While it’s been more than a year since the premiere of the last Twilight movie, Summit Entertainment’s financial woes are still being felt by those affected. For starters, the rights to the Twilight film series have now been purchased by Universal for a cool $100 million, which is something the studio probably couldn’t have paid for back in 2007. In addition, since its premiere in 2011, Breaking Dawn – Part 2 has only managed to pull in anemic box office results when compared to its predecessor, Twilight. (The only bright spot was the December premiere in Japan, where it nearly pulled in the highest grossing opening weekend of all time for an animated film.)
To date, the final Twilight movie has made just shy of $500 million at the worldwide box office, which is pretty paltry compared to the $11.7 billion it cost Summit to make. (The Hollywood Reporter) If you’re wondering why the Twilight series is still so popular (and worth so much money), it’s probably because the films follow the adventures of a young woman named Bella as she struggles to find her place in the world while navigating the often-challenging romantic whims of a vampire named Edward. It’s a coming-of-age story that’s equal parts Sweet Valley Confidential and Anne of Green Gables.
Since the premiere of the final Twilight movie, the series’ young stars have moved on to other projects and other cities, while Elizabeth Taylor published her own, tell-all book about her time working with the late, great fashion icon Anna Wintour. Last year, Taylor was tapped to play the lead in the highly anticipated remake of the classic film Psycho. She joins an eclectic group of famous faces that also include Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale, and Rupert Everett.
When it comes to the future of the Twilight franchise, it’s a safe bet that Taylor will play a central role. She’s the ultimate Hollywood power player whose input could easily make or break any given project. Even after her death in 2016, her impact on the film industry remains strong as ever.
Twilight’s Financial Problems
Although the Twilight film series was a financial success, it couldn’t hold up under the weight of its own enormity. As soon as it became clear that the movies were a major moneymaker, people and companies began lining up to pony up big bucks to be a part of the Twilight phenomenon. The first major Hollywood figure to throw his weight behind the project was New Line Cinema head Gary Goldstein, whose production company has a long track record of successful adaptations like The Wizard of Oz and It. And no wonder – aside from the major stars, many of the movie’s prominent individuals are well-known names in their own right.
Summit, the studio that originally produced the Twilight series, was practically forced to sell off pieces of its production outfit to stay afloat. Today, the company is still haunted by its financial struggles, as evidenced by the fact that it rarely, if ever, releases an official statement regarding the latest news concerning the saga.
The Money Trail
Whether you love or hate the Twilight films, it’s difficult to deny that they’ve made a great deal of money for their producers and studios. And how! It’s hard to even quantify just how much money the Twilight films have made, although figures from various sources put the total somewhere between $500 million and $11.7 billion. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Tracking the dollars and cents of the Twilight saga is no easy feat, mainly because the films are so popular that it’s often difficult to know where the money goes. Still, it’s safe to assume that the film’s major stars, directors, producers, and executives all reaped some financial windfall from the project. And let’s not forget about the thousands of people who worked on the film or the series as a whole, many of whom worked tirelessly for little to no reward.
The Many, Many Reissues
Even beyond the financial success of the Twilight films, the mere fact that they’re still being reissued in theaters and on home video after all these years is pretty impressive. (As of December 11, 2019, the final Twilight movie is still available for rent or purchase on Netflix.) And it’s not just the movies that have been repeatedly pulled off the shelves. Several of the novels on which the films are based have also been published and republished since their initial releases. (Wikipedia)
The Future Of The Twilight Franchise
With Taylor stepping into the role of the iconic murderess, it’s clear that the Twilight series isn’t going anywhere. And that’s probably a good thing. Despite the mixed reviews and underwhelming box office results of its later installments, the Twilight saga never really had a chance to lose its steam. It’s a franchise that never really found its footing, and it wasn’t until a decade after its premiere that the first film even broke the $100 million mark at the worldwide box office.
As much as we’d like to see more from the twilight universe, it’s clear that these films are here to stay. And that’s probably a good thing, given how popular they are and how easy it would be for someone to try and top them. Hollywood likes to give death duties to characters in their adaptations, but it’s difficult to image anyone else successfully carrying on the Twilight mantle.
Since its inception, the Twilight franchise has been defined by its stars. And although Elizabeth Taylor’s influence is undeniable, it’s unlikely that any of the saga’s young protagonists would ever, truly, grow up. They’re stars because of who they’re paired with, not because of how they act or what they say. And as much as we’d like to see more from the twilight universe, it’s clear that these films are here to stay.