Twilight is the Greatest Fantasy Franchise Of All Time

The 2000s were a major time for fantasy adaptations. From Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter to The Hunger Games, fans were seeing their favorite series leap from their imaginations onto the screen. Sure, they may not have been one-to-one replications, but for the most part, they were satisfactory.

However, there was one series that arguably had a cultural impact unlike any other during this time period, and that was The Twilight Saga. Adapted from Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling series, the films seemed to take on an entirely new life of their own. Despite questionable reviews and public mockery, the franchise has remained iconic and influential. Now, the entire Saga has arrived on Peacock to immediate streaming success, nearly 20 years after it first began.

Twilight’s Streaming Success Feels Inevitable With Its Fantasy Legacy

The Twilight Saga was the blueprint for romantasy before the genre truly took off. It’s the story of the love triangle to end all love triangles between Bella (Kristen Stewart), her vampire on-and-off boyfriend Edward (Robert Pattinson), and her werewolf best friend Jacob (Taylor Lautner). In the midst are, but are absolutely not limited to, centuries-old cults, Confederate vampires, imprinted newborns with terrible names, and Bella’s dad, Charlie (Billy Burke), who really deserves better throughout it all.

When laid out like this, it is an intriguing, yet ridiculous story. However, it’s ridiculous in an earnest, charming way that likely contributes to its continued success. Seamlessly weaving its fantastical elements into its real-world setting, its worldbuilding is among the best of its time. Some plot details and mysteries are intentionally left up in the air, but unlike many other contemporaries, that’s a feature and not a bug. All of this is tied together with its memorable cast of characters. Sure, it has been ridiculed for its controversial romances and interesting dialogue, but when putting it in this perspective, it’s hard to argue against its place among the fantasy greats.

As such, the series has naturally aged into a comfort watch for many fans. No matter where the series ends up dropping in the streaming landscape, it consistently spends time among the Top 10, as the first entry is doing right now on Peacock.

The Impact of The Twilight Saga Continues in New Streaming Releases

Edward and Bella embrace on their honeymoon

Suffice to say, it’s unlikely that fans will be getting any new Twilight movies any time soon, as the two retellings of the original story Meyers published wouldn’t really work on the screen. That wouldn’t stop the hundreds of authors, both likely and directly inspired by its impact, from creating their own future bestsellers.

Many of these releases would later get adaptations of their very own, birthing the current romantasy craze taking over BookTok and the publishing world. Adaptations like The Fourth Wing and Lore Olympus are currently in the works, with the new big thing constantly being scouted. The boom of the YA romance genre as a whole could have Twilight to thank, if one really thinks about it, as some of the biggest streaming releases have been similar book-to-media adaptations with a good girl/bad boy pairing. It was also the catalyst for the phenomenon of the fanfiction-turned-franchise, as seen with the steamy Twilight fanfiction that eventually became Fifty Shades of Grey.

In all honesty, to say that The Twilight Saga is influential would be an understatement. It has made its mark on millions of fans over the years, no matter where or how it was available. The fact that it continues to stay with fans even after its release is a testament to just how endearing its story actually is beyond the superficial understanding of it. Sure, it wasn’t out to be a Return of the King-style award winner, but it did what it needed to do: capture the hearts and imaginations of fans, many of whom would go on to carry its legacy.

All five installments of The Twilight Saga are now streaming on Peacock.