---
title: "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"
year: 2010
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-twilight-saga-eclipse"
fi1m_id: "the-twilight-saga-eclipse"
imdb_id: "tt1325004"
tmdb_id: 24021
wikidata_id: "Q217010"
fi1m_score: 55
critics_score: 56
critics_reviews: 15
published: "2026-10-05T11:48:42.958838+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-05T11:49:00.393876+00:00"
region: "NO"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)

Directed by David Slade · 2h 04m · Adventure, Fantasy, Drama, Romance

## Identity

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-twilight-saga-eclipse
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-twilight-saga-eclipse
- **IMDb ID:** tt1325004
- **TMDB ID:** 24021
- **Wikidata ID:** Q217010
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1325004/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/24021, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q217010

**Fi1m score: 55** · Critics 56 from 15 reviews

*In a sentence:* Two boys argue over a girl in a tent while an army waits politely outside

> David Slade gives the third Twilight film a proper villain, a proper battle and some overdue jokes, and it is the best of the series so far. That is faint praise; between the fights, three people have the same conversation for two hours.

## Synopsis

Forks, Washington, the spring before graduation. Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) has made up her mind: she wants Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) to turn her into a vampire, and he will do it only if she marries him first. Her father, Charlie (Billy Burke), wants her to see less of Edward and more of Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), the werewolf on the La Push reservation who is in love with her and says so, loudly. Meanwhile in Seattle, young people are vanishing in the rain. Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard), the red-haired vampire whose mate the Cullens killed, is raising an army of newborns to come for Bella, and in Italy the Volturi, with Jane (Dakota Fanning) among them, are watching to see who deals with the problem first.

## Review

The third film from Stephenie Meyer’s novels arrives with a new director and a brief to toughen things up. David Slade made *Hard Candy* (2005) and *30 Days of Night* (2007), films in which people are hurt and the hurt shows, and he has been hired to give a series about not having sex some bite. He partly manages it. *Eclipse* has a villain with a plan, a battle at the end and a handful of lines that are meant to be funny and are. It is the best of the three so far, and it is still a film in which three people have the same conversation for 124 minutes.

Slade’s first scene is his best argument. A young man runs through Seattle at night, under a pier, in rain so heavy it reads as static, and something he cannot see keeps getting to him first. Javier Aguirresarobe shoots the whole film in the wet greys and greens of the Pacific coast, with the grain left in, and he lights the Cullens’ glass house, designed by Paul Denham Austerberry, so the family looks like a display in a shop window. When the vampires fight, they do not bleed. They crack and come apart like dropped crockery, and the sound of it is the film’s one properly unpleasant idea. Nancy Richardson and Art Jones cut the fights so that we can always tell who is hitting whom, which in 2010 is not a given.

Kristen Stewart is more awake than before; her Bella wants things and says so, and the film is better for it. Taylor Lautner plays Jacob as a boy who has decided honesty is a tactic, and he delivers the film’s best line, about which of them is hotter, to the right man at the right moment. Robert Pattinson spends most of the film looking pained and faintly powdered, as Edward must, and he has nothing to do but refuse. The grown-up is the one we enjoyed. Billy Burke’s Charlie, trying to talk to his daughter about being safe without saying any of the words, gave us the biggest laugh we had, and Charlie is on screen for perhaps ten minutes.

The villains are short-changed. Bryce Dallas Howard’s Victoria has red curls, a snarl and an army, and about four lines to go with them. Dakota Fanning’s Jane stands still in a black cloak and leaves. Melissa Rosenberg’s screenplay is more interested in the Cullens’ history, and gives Jackson Rathbone’s Jasper and Nikki Reed’s Rosalie each a flashback to how they died. Jasper’s, in Texas, is the most interesting five minutes in the film and is treated as a detour; it also has the hair, which has to be seen. Howard Shore scores all of this quietly, piano and low strings, and declines to tell us when to be stirred, which we respected and which does nothing for the pace.

Here is what we felt. For long stretches in the middle, when Edward asks Bella to marry him and she says not yet and Jacob asks her to choose him instead and she says she cannot, we were bored, and we noticed we were bored, and the film did not. Then, late on, there is a tent on a mountain, a girl freezing in a sleeping bag, and two men who cannot stand each other talking over her in the dark. We expected to laugh. We did not. Tish Monaghan has put one of them in a good grey coat and the other in nothing above the waist for most of the film, and the joke of that is plainest in a tent in a snowstorm, yet with nothing to do but talk, Pattinson and Lautner finally sound like two people rather than two positions. It is the only scene in which the triangle is a story.

Against Slade’s own work this is a tamed animal. *30 Days of Night* understood that a vampire frightens because of what it does to a body; here the certificate is 12A and the bodies are marble, so the big fight is a lot of statues breaking. Against the series it is a clear step up from *New Moon* (2009), which spent an hour on a girl staring out of a window. That is a low bar, and the film clears it, and then stands there.

