10 Must-Watch Movies Like ‘Twilight’

Romeo + Juliet

Romeo + Juliet remains one of the original forbidden romances, inspiring centuries of stories of star-crossed lovers. Shakespeare’s tragic love story has been adapted to film several times, including 1996’s Romeo + Juliet, told in a modern-day setting with Shakespearean English.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes star as the titular characters, portraying the teens who fall in love despite their feuding families. This ’90s classic is a must-watch for viewers who are looking for the highs and lows of love and fate.

Romeo + Juliet is available to stream on Hulu. It can also be rented on YouTube, Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video and Fandango.

The Host

For fans who want to experience more of Meyer’s work, The Host delivers.

In 2008 — the same year Breaking Dawn was published — the author released a new book outside of the Twilight series, which received a movie adaptation in 2013. In the film, the human race is taken over by “Souls,” parasitic aliens who invade a host and suppress their consciousness.

Saoirse Ronan’s character Melanie Stryder is on the run when she is captured by a Soul called “Wanderer” who is tasked with using its host to find more humans. When Melanie’s consciousness isn’t fully erased, she becomes friends with Wanderer.

As the film progresses, Melanie and Wanderer work together and risk their lives for the greater good of humanity.

The Host is available to stream on Pluto TV. It is available to rent on YouTube, Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video and Fandango.

Fifty Shades of Grey

E.L. James’ Fifty Shades series — which famously started as Twilight fan fiction — soon turned into a hit franchise of its own. James’ trilogy spawned three corresponding movies, as well as three additional books released between 2015 and 2021.

The erotic drama stars Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele, a student at Washington State University who interviews billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) as a favor to her roommate.

Christian takes an interest in Anastasia and pursues her, leading to a steamy relationship between the two. All the while, Anastasia continues to uncover pieces of Christian’s dark past, leaving her to decide whether or not she wants to be involved with someone so dangerous.

Fifty Shades of Grey is available to rent on YouTube, Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video and Fandango.

Tuck Everlasting

Based on Natalie Babbitt’s novel of the same name, 2002’s Tuck Everlasting brought the story of Winnie Foster and Jesse Tuck to life.

Alexis Bledel starred as Winnie, a teenager from the town of Treegap. After being told she’s being sent to boarding school, she runs away into the forest and meets Jesse (Jonathan Jackson) as he’s drinking from the spring at the foot of a tree. She’s soon kidnapped by his brother and brought to their home, only to be released when she earns her trust.

At the Tucks’ home, Winnie learns their secret — after drinking from the spring, they don’t age and can’t be injured. Winnie starts to enjoy their way of life and falls in love with Jesse. She’s soon faced with a big decision — choose between love and immortality, or going back to life as she knew it before.

Tuck Everlasting is available to stream on Disney+.

Beautiful Creatures

Based on the 2009 young adult novel of the same name, Beautiful Creatures was adapted into a gothic fantasy film in 2013.

The movie follows Ethan Wate (Alden Ehrenreich), a teenager in Gatlin, S.C. Ethan is drawn to Lena Duchannes (Alice Englert), a mysterious new girl in town. Despite rumors that she’s a witch, Ethan and Lena strike up a friendship and begin to fall for each other.

However, Lena is holding a secret — she’s a caster, a person with magical powers. On her 16th birthday, she’ll learn whether she is claimed by the light or dark side of her family’s history. In the end, she must decide whether to end her romance with Ethan or put him in terrible danger.

Beautiful Creatures is available to rent on Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video and Fandango.

Beastly

A modern-day retelling of Beauty and the Beast, the 2011 romantic fantasy Beastly was loosely based on Alex Flinn’s 2007 book of the same name.

Set in modern-day New York City, Kyle Kingson (Alex Pettyfer), the arrogant son of a news anchor, gets cursed by Kendra Hilferty (Mary-Kate Olsen) after bullying her, not knowing that she’s a witch. Her curse transforms his appearance, covering his body in scars and making him bald. The only antidote to the curse is finding someone to love him by the following spring.

Now a recluse with only the company of a maid and a tutor, Kyle becomes infatuated with a former classmate, Lindy Taylor (Vanessa Hudgens). After saving her father from a drug deal gone wrong, Kyle persuades Lindy’s father to let her move in with him. Over time, Kyle opens up to Lindy, but their growing bond will be tested when his time runs out.

Beastly is available to stream on Pluto TV. It is available to rent on Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video and Fandango.

Warm Bodies

What if Twilight had zombies instead of vampires? Based on a 2010 novel of the same name, Warm Bodies is a 2013 romantic comedy with a paranormal twist.

Inspired by Romeo and Juliet, the romance picks up around eight years after a zombie apocalypse. Nicholas Hoult portrays R, a zombie who can’t remember his name, can’t speak, has no heartbeat and is only able to feel alive through the memories of the people he eats. While R is out hunting with friends, he comes across Julie Grigio (Teresa Palmer) and feels his heart beat for the first time.

R rescues Julie from the rest of the pack and keeps her safe, but she is suspicious of his intentions. He proves his sincerity and the duo hang out for several days, bonding over music and games. R’s heart continues to beat more and they’re eventually able to communicate. Julie begins to see the humanity of R — but not everyone is convinced, putting her future with R at risk.

Warm Bodies is available to stream on Fubo. It is also available on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Youtube TV.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Much like Meyer’s sweeping franchise, The Mortal Instruments is a young adult fantasy novel series by Cassandra Clare.

The series’ first book was adapted into 2013’s The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones starring Lily Collins as Clary Fray, a teenager from New York City, and Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace Wayland, a superhuman called a Shadowhunter.

Clary discovers a secret about herself — she’s not just a normal teenager, she’s descended from a long line of Shadowhunters. After her mom (Lena Headey) disappears, Clary joins Jace’s group and is introduced to the Shadow World, which is full of deadly secrets.

The books were later turned into a TV series, Shadowhunters.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is available to rent on YouTube, Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video and Fandango.

Red Riding Hood

While Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke didn’t return for the movie’s sequel, New Moon, she directed 2011’s Red Riding Hood.

This romantic fantasy film stars Amanda Seyfried as Valerie, a teenager in the village of Daggerhorn. Valerie is in love with her best friend Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry Henry Lazar (Max Irons). As such, Valerie and Peter plot to run away together, but their plans are thwarted when her older sister is killed by a werewolf that has terrorized the village.

The town brings in famed werewolf hunter Father Solomon (Gary Oldman), who warns the village that the werewolf takes a human form during the day and could be anybody. Valerie, alongside the people of Daggerhorn, try as they might to uncover the beast’s true identity, but the clock is ticking as more villagers are harmed.

Red Riding Hood is available to rent on YouTube, Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video and Fandango.

Blood & Chocolate

Annette Curtis Klause’s 1997 young adult novel Blood & Chocolate loosely inspired this 2007 fantasy horror film.

Vivian (Agnes Bruckner) is hiding a big secret about herself — she’s a werewolf. After spending her life concealing her true identity, she falls in love with a human named Aiden (Hugh Dancy), a graphic novelist who is conducting research on werewolves.

While her packmates disapprove of her romance with a human, Vivian continues to conceal her identity. She is forced to decide between her family and her romance with Aiden.

Blood & Chocolate is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, Pluto TV and the Roku Channel.