The “Twilight Saga” is one of the most beloved movie series of all time. The original “Twilight” film premiered in 2010 and was a sleeper hit, earning $70 million on a $13 million budget. Since then, the “Twilight” films have grossed a combined $2.9 billion at the box office and become one of the most iconic movie franchises of all time.
Despite its popularity, the franchise’s biggest misstep came in 2015 with the release of “Detective Pikachu.” The movie bombed at the box office, earning just $28.8 million during its opening weekend and going on to lose $66.7 million in total. The lackluster performance of the movie led to the firing of its director, Steven Speilberg, and the studio taking a $20 million loss on the film.
Robert Pattinson: From Twilight to Goodfellas
The franchise was originally inspired by Kristen Stewart’s real-life romance with actor Robert Pattinson. The two began dating in 2008 and got engaged a year later. The couple’s famous “meet cute” moment came when they were featured on the cover of British GQ in 2011. Since then, they have become one of the most in-demand celebrity couples, regularly appearing at prestigious events across the globe.
Pattinson is the son of actress Marjorie Merriweather and producer Peter Pattinson. He began acting at a young age, with small roles in movies like “Sherlock Holmes” and “The Count of Monte Cristo.” Later on, he would star in the 2013 indie smash hit “The Guest,” which established him as a major player in the thriller genre.
In April 2018, the couple wed in a lavish ceremony in Venice, Italy. The actor wore a custom-made three-piece suit with a tuxedo shirt and a bow tie, and his bride wore a custom-made ball gown. The couple became parents for the first time in July 2018 when their daughter, Luna, was born.
From Goodfellas to A Very Pattinson Christmas
Pattinson is no stranger to playing characters with a dark secret. In addition to his role as Edward Cullen, he has portrayed characters with a criminal past, including Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” and Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather: Part II.”
Though he has largely kept his personal life out of the spotlight, the actor is no stranger to scandal. In 2019, he was involved in a highly publicized feud with filmmaker Quentin Tarantulinu. Tarantulinu began shooting a documentary about Pattinson titled “Robert Pattinson,” which he planned to release in 2020. The director called off the project after learning that the actor was dating the “Downton Abbey” star, Daisy Lowe, when they were first announced as a couple in 2017. As a result of the split, Tarantulinu’s film was never released.
But despite the drama, Pattinson continues to keep busy. The actor has kept a steady work schedule since starring in “Goodfellas,” appearing in popular films like “Twilight Saga: New Moon,” “Jackie’ and “Conversation With My Brother.” In 2020, he will star in a Richard Glatze film titled “The Blue Train,” and in 2021, he will star in the big-budget action film “Fifty Whoppers.”
Jimmy Kimmel: From Stand-Up to Late-Night TV
Like many successful comedians, Jimmy Kimmel started his career as a stand-up comedian in the ‘90s and became famous for his humorous takes on the rich and famous. In 1992, he created the popular “Jimmy Kimmel Live” TV show and has since gone on to become one of the most popular late-night hosts, alongside Seth Meyers.
Kimmel’s jokes are often topical and he uses his platform to speak out on political issues. He’s made a number of videos and podcasts about the 2020 presidential candidates and frequently comments on politics as it relates to pop culture. He was critical of President Donald Trump throughout the 2016 election and helped boost Hillary Clinton’s chances of winning, though he has since expressed support for the president.
Donald Trump: From Celebrity Apprentice to President Of The United States
Though Jimmy Kimmel has mostly stayed out of the spotlight since becoming a host on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Donald Trump made frequent appearances on the show during its run, helping out with jokes and acting as one of the show’s “experts.”
The two became friends after Trump placed second in the 2011 “Celebrity Apprentice” and the pair have remained close ever since. In fact, many people credit “Jimmy Kimmel Live” with helping to raise Trump’s public profile and boost his chances of becoming president. The show’s success enabled Kimmel to host the Oscar’s and Emmys in the same year, showing the world that he is a force to be reckoned with in the world of entertainment.
The president has said that he watched most of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” while he was campaigning for the presidency and the show’s success undoubtedly helped him to eventually win over a majority of the country.
Why Are The Twilight Saga And ‘Goodfellas’ Important To Robert Pattinson?
“Goodfellas” is frequently cited as one of the defining films of Pattinson’s career. The acclaimed film follows Henry Hill, a mobster who decides to turn on his friends and family in order to provide information to the FBI. The film was a massive hit, earning eight Academy Award nominations and winning three – including Best Picture. It’s also won numerous other awards, including the Golden Globe, BAFTA and the British Academy Award (BAFTA).
“Goodfellas” is often cited as the beginning of the “reinvention” of the actor. The film demonstrated the commercial appeal that he could have outside of his famous Edward Cullen romance, leading to a surge in interest from Hollywood producers.
The director and co-writer of “Goodfellas,” Martin Scorsese, said that the film was an attempt to “reinvent the film noir tradition” and create a more contemporary spin on the old school film noir feel. Scorsese also called the film his “personal favorite” and said that he was “blown away” by the performance of lead actor and co-writer Henry Hill. The film’s script was initially rejected over fifty times before being picked up by Summit Entertainment and Scorsese found it extremely gratifying to see his hard work finally pay off.
Is It Wrong To Call Edward Cullen A ‘Dating Denial’
Though the “Twilight” series is filled with plenty of hot, steamy scenes, the films’ success has also led to a rise in “Twilight” parodies. Many famous comedians have made fun of the series, poking fun at everything from its outdated ‘90s pop culture references to its supposedly weak plotlines and terrible acting.
In 2019, Kumail Nanjani, a stand-up comedian and writer, released an entire comedy special titled “The Dating Denial Sketchbook” that dedicated an entire hour-long episode to spoofing and parodying “Twilight.” One of the highlights of the special comes when Nanjani talks about Edward Cullen, saying, “Just because [Cullen] won’t date you doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you. He loves you! He’s a dating denial. Look it up.”
Nanjani’s point is that Cullen’s behavior is not uncommon among older men in his position. Many older men, particularly those in powerful positions, can’t handle their power and will shut down any chance at romantic relationships, usually by denying them completely.
Is ‘True Romantic’ What The ‘Twilight’ Saga Really Says About Relationships
Many ‘90s and early-2000s films have parodied the “Twilight Saga,” but few films have captured the essence of what makes the series so special. Though “Twilight” has been the target of numerous parodies, the series’ creators say that they wanted to do something different with the latest installment, “Eclipse.”