If you are already in, you know, and you will have a better time than last time. If you are the person being brought along, it is 124 minutes, the last twenty are the good ones, and Billy Burke will get you through the rest.

*Fi1m score 55, published 5 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics agree that Eclipse is the best of the Twilight films so far, and several add that this is faint praise. Approval clusters on David Slade’s direction, the climactic battle, which several reviews single out as the first action in the series worth the name, and dialogue that is sharper and wrier than before. Taylor Lautner is the performer most often mentioned; more than one reviewer says he comes close to taking the film from its leads. Kristen Stewart is credited with giving Bella more of a personality.

The spread is wide. Reservations cluster on length, repetition and the drawn-out abstinence plot, with the historical flashbacks, some poor wigs and one laughable effects shot also noted. A third of the reviews are negative: The Guardian finds the saga turgid, Slant finds it inert and no better than its predecessors, and Den of Geek calls it bloated and poorly acted, though even that review exempts Lautner.

## Straight answers

**Is The Twilight Saga: Eclipse worth watching?**

*The Twilight Saga: Eclipse* is worth watching only if you are already a Twilight follower, and we scored it 55. David Slade adds a proper villain, a proper battle and a few real jokes, which makes it the best of the first three, but for long stretches three people have the same conversation. The last twenty minutes are the good ones.

**How long is The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and what is it rated?**

*The Twilight Saga: Eclipse* runs 2h 04m. It is an adventure and fantasy film.

**Where can I watch The Twilight Saga: Eclipse in Norway?**

*The Twilight Saga: Eclipse* is streaming on Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max in Norway, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from kr 29.00. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and is it suitable for children?**

*The Twilight Saga: Eclipse* is a UK 12A, and its violence is bloodless by design: the vampires do not bleed but crack apart like dropped crockery, and the sound of it is the film's one properly unpleasant idea. The opening, a young man hunted through rainy Seattle at night, is the tensest stretch. Younger children may find that unnerving; teenagers will be fine.

**How does The Twilight Saga: Eclipse compare to Let the Right One In?**

*The Twilight Saga: Eclipse* and [*Let the Right One In*](https://film.one/film/let-the-right-one-in) are both love stories with a vampire in them, and the Swedish film is the better one by a distance. Tomas Alfredson makes a bullied boy's friendship with a vampire tender enough to unsettle, with young leads and wintry photography that earn a strong recommendation. *Eclipse* keeps reaching for that feeling and finds it only once, in a tent on a mountain.

**Is The Twilight Saga: Eclipse based on a true story or a book?**

*The Twilight Saga: Eclipse* is based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer, the third in her Twilight series, and is not a true story. Melissa Rosenberg's screenplay follows Meyer's interest in the Cullens' history, giving Jasper and Rosalie flashbacks to how they died. You do not need to have read the book, but the film assumes you know the previous two.

**What should I watch after The Twilight Saga: Eclipse?**

After *The Twilight Saga: Eclipse*, try [*Let the Right One In*](https://film.one/film/let-the-right-one-in) (2008, Fi1m 88): A boy, a vampire and a Stockholm estate in snow; the love story this keeps reaching for. Then [*Near Dark*](https://film.one/film/near-dark) (1987, Fi1m 82): Kathryn Bigelow’s vampires drive a blacked-out van across Texas and do not sparkle; and [*Buffy the Vampire Slayer*](https://film.one/tv/buffy-the-vampire-slayer) (1997, Fi1m 80): Seven series of a girl, a vampire and a wit the films never found.

