Robert Pattinson Responds to People Who ThinkTwilightRuined Vampire Movies: 'Are You Still Stuck on That S---?'

Mar. 15, 2025

Robert Pattinson in 2009’s ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ and in 2024.Photo:summit; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

summit; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Pattison shot to superstardom as vampire Edward Cullen oppositeKristen Stewart’s Bella Swan in the series, the first installment of which came out in 2008.

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in ‘Twilight’ in 2008.Deana Newcomb/Summit Entertainment

Deana Newcomb/Summit Entertainment

In the years since it debuted, Pattinson has spoken candidly about the films that defined his early career, at one point saying, “The people who don’t like it are generally people who haven’t seen it, and they’re like all judgmental and stuff, and cynical people. But I think I am a judgmental and cynical person who would just mindlessly hate it without ever having seen anything.”

Pattinson has also expressed confusion at the film and book series' popularity, saying in a 2019VarietyActors on Actors interview withJennifer Lopez, “I mean, it’s a weird story,Twilight. It’s strange how people responded.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

“They are very romantic, but at the same time, it’s not likeThe Notebookromantic,” he said of the cultural phenomenon it became. “The Notebookis very, very sweet and heartbreaking and stuff.Twilightis 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.”

He continued: “I thought there were definitely bits that were very romantic. But to me, I thought it was a pretty weird story. and even when I was promoting it, I was pretty open about how strange I thought it was when I was doing it.”

Pattinson has also opened up about his attitude while making the first film, saying in an interview withGQthat he wanted to make it as “arty as possible,” despite the studio’s opposing views.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“And I was like, ‘Okay,’ " he remembered agreeing to his team. “And so that was the only thing that got me to sort of smile a little bit.”

source: people.com