
Robert Pattinson has expressed surprise at the ongoing criticism that Twilight “ruined” the vampire genre, especially given that nearly two decades have passed since the film’s release. In a candid interview with GQ Spain, Pattinson, who portrayed Edward Cullen in the hugely popular saga, couldn’t help but laugh at people still holding onto this old criticism. He remarked, “I love that people keep telling me, ‘Man, Twilight ruined the vampire genre.’ Are you still stuck on that s—? How can you be sad about something that happened almost 20 years ago? It’s crazy.”
Despite his stardom stemming from Twilight, Pattinson has never been shy about his mixed feelings toward the franchise. Over the years, he’s suggested that many of its critics probably never even watched the films, instead forming opinions based on hearsay and popular judgment. Reflecting on the films’ massive success, Pattinson admitted that he thought the story was “too strange” when he first read the script. He described Twilight as a bizarre romance, saying it wasn’t a typical love story like The Notebook, but more of an obsessive tale, where the protagonist, Bella Swan, falls in love with a vampire who also wants to drink her blood.
Pattinson humorously added, “The Notebook is very, very sweet and heartbreaking and stuff. Twilight is about this guy who finds the one girl he wants to be with and also wants to eat her. Well, not eat her, drink her blood, whatever.” Despite his personal doubts, he acknowledged that there were certainly romantic aspects to the story, though he always found it a bit strange.
Since his Twilight days, Pattinson has sought out more diverse and complex roles, establishing himself as a versatile actor in Hollywood. His next big project is Mickey 17, a sci-fi film directed by the acclaimed Bong Joon Ho, slated for release on March 7, 2025. The movie, which also stars Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo, and Steven Yeun, is generating considerable buzz, marking another chapter in Pattinson’s evolving career.