‘Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn’ Director Looks Back on the Backlash the Franchise Received

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The director of Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part. 1 and 2 recently discussed the negative reactions the series faced. He’s well-known for directing critically acclaimed dramas such as Gods and Monsters and Kinsey. He was hired to direct the last two Twilight Saga films, Breaking Dawn, and, similar to how Harry Potter handled The Deathly Hallows, they split the final book into two movies. Even though the Twilight franchise earned $3.3 billion at the box office and sold billions of dollars worth of merchandise, it has consistently been, and continues to be, widely criticized by many people.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter about his recent movie, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Condon discussed his experience making Breaking Dawn and the negative reaction the Twilight Saga faced. He stated, “It quickly became a popular target, and people felt they were above it, but I felt they were misunderstanding the film’s intent.” He continued, “It’s a large franchise that intentionally embraces its playful side. As a gay director, I personally believe I added a touch of campiness that was acceptable.” Condon also fondly recalled, “I have never, ever heard a scream as intense and prolonged as the one when we filmed the scene where Carlisle [Peter Facinelli]’s head was cut off.”

Condon also discussed the often unfair and sexist criticism directed at Twilight, especially considering its large female fanbase. He pointed out that a significant portion of what we consider important or classic in popular culture – media that’s taken seriously – is actually created for men, and that men often drive what’s considered good taste. Condon explained:

I believe something truly noteworthy about that series is that Twilight essentially caters to a female audience-they’re often described as ‘women’s pictures.’ It’s a story told from a woman’s point of view. I’ve lost count of how often people have said about the first film, ‘Not much happens,’ but consider this: she gets married, she has a baby, and she transforms into a vampire… I still believe that, despite everything, we largely exist in a society that prioritizes male perspectives. And that extends to the world of film-the people who decide what’s popular, and everything surrounding that, tends to be dominated by men.

I’ve truly enjoyed approaching my work with a different perspective. Sometimes I feel like I was born in the wrong era, as I consider myself something of a classic Hollywood filmmaker. In a film like Breaking Dawn, you could find emotion, beauty, humor, and a raw, enjoyable experience – qualities I aim for in all my projects. However, that focus on pure enjoyment isn’t always prioritized in contemporary cinema, so some people will inevitably dislike it. But, I see that as a sort of private accomplishment, a badge of honor, really. It’s about embracing what brings genuine pleasure, even if it’s not always what’s expected.

The ‘Twilight Saga’ Is Having a Cultural Moment Again


Summit Entertainment

The Twilight films weren’t exactly cinematic masterpieces-none of them achieved a score above 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. But it’s probably more accurate to say the series received an outsized amount of criticism from passionate fans. The Michael Bay Transformers films came out around the same time, and many would argue they were of lower quality; however, they didn’t face the same intense negativity as the Twilight Saga.

Interestingly, Twilight is seeing a comeback and a fresh look from audiences. While few would call them masterpieces, many now feel they may have been too critical of these generally harmless films. The lead actors, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, have become highly acclaimed performers. It’s also been helped by the fact that another popular young adult series, Harry Potter, has faced criticism due to J.K. Rowling’s views on transgender rights, leading Twilight to become a source of comfort and nostalgia for many millennials and older Gen-Z viewers.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Twilight, Fathom Events will be showing all five movies in cinemas for a week. Last year, Lionsgate revealed plans for a Twilight television series, following the model HBO is using for Harry Potter. It’s amazing to think it’s been thirteen years since Bill Condon’s Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 2 premiered, but the film and the entire series remain popular today.

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2025-10-04 02:03