The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 26, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Film›The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1
Entertainment • Film

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is a 2011 American vampire romantic fantasy film directed by Bill Condon and written by Melissa Rosenberg, based on Stephenie Meyer’s 2008 novel Breaking Dawn.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is a 2011 American vampire romantic fantasy film directed by Bill Condon. It is the fourth installment in The Twilight Saga film series, based on Stephenie Meyer's 2008 novel Breaking Dawn. The film stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner.

Plot

The film centres on Bella Swan and Edward Cullen's wedding, honeymoon, and the complications that follow when Bella becomes pregnant with a half-human, half-vampire child. The pregnancy creates conflict with Jacob Black, the Cullen family, and the Quileute wolf pack.

Production

Bill Condon directed the film from a screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg, adapting Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn. It continued the story arc established by the earlier Twilight films.

Release

The film premiered at the Rome Film Festival on October 30, 2011, and was released in U.S. theatres on November 18, 2011. It later became available through home media and streaming platforms.

Reception

The film was a major box-office success, earning about $732 million worldwide. Its commercial performance placed it among the top-grossing films released in 2011.

Key facts

  • It is the sequel to The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010) and the fourth installment in The Twilight Saga film series.
  • The plot follows Bella and Edward after their wedding, including their honeymoon and Bella's pregnancy.
  • The film premiered at the Rome Film Festival on October 30, 2011.
  • It was theatrically released in the United States by Summit Entertainment on November 18, 2011.
  • The film grossed about $732 million worldwide and was one of the highest-grossing films of 2011.
🍁
Canadian context

The film was released internationally, including in Canada, as part of the global Twilight franchise that had a large Canadian teen and young-adult audience.

Frequently asked questions

What is Breaking Dawn – Part 1?
It is a 2011 American fantasy romance film and the fourth entry in The Twilight Saga film series.
Who directed the film?
Bill Condon directed the film.
Who stars in the main roles?
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner star as Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, and Jacob Black.
What is the film based on?
It is based on Stephenie Meyer's 2008 novel Breaking Dawn.
When was it released?
It premiered on October 30, 2011, and was released in U.S. theatres on November 18, 2011.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twilight_Saga:_Breaking_Dawn_%E2%80%93_Part_1
    Supports: Director, screenplay, cast, plot overview, premiere date, U.S. release date, and worldwide box office
  2. Disney+ — https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-4991b563-11ab-43c5-ac70-de7ca1ac2952
    Supports: Runtime, genre, director, cast, and plot description
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_twilight_saga_breaking_dawn_part_1
    Supports: Director, producers, release date, runtime, rating, and synopsis
  4. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/70202142
    Supports: Release year, genre, cast, and short synopsis
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1324999/releaseinfo/
    Supports: Rome Film Festival premiere date and original title