan who is slowly turning into a vampire, the first two films of the “Twilight” franchise were ahead of their time in several ways. For one thing, they were the first Hollywood productions to embrace social media and web-based marketing. The films’ directors even stated that they wanted to break down the traditional barriers between filmgoers and movie stars.
Since “Twilight”, the world of vampires has become even more prominent in pop culture. Several other high-profile Hollywood films were released this year and all of them featured prominent cameos from famous vampire actors. From “Criminal” to “Mama”, “The House of Gucci” to “A Star Is Born”, the year of 2018 was full of fashionable undead. It seems like the fashion industry has taken a liking to vampires, with several high-profile designers releasing clothing and other accessories inspired by the undead. Although these items may not be officially part of the “Twilight” franchise, the association is certainly there.
What Does The Future Hold For The “Twilight” Franchise?
With “The Twilight Saga” now in its eighth year, it’s fair to say that the franchise has established itself as one of the most valuable and successful cultural touchpoints of our time. “Part II” broke several box office records when it was released this year and, thanks to its worldwide fanbase, Summit became the first studio to ever earn back its investment in a film. This is quite an accomplishment, considering that the majority of the studio’s films go straight to video or television after their theatrical release.
With “Part II” behind them, the “Twilight” producers have plenty of opportunities to make a new cinematic masterpiece. In fact, they have already begun work on the sequel, “Twilight: Chapter Nine” which is due for release in November of next year. While it’s too early to tell, “Chapter Nine” will undoubtedly be another big hit for the “Twilight” franchise. Nevertheless, despite its unprecedented success, the series still has one more chapter to go before it concludes. At least for now.