The Definitive Answer: How Many Movies Are In The Twilight Saga (Plus The Shocking New Reboot)
The question of "How many movies are in The Twilight Saga?" is a common one, and as of today, December 22, 2025, the definitive answer remains five. However, the story of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen is far from over, with a major new project confirmed to be in development. The original film series, which launched in 2008 and concluded in 2012, adapted author Stephenie Meyer’s four-book series into a massive cinematic phenomenon, grossing over $3.36 billion worldwide.
The saga’s structure is often confusing because the final novel, Breaking Dawn, was split into two separate films, leading many fans and newcomers to miscount the total number of entries. This comprehensive guide breaks down every single film, its director, its box office success, and provides the latest, most crucial update on the franchise’s future with the upcoming animated series.
The Complete List of The Twilight Saga Movies in Chronological Order
The core film series follows the journey of Isabella "Bella" Swan, a human teenager who moves to Forks, Washington, and falls in love with the enigmatic vampire, Edward Cullen. Their epic romance spans five films, each directed by a different filmmaker (except for the final two parts), giving the franchise a unique, evolving visual style.
- Total Films in the Saga: 5
- Total Books Adapted: 4 (with the final book split into two films)
1. Twilight (2008)
The film that started the global phenomenon. It introduces Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) moving to the perpetually cloudy town of Forks, Washington, and meeting the mysterious Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). The plot focuses on their burgeoning, forbidden romance and the Cullen family’s efforts to protect Bella from a trio of nomadic, hostile vampires, led by James.
- Director: Catherine Hardwicke
- Release Date: November 21, 2008
- Worldwide Box Office: ~$407.1 million
2. The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
Following a near-fatal incident at Bella's 18th birthday party, Edward leaves Forks to protect her, plunging Bella into a deep depression. This film introduces the Quileute tribe’s secrets, highlighting the growing bond between Bella and her best friend, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), who is revealed to be a werewolf. The climax sees Bella racing to Volterra, Italy, to save Edward from the ancient vampire coven, the Volturi.
- Director: Chris Weitz
- Release Date: November 20, 2009
- Worldwide Box Office: $712.1 million
3. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)
The central conflict in Eclipse revolves around a new threat: an army of newborn vampires created by the vengeful Victoria, who seeks to kill Bella. The film features an uneasy alliance between the Cullen family and the Quileute werewolf pack to fight the newborns. It also brings the love triangle between Bella, Edward, and Jacob to a head, forcing Bella to finally choose her immortal future.
- Director: David Slade
- Release Date: June 30, 2010
- Worldwide Box Office: $698.5 million
4. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (2011)
The first half of the final book focuses on the long-awaited wedding of Bella and Edward and their subsequent honeymoon. The film takes a dramatic and dark turn when Bella becomes pregnant with a half-vampire, half-human child, a pregnancy that nearly kills her. To save her life, Edward is forced to turn Bella into a vampire, setting the stage for the final confrontation.
- Director: Bill Condon
- Release Date: November 18, 2011
- Worldwide Box Office: $731.9 million
5. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012)
The grand finale sees Bella as a powerful newborn vampire, fully embracing her new life and motherhood to her daughter, Renesmee. The film culminates in a massive, epic confrontation between the Cullen family, their international vampire allies, and the imposing Volturi, who believe Renesmee is an illegal immortal child. The film is known for its shocking and unexpected twist during the final battle sequence.
- Director: Bill Condon
- Release Date: November 16, 2012
- Worldwide Box Office: $868.5 million
The Saga’s Legacy: Box Office Dominance and Cultural Impact
Despite being largely panned by critics, The Twilight Saga proved to be one of the most commercially successful young adult franchises in cinematic history. The five films combined grossed over $3.36 billion globally, making it a financial powerhouse for Summit Entertainment and Lionsgate.
