If you’re not yet aware, the highly controversial and commercially successful ‘Twilight’ movies are based on author/storyteller Stephenie Meyer’s (“The Twilight Saga”) young adult vampire fiction series. The first installment in the ‘Twilight’ franchise, “Twilight”, was released in 2008 and became a massive worldwide success; it went on to make over $500 million at the global box office. In the second part of the franchise, “Breaking Dawn – Part 2”, which premiered in theaters on October 21, 2011 and quickly became available on Blu-ray and DVD, Bobby pattinson plays the role of Edward Cullen, who is married to Bella (actress Kristen Stewart) in the first ‘Twilight’ movie and then becomes a father to a young daughter, Charlie (Alice Englert). The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 has proven to be even more successful than its predecessor, having made over $600 million at the global box office as of this writing.
Global Box Office
The second installment of the ‘Twilight’ franchise holds the global box office record as of February 12, 2016. The movie has made over $600 million around the world as of this writing, which is more than double the amount of money made by its predecessor, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1”. So far, the ‘Twilight’ franchise has made over $2.2 billion worldwide, which is quite an extraordinary figure for a teen-based movie franchise.
Domestic Box Office
Although “Twilight” did very well internationally, it made less money at the box office in its native America. The first installment in the ‘Twilight’ franchise only earned $143 million at the box office in 2012; “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” brought in $176 million, compared to its $408 million earnings in its first week (or “opening”) in theaters. Since opening in wide release on October 21, 2011, “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” has made over $600 million in theaters domestically (which is more than double the amount made by “Twilight”).
Theatrical vs. Home Media
One of the biggest surprises regarding “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” is how much money it made in theaters. While it’s true that Blu-ray and DVD have become a viable alternative to moviegoing, this was not the case when “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” was first released. Back then, it was a no-man’s land between theatrical exhibition and home media, with moviegoers having to make the choice between seeing the movie the old-fashioned way or on home media. Theaters have always been considered ‘premium’ viewing experiences, and it seems that audiences are heeding the call as “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” has made over $600 million at the box office and become the second highest-grossing movie of all time in theaters. After its premiere on October 21, 2011, “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” stayed in theaters for only two weeks before appearing on DVD and Blu-ray; its wide release on video on April 4, 2012 made it the first ‘Twilight’ movie to be available on home media.
Pricing
In February 2016, “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” became the first ‘Twilight’ movie to be released on DVD and Blu-ray with a suggested retail price of $14.99. The movie is part of the “Original Trilogy”, which also includes “Twilight” and “Twilight Saga: Eclipse”. The previous installments in the franchise were priced at around $13.99 at retail, so there’s a 40% price increase for “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” and the other ‘Twilight’ movies combined. Furthermore, if you look at the current market prices for video discs and Blu-ray discs, it is clear that “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” will be seen as a major purchase.
Still, “Twilight” is generally considered to be a less expensive series to make than, let’s say, “Star Wars” or “Lord of the Rings”. This is primarily because the production value for each of the ‘Twilight’ movies is considerably lower than that of other major franchises. “The Twilight Saga” was originally self-published in 2005 and as of this writing is still in print and available for purchase at many bookstores. Although the movie adaptations of “The Twilight Saga” are profitable, the cost of making each movie is around $2–3 million, which is a lot more than the typical $5–6 million that studios spend on a movie these days.
Audience
The most recent installment in the ‘Twilight’ saga is proving to be a blockbuster with an audience of all ages. It is currently one of the top five highest-grossing films of all time worldwide, and it makes complete sense: the worldwide audience is seeing the movie because it is a part of the “Twilight” franchise, and the franchise is synonymous with young adult and teen female audiences.
The ‘Twilight’ franchise is popular in part because of the source material: the books and the movies are both set in Forks, Washington which is considered to be a refreshing change from the norm. The town is populated with quirky, indie bookstores, artist studios, and there are multiple places to hang out, including a movie theater, record store, and burger joint. The characters are also endearing: Edward, the quintessential dashing white boy; Bella, the strong independent woman who loves animals and pie; and their daughter, Charlie, who is sarcastic yet still a loving child. While these three central characters may seem very familiar, there is still something different about the way that the fans connect with them. It may be because these characters have been around for so long or because they have graced the big screen so many times.
As the ‘Twilight’ franchise continues to evolve, it is hard to say exactly what will keep this movie series alive and thriving in the future. The books are still being published, and as long as there are still new stories to tell, it seems that audiences will continue to flock to the theaters to see them. “The Twilight Saga” holds a special place in the hearts of its fans, and it is certainly not hard to see why. In today’s world, it is easy for fans to be distracted by other things and to forget about their passion for the ‘Twilight’ movies. However, for those who have been bitten by the movie bug, the future looks very bright indeed.
So what do you think about “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2”? Are you a fan of the movies or the books? Let us know what you think in the comments below!