Why the Twilight Series Deserves Another Look
By Sarah Kirk
The Twilight books by Stephanie Meyer served as the basis for several popular teen movies. Since the 2008 release, the fanbase has rapidly expanded. It thus became a phenomenon in pop culture. According to Den of Geek, the franchise would earn “nearly $3.3 billion.” The combination of the books and movies led to a YA franchise frenzy that lasted for years. The franchise undoubtedly contributed to the YA genre’s dominance of the entertainment market in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The lack of character development and plot points in the series has been criticized, yet there is no denying its popularity. There can be no doubt that these films have generated intense hate and success.
The Twilight series deserves another chance to be valued. There is teen romance, escapism, and fantasy. It’s a complete guilty pleasure. Edward’s intense love and desire for Bella are what captivated audiences. For younger teen girls, it was a sexual and romantic awakening. The series’ breakthrough was the beginning of young girls exploring their desires and entering a world of fantasy with werewolves and vampires alike. Twilight is better than you think. Twilight depicts a teenage daydream that many want to live out or relive. The films often make viewers nostalgic for their adolescence. For recent and long-term fans, it’s enchanting to watch Edward and Bella’s love continue and grow for the entirety of the franchise. Their love lasts forever, and people wish for that kind of love and hold onto the fantasy that Twilight provides. Eternal love is the constant theme and attractive pull that makes you want to rethink the films.
The goal of a film is supposed to entertain and inspire audiences, and Twilight did just that with each of the installments. What once was a teen romance fantasy has become a comfort film for many to look back on. Twilight remains popular and loved, whether some people still hate it or not. The films made people’s deepest desires a reality, and quite frankly, watching the series is a rite of passage as a teen. Once more, the Twilight series deserves another look and should be looked at through this new lens instead of focusing on the surface-level aspects of the film. Dig deeper into what Twilight has provided for millions of fans. It’s given a sense of fantasy, purpose, and, most importantly, enjoyment.