The 2008 film "Twilight," directed by Catherine Hardwicke, runs 121 minutes in its original theatrical cut, according to Wikipedia's entry for the film. That's the number to use for scheduling a watch or comparing it against other versions, though a few home releases and regional ratings boards list slightly different figures. Those small variations come from disc transfers, re-releases, and conversion standards rather than any missing or added scene content. The sections below break down why the numbers differ, what's actually different about the extended and special editions, and where to find the film's end-credits song if you want to catch it this time.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Official Runtime?
- Are There Extended or Special Editions?
- What Plays During the End Credits?
- Where Do the Songs Come From?
- Which Version Should You Watch?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Official Runtime?
The theatrical running time of "Twilight" is 121 minutes, as listed in Wikipedia's infobox for the film. This is the figure that applies to the original 2008 theatrical release and most standard home video editions. A few sources list runtimes a minute or two off from 121. Blu-ray.com's catalog entry for the 2018 Lionsgate 4K Ultra HD release lists the runtime as 122 minutes for that two-disc 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and Digital HD set, which carries a PG-13 rating and came out October 23, 2018.
A one-minute difference like this is typical of frame-rate rounding between disc authoring and the original theatrical timing, not a sign of altered content. The United Kingdom's runtime reads shorter still. The BBFC's classification page for "The Twilight Saga: Twilight" lists an approximate running time of 117 minutes. That shorter figure is consistent with how UK certificates commonly report runtimes converted for PAL video speed, a technical playback-rate difference rather than a cut print.
Are There Extended or Special Editions?
Yes. A 2-disc DVD "Special Edition" arrived on March 21, 2009, adding a director and cast audio commentary, five extended scenes, five deleted scenes, music videos, and a making-of documentary, according to the Rotten Tomatoes editorial guide to Twilight on DVD. None of that bonus material is folded into the main feature; it plays as separate supplements you select from the disc menu.
A true extended cut of the film also exists, bundled into a 2015 Blu-ray triple feature with "New Moon" and "Eclipse." DVD Talk's review of that extended-edition set reports that the added footage across all three films' extended cuts totals less than 20 minutes combined, which means Twilight's own extended cut adds only a few minutes beyond its theatrical runtime. Target's retail listing for the "Twilight Saga" extended editions Blu-ray box set lists the included extended Twilight disc at 121 minutes, matching the theatrical length rather than running noticeably longer. If you're looking for a dramatically different cut of the story, none of these editions deliver one. The additions are minor scene extensions, not a reworked structure.
- Standard theatrical cut: 121 minutes, no bonus footage inside the film itself.
- 2009 Special Edition DVD: same feature, with commentary and deleted/extended scenes as separate extras.
- 2015 extended-edition Blu-ray set: a few added minutes of footage, listed at 121 minutes on the Twilight disc specifically.
What Plays During the End Credits?
"Decode" by Paramore plays during the film's end credits. Band singer Hayley Williams said in an interview that the song is placed as "the third song in the credits," far enough back that she doubted most theatergoers heard it during the original run, according to a Westword interview cited via AltPress. If you watched the film in a theater in 2008, there's a real chance you left before it played.
The opening credits carry a different song entirely. "Full Moon" by The Black Ghosts plays over the film's opening, according to Impact 89FM, so the music that greets you at the start is not the same track that closes the film out. If you're trying to track down a specific song from the film, knowing which end of the runtime it falls on will save you some searching.
Where Do the Songs Come From?
The songs used in the film come from a dedicated soundtrack album, separate from the orchestral score. "Twilight: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" was released November 4, 2008, on Chop Shop/Atlantic and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, according to Wikipedia's soundtrack entry.
This is the collection that includes "Decode" and other songs licensed for the film, as opposed to composer Carter Burwell's instrumental score, which was released as its own separate album. For anyone trying to buy or stream the exact tracks heard in the movie, the soundtrack album is the one to look for rather than the score. The two are easy to mix up since both carry the "Twilight" name, but they serve different purposes: one is the film's licensed song selection, the other is the underscore written specifically for the picture.
Which Version Should You Watch?
For most viewers, the standard 121-minute theatrical cut covers everything the film has to offer, since the extended edition's additions amount to only a few extra minutes. The 2009 Special Edition DVD is worth seeking out specifically for its commentary track and deleted scenes if you want behind-the-scenes material, not because the feature itself plays any differently. Whichever version you choose, stay through at least three songs in the end credits if you want to hear "Decode" play out, since Hayley Williams herself noted most theater audiences didn't make it that far.
- Want the standard film: any disc or streaming copy listing 121 minutes.
- Want bonus features: the 2009 2-disc Special Edition DVD, for commentary and deleted scenes.
- Want the extended footage: the 2015 triple-feature Blu-ray set, where the Twilight disc still lists 121 minutes but includes the added scenes.
- Watching in the UK: expect a listed runtime closer to 117 minutes due to PAL conversion, not missing content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the extended edition of Twilight tell a different story?
No. The added footage across the three-film extended-edition set totals less than 20 minutes combined, so Twilight's extended cut only adds a few minutes of scene extensions rather than new plot content, per DVD Talk's review.
Why does the BBFC list a shorter runtime than the US release?
The BBFC's approximate 117-minute figure reflects the PAL-speed conversion UK certificates commonly use, not a cut print, according to the BBFC's classification page.
Is the song during the opening credits the same as the end credits?
No. "Full Moon" by The Black Ghosts opens the film, while Paramore's "Decode" closes it, per Impact 89FM and the AltPress-cited interview.