### Reviews we read (15)

- **Empire**, Will Lawrence (85/100, inferred): Lawrence considers it the best Twilight film so far, with enough energy and humour to appeal beyond the fan base. He particularly praises Slade’s handling of the climactic battle and the film’s wry dialogue. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/twilight-saga-eclipse-review/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Kirk Honeycutt (85/100, inferred): Honeycutt finds that Eclipse finally gets the series’ tone right, balancing teenage passions with supernatural action. He especially praises David Slade’s direction and Taylor Lautner’s performance, which nearly steals the film. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/twilight-saga-eclipse-film-review-29767/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Betsy Sharkey (78/100, inferred): Sharkey finds the film a lively improvement on its predecessors, praising its blend of romantic tension, action and humor. She singles out Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner for bringing greater emotional depth to their characters, while faulting the historical flashbacks for dragging. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jun-30-la-et-twilight-eclipse-20100630-story.html)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (75/100, inferred): Debruge finds that this installment finally delivers the blockbuster scale the franchise deserves. He praises its action and visual effects, especially the climactic battle, while noting that weak makeup and wigs undercut the fantasy. [Read](https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/the-twilight-saga-eclipse-1117943068/)
- **Evening Standard**, Mark Williams (65/100, inferred): The critic finds the film more stirring than its predecessor, despite its limited action and a laughable CGI moment. They praise the romantic triangle’s screwball banter and its evocative tent scene. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/twilight-eclipse-is-lacking-bite-but-great-for-action-fans-7420586.html)
- **Screen Daily**, John Hazelton (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review, but its verdict is inaccessible. The available text does not reveal what the critic praises or criticizes. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/the-twilight-saga-eclipse/5015465.article)
- **Total Film**, Jane Crowther (3/5): Crowther finds this a lively improvement on the previous film, though it remains too long and unlikely to win new fans. She praises the sharper dialogue, expanded action and more convincing vampire-battle effects. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/eclipse-review/)
- **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (2/5): Huddleston’s two-star rating indicates an underwhelming film. The page metadata focuses on whether David Slade can give the franchise a Harry Potter-like reinvention, but the review text is unavailable. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-twilight-saga-eclipse-1)
- **Slant Magazine**, Simon Abrams (0.5/4): Abrams delivers a sharply negative verdict, finding the film illogical, inert, and no better than its predecessors. He singles out Slade’s darker look as the main distinction, but says it amounts mostly to visible film grain. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-twilight-saga-eclipse/)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (10/100, inferred): Bradshaw gives the film a scathing verdict, arguing the saga has become increasingly turgid. He particularly mocks its prolonged abstinence plot and the strained tension between Edward and Jacob. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jul/08/the-twilight-saga-eclipse-review)
- **Digital Spy** (70/100, inferred): The critic calls it a definite improvement over New Moon, though the angst and pacing can still wear thin. They praise Kristen Stewart’s portrayal of Bella and the added character detail for Riley, Jasper, and Rosalie. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a236375/the-twilight-saga-eclipse/)
- **Paste**, Ani Vrabel (70/100, inferred): Vrabel considers Eclipse the strongest entry in the series, while noting that this is faint praise. She praises Bella’s more developed personality and the screenplay’s self-aware humor, but faults the film for plot holes and predictability. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-twilight-saga-eclipse)
- **Eye for Film**, Susanna Krawczyk (65/100, inferred): Krawczyk finds the film pretty good overall, despite sappy moments and problematic relationships. She praises its clear, well-managed action scenes and the sensitive handling of Bella’s sexual feelings. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-twilight-saga-eclipse-film-review-by-susanna-krawczyk)
- **HeyUGuys**, David Sztypuljak (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the film overly long and repetitive, and says its darker tone does not overcome its weaknesses. He praises the vampire attack scenes and the climactic battle, while wishing the revenge plot received more attention. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/twilight-eclipse-review/)
- **Den of Geek**, Ron Hogan (1/5): Hogan delivers a strongly negative verdict, calling the film bloated, poorly acted, and weighed down by stilted dialogue. He singles out Taylor Lautner as the one principal actor still making an effort to convey believable emotions. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/twilight-eclipse-review/)

## Details

- **Director:** David Slade
- **Director:** David Slade
- **Screenplay:** Melissa Rosenberg
- **Novel:** Stephenie Meyer
- **Cinematography:** Javier Aguirresarobe
- **Editor:** Art Jones, Nancy Richardson
- **Music:** Howard Shore
- **Production design:** Paul Denham Austerberry
- **Costume design:** Tish Monaghan
- **Producer:** Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt
- **Cast:** Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan; Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen; Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black; Bryce Dallas Howard as Victoria; Dakota Fanning as Jane; Billy Burke as Charlie Swan; Peter Facinelli as Dr. Carlisle Cullen; Elizabeth Reaser as Esme Cullen
- **Runtime:** 2h 04m
- **First release (the US):** 23 June 2010
- **Genres:** Adventure, Fantasy, Drama, Romance
- **Budget:** $68 million
- **Box office:** $698 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZxJzhIPTTg

## Where to watch in Norway

- Amazon Prime Video: streaming
- HBO Max: streaming
- Amazon Prime Video: add-on
- Amazon Prime Video: rent kr 29.00, sd
- Apple TV: buy kr 79.00, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy kr 79.00, hd

*Checked 2026-10-05.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TH, TR, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Let the Right One In* (2008), Fi1m 88: A boy, a vampire and a Stockholm estate in snow; the love story this keeps reaching for. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/let-the-right-one-in.md)
- *Near Dark* (1987), Fi1m 82: Kathryn Bigelow’s vampires drive a blacked-out van across Texas and do not sparkle. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/near-dark.md)
- *Ginger Snaps* (2000): Two Canadian sisters, one bite, puberty as horror; funnier and nastier than anything here.
- *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* (1997), Fi1m 80: Seven series of a girl, a vampire and a wit the films never found. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/tv/buffy-the-vampire-slayer.md)
- *30 Days of Night* (2007): Slade’s earlier vampires, in Alaska, who bleed; see what he was hired for.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-twilight-saga-eclipse