The Twilight Renaissance explained With insights from three experts and fans: Giulia Locci, Andrea Amodio, and Giulia Pellegrini

For the twentieth anniversary of the Twilight book releases, the films based on Stephenie Meyer’s saga have returned to theaters. A simple comeback? Absolutely not. The cinematic revival had already taken place in 2018, ten years after the first Twilight movie hit theaters in 2008, recounting the love story between the human Bella Swan and the vampire Edward Cullen, portrayed by Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. But something feels different from the 2015 re-release. There’s a tingle in the air, a sense that’s clear and precise: the love, attention, and excitement around Twilight never really disappeared. It may have slowed for a bit, but we’re now fully in what’s being called a true Twilight Renaissance. To help us understand this phenomenon, we turned to three passionate experts who broke down the cultural moment behind Twilight’s return to cinemas and why it feels more alive, and brighter, than ever.

“There’s something nostalgic about this comeback”

“There’s definitely something nostalgic about this return,” explains Giulia Locci, a devoted fan, content creator focused on films, TV series, and books, podcaster, and actress recently seen in Grazia by Paola Columba. “It’s what happens when you grow up with sagas like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. I vividly remember the day I went to the cinema to seeTwilight with a friend who had already read the first two books. But beyond nostalgia, there’s been a genuine return of hype, a revival that even has its own name: Twilight Renaissance. And it all started with something incredibly silly. It all began with a 2018 meme on Tumblr, which later spread to Twitter and Instagram. It showedEdward textingBella, saying he saw a snail and found it ‘effervescent.’ From there, it exploded. In 2019, I reread the books and fell in love all over again. Then, in 2020, Stephenie Meyer released Midnight Sun, Twilight told from Edward Cullen’s point of view. Fans from the start knew that chapters of that book existed since the 2008 film’s production, when Meyer gave some pages to Robert Pattinson to help him understand the character. It was supposed to be released earlier, but after chapters were leaked, she decided not to publish it, until she finally did. Seeing the story through Edward’s perspective, who can read others’ minds while Bella Swan cannot read his, was thrilling.”

The literary impact of Twilight

Andrea Amodio, known online as libriconfragole, agrees on the nostalgia. On his Instagram profile dedicated to books, he’s often featured Twilight, and owns several special editions published by Fazi Editore, including a boxed set with glowing white covers and the “double” edition with Twilight on one side and Life and Death on the other. That “gender-swapped” version sees Bella Swan turned into Beau and Edward Cullen into Edythe, along with the rest of the characters (except for Bella/Beau’s parents). The perfect person, then, to explain the editorial value of Stephenie Meyer’s saga: “The release of Twilight had an enormous impact on publishing and literature. It brought the paranormal romance genre to the forefront, stories where characters experience supernatural events in urban settings, or what’s also called urban fantasy romance. Readers could easily identify with the world because it was familiar yet enhanced with fantastic elements. Before Twilight, there were already series like The Vampire Diaries and The Sookie Stackhouse Novels, which later became The Vampire Diaries and True Blood on TV. But Stephenie Meyer’s work made authors rediscover these genres, sparking a wave of new books and inspiring many to finally write their own stories.”

There have indeed been many literary attempts to replicate Twilight, which continues to attract both loyal fans and new readers. “Most current Twilight fans are adults,” continues Andrea. “It’s like remembering your first love. But there are also sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds discovering it for the first time. As for similar modern sagas, I’d mention Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series or Jennifer Armentrout’s Blood and Ash series. And of course, there’s Fifty Shades of Grey, which actually started as a Twilight fan fiction by E. L. James. Stephenie Meyer truly shaped an era, bookshelves were filled with stories inspired by her saga, and later titles like After shifted these tales into the new adult genre, with college-age protagonists exploring passionate love and the challenges of adulthood.”

Twilight’s enduring cultural relevance

If longevity and continued conversation are signs of an enduring work, Twilight has certainly succeeded. Giulia Pellegrini, known online as Giuggi, a content creator with analytical YouTube videos and TikTok essays, emphasizes this point: “My deep dives started from personal passion. This saga has been with me since adolescence, it sparked my love for reading,” she says. “When I chose a topic for my master’s thesis, I decided to explore internalized misogyny in popular literature, which became the focus of my paper. Rereading the books, I was shocked by how many toxic behaviors the characters display, and how normalized they became for readers. That’s what led to my YouTube videos: combining my love for a pop culture phenomenon with critical discussion of its problematic aspects. It’s essential to deconstruct sagas like Twilight. They bring comfort and nostalgia, yes, but also deserve reflection on the dynamics that made them so famous.” 

According to Andrea Amodio, both the Twilight movies and books have become cultural cornerstones, instantly recognizable to anyone. Giulia Locci adds, “Even those who’ve never watched the films can recognize a still from Twilight.” The original fandom was also fueled by Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart’s real-life romance, which amplified the hype. And as Giulia Pellegrini points out, discussions and theories about Twilight seem endless: “The reflections are infinite, especially now that audiences are more aware, including those who grew up with Twilight. I’ve always suspected Jacob Black was pushy, but rereading the books, I realized Edward Cullen is even more controlling. I also think about Stephenie Meyer’s Mormon faith, which influences Bella’s self-sacrifice during her pregnancy, refusing to give up the baby that’s literally killing her, while Rosalie won’t even call it a fetus. Or Carlisle Cullen, often seen as a benevolent father, who might have turned his ‘family’ into vampires out of selfishness. My favorite theory is that from Charlie Swan’s perspective, the whole story is basically a horror movie! Twilight invites endless readings, and thankfully so.”

Once a Twilight fan, always a Twilight fan

Whether through spin-offs, sequels, or prequels, the fans we spoke with wouldn’t say no to more stories from Stephenie Meyer. “My favorite side book is The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner,” says Giulia Locci. “It’s about a young girl turned by Victoria in Eclipse to join her army. She’s part of a street gang of newly turned vampires, rough, brash, and fun to read about. I love when Meyer moves away from Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, and I’d love to see her write a vampire story set in a different era, not in a contemporary urban fantasy setting.” The most anticipated continuation, agreed upon by Andrea Amodio and Giulia Pellegrini, and shared by Giulia Locci, is the rumored sequel centered on Jacob Black and Renesmee Cullen.

Why fans still love Twilight

The best thing about Twilight fans? Their complete self-awareness. “I think Twilight will remain a cornerstone of our generation,” says Pellegrini. “Longtime fans rewatch it religiously every year to mark the start of fall; others watch it to make fun of it. And they’re right: Twilight is cringe and problematic, but that’s exactly why we love it. It’s impossible to take seriously anymore; it’s become a giant meme. Social media keeps it alive through edits, reactions, and endless discussion. Honestly, who doesn’t know Twilight? The story’s structure and romantic triangle are classic: the beautiful, rich vampire who lives for you, the cursed werewolf who protects you and fights your boyfriend, it’s the essence of the romance genre, exaggerated just the way we like it. So yes, we’ll keep talking about Twilight for a long time. Because beyond its pop culture charm, it’s also a source of critical conversation, and that’s what makes the Twilight Renaissance truly timeless.”