Twilight (books and movies)
Relive the 'Twilight' movie premieres 20 years after the first book came out
Updated Oct. 5, 2025, 9:58 p.m. ET
It's been 20 years since the first "Twilight" book published, and the "Twihard" fandom hasn't shown any signs of stopping.
On June 2, 2003, a 29-year-old Stephenie Meyer woke up from a vivid dream about an "average" girl falling in love with a "beautiful, sparkly" vampire who had to fight his bloodlust to sit near her in a secluded meadow. This eventually became Chapter 13 ofMeyer's "Twilight," which was published Oct. 5, 2005.
The first-time author unwittingly hit the gas on an international bestselling four-book franchise, which was adapted into films that released in breakneck succession from 2008 to 2012 and raked in $3.4 billion at the box office.
Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, the films quickly became a cultural phenomenon.
Mario Anzuoni, REUTERSOn June 2, 2003, a 29-year-old Stephenie Meyer woke up from a vivid dream about an "average" girl falling in love with a "beautiful, sparkly" vampire who had to fight his bloodlust to sit near her in a secluded meadow. This eventually became Chapter 13 ofMeyer's "Twilight," which was published Oct. 5, 2005.
The first-time author unwittingly hit the gas on an international bestselling four-book franchise, which was adapted into films that released in breakneck succession from 2008 to 2012 and raked in $3.4 billion at the box office.
Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, the films quickly became a cultural phenomenon.
In honor of the 20th anniversary of "Twilight," USA TODAY entertainment reporters KiMi Robinson and Edward Segarra interviewed more than 20 cast and crew members − from the director, screenwriter, musicians, and hair and makeup artists behind the cameras − to the actors who brought fan-favorite characters to life.
Robinson and Segarra found that the people who worked on the multibillion-dollar franchise look back warmly, remembering the friends they made and the executives who gave them their break. For most, there's still a lingering feeling of bewilderment.
JASON REDMOND, REUTERSRobinson and Segarra found that the people who worked on the multibillion-dollar franchise look back warmly, remembering the friends they made and the executives who gave them their break. For most, there's still a lingering feeling of bewilderment.
To usher in hoa hoa season, we're reliving the "Twilight" saga movie premieres with our favorites Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner at the helm.
From the debut of the Catherine Hardwicke-helmed surprise box office hit on Nov. 17, 2008, at the Mann Village and Bruin theater in Los Angeles to the final installment ("Breaking Dawn - Part 2") taking a bow at a massive premiere in downtown LA on Nov. 12, 2012, let's reminisce.
Kiyoshi Ota, Getty ImagesFrom the debut of the Catherine Hardwicke-helmed surprise box office hit on Nov. 17, 2008, at the Mann Village and Bruin theater in Los Angeles to the final installment ("Breaking Dawn - Part 2") taking a bow at a massive premiere in downtown LA on Nov. 12, 2012, let's reminisce.
Taylor Lautner is all smiles at the premiere of "Twilight" on Nov. 17, 2008.
Mario Anzuoni, REUTERS
Kristen Stewart
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Stephenie Meyer
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Catherine Hardwicke
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Robert Pattinson
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Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart arrive at the film premiere of Summit Entertainment's "Twilight" held at the Mann Village and Bruin Theaters on Nov. 17, 2008, in Westwood, California.
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Friends Erika Rebetto, Holly Franco and her sister Carly Franco make signs in their tent as fans begin camping out at the Nokia Theater.
JASON REDMOND, REUTERS
Angela Putnam, right, of Boston holds a banner as fans begin camping out at the Nokia Theater for the chance to see the stars of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2" at the premiere on Nov. 8, 2012, in Los Angeles. Some 2,200 people from all over the world registered to camp on a concrete plaza outside a downtown Los Angeles movie theater, movie studio Summit Entertainment said.
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Jackson Rathbone
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Robert Pattinson
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Robert Pattinson, director Catherine Hardwicke and Kristen Stewart attends the "Twilight" photocall during the 3rd Rome International Film Festival held on Oct. 30, 2008, in Rome, Italy.
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Director Cathrine Hardwicke, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart arrive for the premiere of "Twilight" on Dec. 6, 2008, in Munich, Germany.
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Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Peter Facinelli, winners of best movie, best kiss, best fight, best female performance, breakthrough male performance awards for "Twilight" pose in the press room during the 18th annual MTV Movie Awards on May 31, 2009.
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Kristen Stewart, Kellan Lutz, Cam Gigandet, director Catherine Hardwicke, and Robert Pattinson accept the best movie award onstage during the 18th annual MTV Movie Awards.
