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Twilight may not be the best movie franchise in history, but its cultural impact is undeniable. Most of the actors from the franchise have gone on to much bigger and better things despite their beginnings in the young adult vampire romance adaptations. For example, Robert Pattinson said he wants everyone to just move on in a recent interview.
For some actors, Twilight was a stepping stone, and for others, it was a career highlight. The list below will take a look at some of the first film’s most iconic actors and their career-best performances. These picks range from the critically acclaimed to the ones that are Oscar-worthy in my heart.
Kristen Stewart in Spencer
Kristen Stewart’s role as Bella in Twilight propelled her to international fame, but it is far from her best role. Over the years, Stewart has really shown her range as an actor with roles like Melinda Sordino in Speak and Tracy in Into the Wild. However, where she really shines is in the Princess Diana biopic, Spencer. Biopic is a strong word for this film. Stewart even clinched an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her performance.
The film itself suffers in the portrayal of Diana as it’s a psychological fanfiction first before being a biopic. Nevertheless, Stewart gave an incredible performance that uplifted the entire film, transforming her character into a highly distressed yet resilient force. I hope Stewart takes on more roles like this that showcase her range beyond teenage girls caught up with the wrong people.
Robert Pattinson in Good Time
Robert Pattinson has been trying to shed his Twilight image for years, and after his upcoming role as the lead in Parasite director Bong Joon-Ho’s Mickey-17, this is a strong possibility. Pattinson is well-known for not having the best opinion of the Twilight series, but he has also made the strongest effort of the cast to distance himself from the franchise and show off his series acting chops.
Now, I know what you may be thinking: How did you NOT pick his role as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter!? Just kidding, I know the bigger shocker is why his best role is not as Batman or in Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse. For full transparency on the latter, I haven’t seen it. I know, I know–I need to. However, I believe Pattinson’s performance in the Safdie brothers’ Good Time is mind-bogglingly different from his other roles. He breaks free from his broody typecast and is a desperate and loyal brother.
Taylor Lautner in The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D
Yes, I am completely serious about this take. I am a Sharkboy and Lavagirl defender till I die. This cinematic masterpiece has been too hated on for far too long. The film seems corny, but it’s actually camp when you think about it. The highly exaggerated Planet Drool, along with the Dream Graveyard, hold important real-life messages about never giving up. Taylor Lautner as Sharkboy transcends just our childhoods and remains one of the best Halloween duo costumes ever.
It’s funny because I would also consider Twilight camp in today’s age, but I guess that’s Lautner’s style. Today, Lautner is working on a show that feels like it was taken from the Dream Graveyard. Taylor Lautner: Werewolf Hunter is a real series currently in development at Amazon, with Lautner playing the lead. It takes place in an alternate timeline where, after playing Jacob Black, Lautner is recruited by werewolf hunters because of his knowledge of playing one.
Nikki Reed in Thirteen
Nikki Reed played Rosalie Hale in Twilight, which is probably the role she is most known for. However, her role as Evie in Thirteen is so underrated. Thirteen is one of those movies that is only recognizable when you see the poster. This is one of those movies that you watched with your friends at a sleepover and didn’t know it was going to be as deep as it was.
Most people, including myself, are surprised to find out that Reed wrote the screenplay for Thirteen along with its director, Catherine Hardwicke. (Hardwicke, of course, went on to direct the first Twilight.) The 14-year-old Reed co-wrote Thirteen partially based on her own experiences as a teen. In many ways, this felt like a precursor to Euphoria.
Anna Kendrick in Pitch Perfect
A year after finishing up The Twilight Saga as Jessica Stanley, Kendrick went on to lead the Pitch Perfect films. Pitch Perfect genuinely changed pop culture as we know it, from the cup song that ruled my elementary school to Hailee Steinfeld singing “Flashlight” when no one asked her to and still paying the price for it today.
Every time I watch this movie, it just gets better and better. Also, Kendrick’s style in this film is making a comeback. Aca-scuse me?! Don’t pretend we all didn’t want to have her clothes growing up. Now that I am grown up, I am back in the same situation. Kendrick made acapella cool, and I can’t lie and say I’m not excited for the upcoming fourth installment of the series.
Ashley Greene in…Well, Honestly, Twilight
To be honest, Ashley Greene’s best role is Twilight, and that’s not a bad thing playing fan-favorite Alice Cullen.
