If you love sparkling vampires with perfectly coiffed hair, head to HBO Max now to watch «"Twilight", until the series left the platform. Based on the popular books Stephenie Meyer For teenagers of the mid-2000s, this incredibly popular five-film series has become an integral part of millennial culture, especially for kids of the '90s. It's an enduring pop culture icon for an entire generation.
The first part, «"Twilight"» , a film adaptation of the first book in Meyer's series, was released on November 21, 2008. The film was a box office success, grossing $412 million worldwide against a $37 million budget. The second film, «"New moon"» , showed even higher worldwide box office receipts – $712 million. The fifth and final film, «Breaking Dawn - Part 2» , grossed the highest amount at the box office, $868 million. It premiered on November 16, 2012.
The main roles in the saga were played by Kristen Stewart и Robert Pattinson, who played Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, respectively. Before they were cast, Meyer revealed what she initially envisioned for the lead couple. Emily Browning и Henry Cavill . Pattinson famously hated playing Edward in the franchise. «"Twilight"» , but in 2022, during a press conference dedicated to the film «Batman» , the actor changed his mind. "It's not cool to be a hater anymore," he said. "It's as outdated as it was in 2010.".
Certainly, Taylor Lautner was the other side of the love triangle, playing werewolf Jacob Black. Chris Weitz , director «New Moon» , considered replacing Lautner due to the physical changes Jacob was undergoing. However, Lautner fought for his role, training constantly and gaining 30 pounds of muscle mass.
Generally, «The Twilight Saga» did not receive high marks from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first film has a rating of 48%. The rating «New Moon »"even worse - 28%. «"Eclipse"» , the third part, has 46%, and «Breaking Dawn - Part 1» boasts the worst score of all, 25%. Finally, the latest film has the highest Tomatometer rating, 49%.
But you know what? No one watches this franchise because it's exciting, award-winning content. It's corny, over-the-top, and horribly kitschy. Embrace the corniness. The lousy wigs. The awkward acting. Contact lenses .
Get ready for a nostalgic movie marathon as the film series «"Twilight"» will not disappear from HBO Max on June 30, 2026.
This article was originally published in Men's Journal on June 4, 2026, in the News section. Add Men's Journal to your list of preferred sources by clicking here.