Summit Entertainment's Twilight Saga, the movie adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's wildly popular book series, became one of the biggest film franchises of the last decade, and as the fan base grew, so did the premieres. Starting in 2008 with a throng of screaming tweens and teens eager for a glimpse of stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, the Los Angeles screenings quickly expanded to thousands of devoted followers willing to camp out days before the event to get a coveted spot by the red carpet. The studio moved to capitalize on the frenzy, setting up activities and entertainment as well as providing bathrooms, Wi-Fi, and food deliveries. The payoff for Summit was media attention worth millions of dollars.
The premiere parties themselves have been as impressive as the fan base, with detailed environments that echo the moody sets and fantastical themes of the movies. As the final installation of the franchise hits theaters today, here's a look back at the highlights from all five Twilight premieres, including the recurring Airstar moon centerpiece, foliage-laden lounges, live wolves, and, of course, the fan camps.
'Twilight' Premiere, 2008
The party that followed the screenings was held several blocks away at the Hammer Museum, taking over the venue's garden-level courtyard and the second story. Inspired by the Pacific Northwest setting of the film, producer Chad Hudson installed towering juniper, fir, and hemlock trees from Jackson to create a lush forest, and fog machines generated a mist that wafted through the crowd.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'Twilight' Premiere, 2008
The first Twilight premiere in 2008 saw a swarm of fans pour into Westwood Village. The crowds were already gathered when the producers started setup for the event at 6 a.m.; by nightfall the numbers had swelled, and 2,000 ticketed guests had to make their way through the throng to simultaneous screenings at Mann's Village and Bruin theaters.
Photo: Steff Garletts
'Twilight' Premiere, 2008
Another big set piece borrowed from an important prom scene in the film: A central bar got the look of a romantic gazebo ornamented with white lights. Lighting filtered through trees in the space, forming moody patterns on the Hammer's exterior walls and floor.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' Premiere, 2009
The second installment of the franchise, New Moon, returned to Westwood prepared for the thousands of fans that packed the area. ELS handled crowd control and security, working with city officials including L.A.P.D. and L.A.F.D., as well as the events team and security experts at SEM.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' Premiere, 2009
Following screenings at three theaters—the Village, Bruin, and Landmark's Regent—about 1,600 guests traveled mostly on foot across Westwood Village to the Hammer for the party. A clear tent on Lindbrook housed greenery and additional seating to accommodate the guests, 400 more than Twilight's first premiere party.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' Premiere, 2009
The party had an overall Italian theme—evocative of the setting for some of the movie's climactic moments—with an Italian menu and gelato carts arranged by Wolfgang Puck, giant urns filled with dramatic red roses, ornate gilded furnishings, and servers clad in red hooded capes. Upholstered bench seating surrounded a working fountain constructed by Angel City Designs in the courtyard.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' Premiere, 2009
As a nod to the wolves in the film, the premiere party also saw animal guests. Handlers wrangled two penned wolves from Animal Actors in the party's tent.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Premiere, 2010
A Summit-sanctioned encampment housed the Eclipse premiere's crowds, which started showing up the Monday before the Thursday screening. That year producer Chad Hudson estimated the fan camp garnered publicity equal to $3 million in advertising by the time the premiere kicked off
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Premiere, 2010
Held at the Nokia Theatre, the Eclipse screening was three times as large as that of Twilight's previous installment, with approximately 5,000 guests. During the arrivals, fans on risers screamed from the street and Nokia Plaza.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Premiere, 2010
About 3,000 guests shuffled from the theater to the party space on the Event Deck at L.A. Live, where motifs from the movie were represented in broody props and decor. A lake sat in the center of the tent, surrounded by fake snow, boulders, and foliage, while an Airstar moon hung overhead.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Premiere, 2010
White furnishings, fake snow in glass vessels, and white roses and hydrageas gave the Eclipse premiere party a snowy feel.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Premiere, 2010
Purple flowers filled boxes outside the party tent as a reference to scenes from the movie.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1' Premiere, 2011
For the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1, Summit Entertainment and event producer Chad Hudson drew campers by posting information about the premiere—and related details like parking—to fan sites and social media. About 1,200 enthusiasts filled four camps downtown in the Nokia Plaza at L.A. Live and Chick Hearn Court, and organizers opted to reward them for their devotion. That included a 15/40-produced concert with musicians on the film's soundtrack, a book signing and giveaway from author Stephenie Meyer, and a visit from cast members including Charlie Bewley, Kiowa Gordon, Tinsel Korey, and Kellan Lutz. The biggest surprise of all: Staffers handed out premiere tickets to the entire group just ahead of the movie's start time.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1' Premiere, 2011
The sprawling arrivals spectacle saw 5,000 guests make their way through the Nokia Plaza at L.A. Live, while campers in the balcony added a soundtrack of deafening hoots and hollers.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1' Premiere, 2011
After the show, 3,000 guests headed up to the Event Deck for a tented party that borrowed its look and feel from the movie's big wedding and honeymoon scenes. A giant Airstar moon hung above a beach vignette complete with projected ocean from Kinetic Lighting.
Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1' Premiere, 2011
Drawing from the film's wedding scene, the producers installed a dramatic floral canopy and arch in the center of the party space. Branches and foliage complemented the look.
Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1' Premiere, 2011
The prop wedding cake from the movie was on display at the premiere party. Before the event, a photo booth in the fan camp allowed the Twilight devotees to snap shots with the piece and cardboard cutouts of cast members. (When the cake later appeared at the party, the producers replaced its fake flowers with real ones.)
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere, 2012
Once again, fans camped out before the premiere, this year appearing five full days before the screening of the final Twilight film. Chad Hudson Events oversaw the organized camping, where demand was so high for spots that organizers resorted to a lottery system to whittle the crowd down to about 2,000. In the completely closed Chick Hearn Court, as well as a second overflow fan camp at the Event Deck at L.A. Live, the crowds had access to activities, including screenings of past films in the series. All campers were invited inside to see the screening in the Nokia Theatre as well as overflow seating at the Regal Cinemas.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere, 2012
Following the screening, a crowd of about 3,500 guests moved upstairs to the Event Deck and found a look that nodded to Breaking Dawn—Part 2 and all the other films in the saga—"kind of like a museum" honoring the series' history, said producer Chad Hudson. Costumed staffers, dressed to resemble characters from the movie, greeted guests.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere, 2012
An Airstar moon—the single element that has carried through Twilight's premiere parties over the years— hung over the tented party space.
Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere, 2012
For the first time on public display, the wedding costumes from the series served as a centerpiece at the premiere party.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere, 2012
The prop rings from the series were on display alongside a photo of the stars.
Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere, 2012
A vignette meant to evoke the series' Italian settings made a dramatic impact in one area of the party space.
Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere, 2012
A fountain surrounded by a padded bench, red-hued decor, and foliage recalled the design of New Moon's premiere party at the Hammer Museum.
Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere, 2012
As they did with the premiere party in 2009, the organizers brought in live wolves as a nod to the mystical creatures in the series. For the Breaking Dawn—Part 2 event, the animals roamed a pen just outside the party tent.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere, 2012
Fields of tall grasses and purple flowers captured some of the series' more memorable moments.
Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere, 2012
The word "forever," a central concept from the book and film series, decked a cascading water wall from Angel City Designs.
Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere, 2012
Twilight clips ran on the back wall of the party tent.
Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere, 2012
Filled with props and costumes from all the films in the saga, the Event Deck had a museum-like feel.
Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere, 2012
In an area designed to emulate the film's school setting, caterer Along Came Mary created cafeteria-style buffets.
Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