Twilight is really a universe of its own, but seeing how so many of the actors made it past their roles in what is, according to Robert Pattinson, a “weird” series and story goes to show that even in a film panned by critics, acting ability can shine. It’s still hard to believe actors like Stewart and Pattinson got their start as Bella and Edward. Fingers crossed for a Pattinson acting nomination soon.
More must-reads:
- 20 powerful lead singles that set the tone for massive albums
- '9-1-1' star Angela Bassett reveals the alternate death they filmed instead of Peter Krause's character
- 15 essential books written by musicians that everyone should read
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TODAY'S BEST
Former Yankees Outfielder Rips Aaron Boone, Brian Cashman
The New York Yankees have been having a rough couple of months, losing their once-dominant lead of the AL East. Now, both Yankees manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman are on the receiving end of some tough words by a former player, outfielder Clint Frazier. Boone has been criticized by a number of analysts (not to mention Yankees fans) for lineup and mid-game moves that range from head-scratching to downright bizarre, especially for a team that has been having a hard time securing wins. Cashman has repeatedly defended Boone, arguing that is knowledge of the players' capabilities is driving his decisions. To Frazier, Cashman's defense of Boone is self-serving because Cashman is the person who is responsible for Boone's tenure as manager. “When Cashman comes out and gives support to Boone, lowkey, I kind of feel like that’s self-preservation,” Frazier said on his podcast. “I know his resume is insane, but when he gives the confidence boost to Boone, I was saying ‘he’s got to, because Booney is the frontline of defense for him. I brought this guy in, and I have to support him, because he’s my guy.' Boone is Cashman’s shadow a little bit." Frazier, who played for the Pinstripes from 2017 to 2021, went on to discuss the Yankees' playoff chances, criticizing Boone for his lineup and mid-game decisions, which he claims will impact the team negatively during the post-season. “You need to make sure that you aren’t walking into it with bad decisions, because these are the decisions they’ll be doing in the playoffs,” he said. “They’re going to be way more under the microscope in the playoffs... You’ve got to make sure that you’re buttoned up and ready to go. If you start firing from the hip, it becomes a mockery of what every guy is trying to do.” While the Yankees are doing better now than they were at the time of Frazier's comments, surpassing the Boston Red Sox for second place in the AL East and securing the top spot in the AL Wild Card standings, they still aren't consistent. For New York to secure a trip to the World Series for the second year in a row, they're going to have to play better, which requires Boone to make better decisions. Make sure to bookmark Yankees On SI to get all your daily New York Yankees news, interviews, breakdowns and more! Yankees Have Advantage in Cody Bellinger Sweepstakes Former Yankees Pitchers Swap Places On NL Contender Hall of Famer Explains Leaving Red Sox for Yankees Mariano Rivera's Injury End of Yankees Old-Timer's Game? Four Yankees Among MLB's Top 25 Free Agents
Buccaneers' Shilo Sanders may have jeopardized chance to make 53-man roster
Saturday was not a good day for Shedeur Sanders and Shilo Sanders, two players competing for a spot on the 53-man roster of their respective teams, the Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hours after Shedeur took more sacks (five) than completions (three) and had a heated moment with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, Shilo was ejected from the Buccaneers' preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. "Bucs S Shilo Sanders has been ejected from tonight's game following an unnecessary roughness penalty," Scott Smith of the Buccaneers posted on X. Shilo appeared to take exception to Zach Davidson hitting and blocking him after a play had ended before the rookie took a swing at the Bills' tight end. The ejection came at a bad time for Shilo, who was competing with Kaevon Merriweather and Rashad Wisdom for the No. 4 safety spot on the depth chart. Before the game, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that Shilo's output against the Bills would be big in his evaluation before the team has to trim the roster to 53 players by Tuesday. "Shilo's very aggressive, very young, very hungry," Bowles said. "He can make plays in the box and we know he can run down and give us 100% on special teams, so this last week is going to be very important for those guys to show up." Following the ejection, Shilo lost critical playing time to show his strengths on the field. He also showed the coaching staff a short temper and cost Tampa Bay with an unnecessary penalty. Shilo will end his preseason with four total tackles. He has shown he has the talent to be in the league, but Shilo's role will likely be as a practice squad player until his play and mental strength develop.