The franchise was instrumental in launching the careers of its lead actors, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner. Pattinson's portrayal of the brooding, glittering Edward Cullen, and Stewart's performance as the clumsy, relatable Bella Swan, became cultural touchstones of the late 2000s and early 2010s. The love triangle between the vampire and the werewolf (Jacob Black) dominated pop culture conversations and solidified the supernatural romance genre for a decade. The consistent success of the films proved the enduring power of the source material by author Stephenie Meyer.
The films also featured a deep ensemble cast of supporting characters, including the rest of the Cullen coven: Dr. Carlisle Cullen (Peter Facinelli), Esme Cullen (Elizabeth Reaser), Alice Cullen (Ashley Greene), Jasper Hale (Jackson Rathbone), and Emmett Cullen (Kellan Lutz). The recurring threat of the Volturi, led by Aro (Michael Sheen), provided a consistent, high-stakes antagonist throughout the series.
The Future of Twilight: The Confirmed Netflix Animated Series
While the original five movies officially conclude the story of Bella and Edward, the Twilight universe is set to return in a brand-new format. The most recent and significant update is the confirmation of an animated TV series.
In a move that has generated significant buzz among the fandom, Lionsgate Television announced a new project that will be an animated adaptation of the companion novel, Midnight Sun.
What is the Midnight Sun Animated Series?
The Midnight Sun book, released by Stephenie Meyer in 2020, retells the events of the original Twilight novel entirely from Edward Cullen's perspective. It offers a much deeper, darker, and more intense look into Edward's internal struggles, his initial desire to kill Bella, and his profound, overwhelming love for her. The animated series, which is reportedly heading to Netflix, will provide fans with a fresh, canon-compliant retelling of the classic story.
As of late 2025, a specific release date and cast have not yet been announced, but the project is confirmed to be in development. This animated reboot allows the franchise to revisit the beloved characters and the setting of Forks, Washington, without the pressure of recasting the original actors for a live-action series.
Summary of All Five Twilight Saga Movies
To recap the definitive count, here is a quick reference table for the five cinematic entries in The Twilight Saga:
| Movie Title | Release Year | Director | Worldwide Box Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twilight | 2008 | Catherine Hardwicke | ~$407.1 Million |
| The Twilight Saga: New Moon | 2009 | Chris Weitz | $712.1 Million |
| The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | 2010 | David Slade | $698.5 Million |
| The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 | 2011 | Bill Condon | $731.9 Million |
| The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 | 2012 | Bill Condon | $868.5 Million |
The five movies of The Twilight Saga—from the first meeting in Forks to the final battle with the Volturi—tell a complete, high-grossing story. With the upcoming Midnight Sun animated series, the saga is poised to capture a new generation of fans and offer an exciting new perspective for Twi-hards everywhere.
Detail Author:
- Name : Mr. Rodolfo Quigley Jr.
- Username : dariana.ratke
- Email : parker.garret@baumbach.org
- Birthdate : 1974-07-24
- Address : 197 Heaney Mountain Port Christina, IA 87515-5967
- Phone : +17317349001
- Company : Heaney and Sons
- Job : Waitress
- Bio : Ea blanditiis totam eligendi debitis at. Et laudantium harum et eius quidem suscipit. Nisi sit est autem autem eos ab qui fugit. Quo corrupti itaque est.
Socials
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/roobt
- username : roobt
- bio : Rerum quo asperiores molestias. Et unde officia dolorem delectus iusto.
- followers : 4370
- following : 851
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/tannerroob
- username : tannerroob
- bio : Temporibus aut neque esse quia.
- followers : 1291
- following : 1208
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/roobt
- username : roobt
- bio : Libero aliquam eos nemo inventore. Id corporis quod corporis et dolorem quas. Sunt voluptates eveniet sequi ratione quia illo eum.
- followers : 2682
- following : 2377
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@troob
- username : troob
- bio : Vitae voluptatem reprehenderit praesentium.
- followers : 4027
- following : 2267
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/tanner_roob
- username : tanner_roob
- bio : Excepturi soluta alias distinctio est quia deleniti voluptas sit.
- followers : 3731
- following : 2095
