Claim: The Twilight Saga's first installment was released in 2008.

Twilight is a 2008 American romantic fantasy film based on Stephenie Meyer 's popular novel of the same name . Directed by Catherine Hardwicke , the film stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson . It is the first film in The Twilight Saga film series . This film focuses on the development of the relationship between Bella Swan -LRB- a teenage girl -RRB- and Edward Cullen -LRB- a vampire -RRB- , and the subsequent efforts of Edward and his family to keep Bella safe from a coven of evil vampires .   The project was in development for approximately three years at Paramount Pictures , during which time a screen adaptation that differed significantly from the novel was written . Summit Entertainment acquired the rights to the novel after three years of the project 's stagnant development . Melissa Rosenberg wrote a new adaptation of the novel shortly before the 2007 -- 2008 Writers Guild of America strike and sought to be faithful to the novel 's storyline . Principal photography took 44 days and completed on May 2 , 2008 ; the film was primarily shot in Oregon .   Twilight was theatrically released on November 21 , 2008 ; it grossed over US$ 393 million worldwide . It was released on DVD March 21 , 2009 and became the most purchased DVD of the year . The soundtrack was released on November 4 , 2008 . Following the film 's success , New Moon and Eclipse , the next two novels in the series , were produced as films the following year .