Winners and losers from Packers' dominant preseason win over Seahawks
The Green Bay Packers have completed their last preseason game before the start of the NFL regular season, doing so in dominant fashion against the Seattle Seahawks. With a final score of 20-7, the Packers got the final word after the two teams had several brutal fisticuffs on Thursday’s joint practice. The team had several players star in their roles during their final auditions before roster cuts on Tuesday, but while Saturday’s game was all Green Bay, several players also missed their chance to leave a lasting impression. Winner: Ty’Ron Hopper impresses with several splash Plays Any Green Bay Packers fans who watched Saturday afternoon’s preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks are now familiar with the name Ty’Ron Hopper. The second-year linebacker out of Missouri was all over the field, making several impressive plays. He finished with three tackles, a sack, and some good plays in coverage as well. Additionally, he had a forced fumble on a fourth-down play where Seahawks QB Jalen Milroe had achieved enough yardage to move the chains, but found himself unable to hold onto the ball. Hopper was not a name getting a lot of attention entering camp, but there’s no chance of him not making the roster following an excellent preseason. With starters Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, and Isaiah McDuffie cemented as the top three ‘backers for the team, Hopper appears to firmly have his hands on the reins for the fourth spot. Winner: Kalen King makes his presence felt Kalen King may have been an outside shot to make the roster a few weeks ago, but it seems like many think the former Penn State star has done enough. King ran with some of the Green Bay starters on defense during the opening periods of the game and had several important contributions. None stands out more than his fumble recovery, which was one of four turnovers forced by the team on the afternoon. In addition to the fumble recovery, he had a strong tackle on Jalen Milroe as the Seattle quarterback scampered towards the end zone, which resulted in no gain. While the secondary remains an area of concern for the Pack, King looks like he may have done enough to ensure he is a part of it entering the season. Loser: Rookie Anthony Belton still has a lot to learn Rookie offensive tackle Anthony Belton has certainly had his struggles this preseason. Just a week after being called for five first-half penalties against the Indianapolis Colts, Belton continued to show up with some poor moments against Seattle. Although he was only called for one false start on Saturday afternoon, head coach Matt LaFleur was seen ripping into Belton during the late first half. Later, it was revealed that LaFleur was upset with Belton’s stance on a third–down play where the team was hoping to secure field goal position. Belton will likely not be counted on for many snaps on offense this upcoming season. He clearly has a way to go before he can develop into a reliable player. Loser: Sean Clifford fails to impress in third-string QB battle King certainly had a strong day, but for another Penn State alum, it was more of a struggle. Reserve quarterback Sean Clifford did not have his best outing in limited action. Clifford finished 6-9 passing, but managed only 19 yards. He had multiple inaccurate balls on some shorter throws that many would expect him to convert. Competing with Clifford for the last quarterback spot is Taylor Elgersma, who had a better day. He went 6-8 for 33 yards. Even though both QBs did not do much of note against Seattle, Elgersma has had a much better preseason overall. In fact, his QB rating was over double of that of Clifford’s entering the final preseason game. Saturday’s contest was a chance for Clifford to rebound, and he failed to take advantage of the opportunity. One other advantage that Elgersma has is that he is four years younger than Clifford. Despite Clifford being just a second-year pro, he is already 27 years old. Theoretically, Elgersma has more room to grow if he was kept around.
Kansas State HC defends controversial fourth-down call, blames field conditions in Ireland
Despite facing backlash on social media for the result, No. 17 Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman would go for it again on 4th-and-1 from the KSU 30-yard line with 8:19 remaining in the fourth quarter. The No. 22 Iowa State defense stopped quarterback Avery Johnson's run, and the Cyclones offense would score a touchdown four plays later to take a 24-14 lead. Chris Vannini of The Athletic thought the officials made a poor spot on the run, believing KSU earned a first down. However, the officials did not reverse the call after the replay. Following the game, Klieman told the media that the field conditions at Aviva Stadium played a role in the official's decision because rain washed away the line markers at the rugby/soccer stadium, despite crews repainting them at halftime. "The review was not going to help because you couldn't see the lines out there," Klieman said, via Wyatt D. Wheeler of the Topeka Capital-Journal. "It didn't matter. Give them credit; they made the stop. I was hoping we'd get the stop; they ended up scoring, and we ended up scoring right away again. They did a nice job getting a drive." The decision to go for the fourth-down conversion was the turning point in the game as it handed ISU a short field on offense during a contest where points were hard to come by. Klieman doubled down on his choice to go for it. "They just made a couple more plays than us on fourth down," Klieman said. "We didn't... I would do the same thing again based on how the game was going with us struggling to slow those guys down on 4th-and-1-and-a-half." The loss hurt KSU's standing in the Top 25 and record in the Big 12. The Wildcats have only one remaining Top 25 team (Texas Tech) on their schedule to impress the College Football Playoff committee.
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