Shots are fired, a life is lost and major twists are revealed. From cliffhangers that keep you glued to the screen to moment-by-moment developments that shock you, television is chock full of magnificent surprises.
Some spoilers, like the revelation that Kevin Spacey is Keyser Soze, help you appreciate the clever construction of a story while others can ruin a great plot. Luckily, there are plenty of surprises that don’t spoil a show.
1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1
The Twilight Saga dominated teen culture for years. While often mocked at the time due to arguably poor writing and classic cultural vitriol against anything that teenage girls like, the franchise is now largely looked back on with endearment.
While the saga is best known for its romance, vampire hijinks, and a handsome werewolf falling in love with Bella, there are also some unexpectedly memorable moments that make the films stand out. Here are 10 of the most over-the-top scenes from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.
Note: Some of the following clips contain flashing lights that may trigger seizures for individuals with photosensitive epilepsy. You can stream the movie on Showtime and Hulu or buy it on DVD and Blu-ray. For more information, click here. This article originally appeared on IndieWire. It has been updated for the latest home video release.
2. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2
In this, the final movie in the Twilight franchise, things get both romantic and horrific. Bella and Edward marry, which leads to her becoming pregnant and giving birth in what is arguably the most traumatizing scene ever put on film. Then the rogue vampire coven (complete with hissing and growling) comes to town, forcing Bella into a full-on battle with them.
Luckily, Jacob (Taylor Lautner) is around to save the day with his impressive wolf transformation. That’s just one of the many over-the-top moments in this movie, which is a bit more action-packed than the other entries in the series. It’s also where Bella finally meets her daughter, Renesmee, whose accelerated growth makes her very special indeed. The Volturi are on their way to Forks, too, and you’ll have to watch the film to find out what happens.
3. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 3
There’s a lot of violence in Breaking Dawn – Part 2, but the most disturbing scene by far is Bella’s birth. The half-human, half-vampire baby (later known as Renesme Carlie Cullen) is born during a C-Section.
BhagyaLakshmi Written Update is so over the top it’s hard to watch and will likely make younger viewers uncomfortable. It also includes a discussion about abortion and fetuses, which could confuse or appall them.
The movie builds to one of modern fiction’s biggest anti-climaxes as the Cullens convince the Volturi that their hybrid daughter isn’t a prohibited immortal child. Condon and his team took a huge risk with this climax, and they paid for it with some unintentional hilarity.
4. The Twilight Saga: New Moon
After the first Twilight movie exploded into a massive success, director Catherine Hardwicke returned with New Moon. It follows Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and her relationship with Edward Cullen, a mysterious vampire who lives in the small town of Forks.
The film has so many memorable moments, including Bella’s prom night with Edward and the first time she saw his piercing white eyes. But it’s also home to one of the franchise’s best fight scenes, featuring the Cullens and a pack of werewolves fighting off Victoria’s army.
Director Melissa Rosenberg took a risk by adding the battle scene to New Moon, but Condon credits her for selling him on it. Plus, it gave Taylor Lautner’s abs a chance to shine. He’s just as sexy as ever, even in a shirt. It’s no wonder the series earned more than $3 billion at the box office.
5. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
The “Twilight” movies are both derided and beloved, and whether you’re a first-time watcher or just hunkered down to see them for the 101st time, it’s hard not to notice that the films are rife with drama and humor. The 2008 first movie, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, is full of memorable scenes, including Bella hitting Jacob with her truck’s door (which, ok, is probably supposed to be dramatic but also feels more like a blooper).
But the big Twilight moment that everyone’s talking about involves the final film in the series, Breaking Dawn – Part 2. It took a wild turn from Meyer’s books at the end, and the resulting battle scene pitted the evil Volturi against our favorite good guys (including Michael Sheen’s Aro and Peter Facinelli’s unkillable Carlisle). Condon says that Summit used a special test audience of 75 super-fans to help sell the change.
6. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 4
The final installment of the Twilight Saga franchise raked in over $800 million at the box office. Its popularity spawned five sequels and numerous spin-offs. But not everything in this epic saga was flawless.
For example, when Bella walked into biology class, Edward was able to smell her even though she didn’t come close to him. He then flew into a rage, causing her to wonder if she had some kind of body odor that he didn’t want to be around.
Another funny moment is when Edward tries to convince Bella that vampires are dangerous. He uses sweeping camera angles and dramatic lines to make his point, but he ends up making us laugh instead of taking him seriously. That’s because his attempts at menacing glares fall flat on their face. The same can be said for some of the fight scenes.
7. The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Twilight fans have a lot to love about the sequel New Moon. It features Romeo and Juliet allegories, the introduction of the villainous Volturi, and, of course, Bella’s whirlwind romance with Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner).
But there are some things even dedicated Twilight fans may have missed, from the obvious to the downright weird. For example, if you look closely at the scene where Charlie first drives Bella into Forks, you’ll notice there’s no driver in the truck. And there’s a reason for that: Muse’s “Supermassive Black Hole” is playing. It’s an iconic music moment in one of the most iconic movie moments. It’s also a great song in its own right. Watch it for yourself here.
8. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 5
The final chapter of the Twilight franchise was one of the most impactful to date. The Volturi—the villains of the film—seek to destroy Bella and her newborn daughter Renesmee after she reveals that she is a vampire.
This scene is meant to convince the audience of how dangerous vampires are. It involves sweeping camera angles, dramatic lines, and even a Tokyo drifting Edward. But, it’s also hilarious.
It’s hard to take grown people who hiss and growl at each other seriously when they are fighting. While the scene is dramatic, it’s a little over the top. And, the fact that Bella hits Jacob with her truck door makes it a bit of a blooper. But, that doesn’t detract from its importance as a twisty moment in the film. You can find more fighting behind scenes on TikTok!
9. The Twilight Saga: New Moon
In 2008, teenage girls all over the world fell in love with vampires and werewolves thanks to the release of The Twilight Saga. The film series was a major hit, but it also had its share of problems. Most notably, the films promoted unhealthy messages for teen girls, such as catatonic depression and cutting ties with friends after a breakup.
But there were also a few moments of unintentional humor and drama that have become synonymous with the franchise. Here are a few of the most memorable.
10. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 6
The best TV shows have unexpected twists and shocking moments that keep viewers engaged. But sometimes, these scenes can be a bit too over the top. Some of them even become humorous instead of shocking.
This scene is a good example. It’s supposed to show how dangerous vampires are, but it ends up being funny thanks to Pattinson’s overly dramatic expressions and sweeping camera angles.
Another example is when Bella hits Jacob with her truck’s door. It’s meant to be a dramatic moment that proves her clumsiness, but it’s just too silly to take seriously.