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Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner attend "The Twilight Fan Experience" screening during Comic-Con 2009 held at Gaslamp Theater on July 23, 2009, in San Diego, California.
Michael Buckner
Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner appear onstage at Summit's "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" Cast Tour at Hollywood and Highland on November 6, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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Kellan Lutz and Nikki Reed appear onstage at Summit's "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" cast tour at Hollywood and Highland on Nov. 6, 2009, in Los Angeles.
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Jamie Campbell
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Kellan Lutz and Robert Pattinson
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Bronson Pelletier, Kiowa Gordon and Chaske Spencer
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Kellan Lutz
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Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner attend the photocall for Chris Weitz's film "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" on Nov. 10, 2009, in Paris, France.
Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images
Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson attend "Twilight Saga: New Moon" fans event at Palacio de Vistalegre on Nov. 12, 2009, in Madrid, Spain.
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Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner perform a scene of their new film "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" during the HVB youth event at the Olympic Hall on Nov. 14, 2009 in Munich, Germany.
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Fans outside of an event for "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" on Nov. 14, 2009, in Munich, Germany.
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A fan kisses a poster showing the face of actor Robert Pattinson before the presentation of his new film "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" on Nov. 14, 2009, in Munich, Germany.
Alexandra Beier, Getty Images
Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson arrive at the afterparty for the premiere of Summit Entertainment's "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" at the Hammer Museum on Nov. 16, 2009, in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner speak onstage at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.
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Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson accept the Best Kiss Award onstage at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.
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Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson arrive at the premiere of Summit Entertainment's "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" during the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival.
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Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart accept the favorite movie award onstage during the 2011 People's Choice Awards.
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Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson speak onstage during the 2011 MTV Movie Awards on June 5, 2011, in Universal City, California.
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Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson
Christopher Polk
Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson
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Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart sign autographs for fans at Summit Entertainment presents "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Comic-Con fan meet and greet on July 21, 2011, in San Diego, California.
Michael Buckner
Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner are immortalized in a hand and footprint ceremony at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, now officially the TCL Chinese Theatre, on Nov. 3, 2011, in Los Angeles.
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Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner's signatures, hand and footprints.
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Robert Pattinson
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Kristen Stewart
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Taylor Lautner
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart arrive at the Premiere of Summit Entertainment's "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Nov. 14, 2011, in Los Angeles.
Jason Merritt, Getty Images
Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner
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Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart at the UK premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" on Nov. 16, 2011, in London, England.
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Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner
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Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner
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Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart speak onstage at a "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" panel during Comic-Con International 2012.
Michael Buckner, Getty Images For Lionsgate
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
Michael Buckner, Getty Images For Lionsgate
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
Michael Buckner, Getty Images For Lionsgate
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart speak at "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" panel during Comic-Con International 2012 at San Diego Convention Center.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Stephenie Meyer and actors Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson, Mackenzie Foy and Kristen Stewart pose together during a panel.
Michael Buckner, Getty Images For Lionsgate
Actors Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Foy and author Stephenie Meyer during a Comic-Con panel in 2012.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson accept the Ultimate Choice award onstage during the 2012 Teen Choice Awards on July 22, 2012.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Thousands of Twilight Saga fans camp in hundreds of tents before the opening of the premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" in front of the Nokia Theater on Nov. 9, 2012, in Los Angeles, California.
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Vampires, werewolves and mere mortals: The "Twilight" saga, which ignited a generation of teenagers, is coming to an end with the worldwide release of the latest installment "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2."
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Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart, author Stephenie Meyer and Robert Pattinson attend the premiere of Summit Entertainment's "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Nov. 12, 2012, in Los Angeles, California.
Christopher Polk, Getty Images
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson
Christopher Polk, Getty Images
Taylor Lautner, author Stephenie Meyer and Robert Pattinson arrive at the premiere of Summit Entertainment's "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Nov. 12, 2012, in Los Angeles, California.
Christopher Polk, Getty Images
(L-R) Producer Wyck Godfrey, Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and director Bill Condon pose ahead of the Germany premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" in Berlin on Nov. 16, 2012.
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Taylor Lautner signs autographs at the premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" in Los Angeles on Nov. 12, 2012.
Mario Anzuoni, REUTERS
Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson at the Germany premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2."
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Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson attend the "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" premiere at the Kinepolis cinema on Nov. 15, 2012, in Madrid, Spain.
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Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson attend the "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" (La Saga Crepusculo: Amanecer Parte 2) photocall at the Villamagna Hotel on Nov. 15, 2012, in Madrid, Spain.
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Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner attend "El Hormiguero" TV show on Nov. 15, 2012, in Madrid, Spain.
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Kristen Stewart
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Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner
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