Twilight's Most Over-The-Top Moments Ranked

It's no secret that the "Twilight" saga is practically overflowing with dramatics, campy dialogue, and ridiculous moments. The first film was made on a budget of just $37 million but became so successful that it spawned a blockbuster franchise. Still, the relatively low-budget production aesthetic of that first film remained for much of the franchise, giving the movies a goofy, overly dramatic charm that's become an intrinsic part of their legacy.

You already know the memes — sparkly vampire boys, creepy baby doll props, and an endless stream of so-absurd-they're-perfect lines. From angsty montages and deeply questionable indigenous representation to teenagers (sort of) falling in love with actual babies, there are plenty of things that happen in every "Twilight" movie that are likely to send first-time viewers blinking in befuddlement. Yet, in spite of — or perhaps because of — those moments, the franchise continues to be an absolute titan of modern pop culture.

Whether you're laughing at them or with them, the "Twilight" films are undeniably memorable, and some scenes leave particularly lasting images thanks to their sheer ridiculousness. Here are the most over-the-top moments in the entire "Twilight" saga, ranked.

When you really like a girl but don't know how to confess your feelings, the right move probably isn't stalking her on an outing with her friends. Unfortunately for Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), no one seems to have told him that. Of course, because this is "Twilight," Edward is rewarded for creepily following Bella (Kristen Stewart) to Port Angeles in the first movie because she ends up being accosted by a group of aggressive men.

Everything about this scene is over the top, beginning with the logistics. We start with Bella shopping for dresses with Jessica (Anna Kendrick) and Angela (Christian Serratos) in what appears to be full daylight. She says she's stepping outside for "a minute," and suddenly she's in a used bookstore at dusk. In the next shot, she's walking through claustrophobic footpaths and alleyways in what appears to be the middle of the night. After the first of the goons appear, she flees to — a massive warehouse parking lot?

Of course, none of this matters. The point is to get Bella in danger so that Edward can swoop in with his tiny car and save her. The thugs seem highly coordinated while pursuing her, but when Edward shows up, they're so drunk they can barely speak. Fortunately, all it takes is some death glares from the vampire to send the would-be attackers packing. Also, did we mention that Edward can Tokyo drift? Since this scene is grounded in the real danger women face when walking at night, it doesn't rate as highly as others on this list. Still, the staging and dramatics are elevated enough to earn it a spot.

Since Edward Cullen is an old-fashioned gentleman vampire, he refuses to consummate his relationship with Bella until they're officially married. That finally happens in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1." On their honeymoon, we see part of why he might have been so hesitant.

Bella and Edward's first night together begins with a moonlight swim and ends with their bedroom in absolute tatters. Edward's superhuman strength and apparent animal urges result in total carnage, though Bella remembers the evening quite fondly. What follows is a montage of sorts through the more intimate moments of their honeymoon, which also highlights the potential danger Bella must consider. To be more specific, Edward's strength at times seems too much, causing him to pull back for fear of hurting her.

Fortunately, this issue is eventually addressed through Bella's own transformation into a vampire. We can only imagine the abject destruction that must occur when both parties have superhuman strength — although the issue is almost certainly covered in fan fiction — but the results seem far more positive. Still, their first intimate encounter remains one of the franchise's more striking moments, both for its role as a long-awaited dramatic climax and the absurdity of the aftermath.

The climactic conflict that ends "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2" is notable for multiple reasons. On the one hand, the battle between the Cullen crew and the Volturi is easily the most exciting action sequence in the entire series. On the other hand, there's the controversial twist that the whole thing was just one of Alice's (Ashley Greene) visions.

It's easy to imagine some fans getting upset at this reveal, but it really only makes the battle that much wilder and, well, more "Twilight." We get the best of both worlds here — a thrilling and impressively choreographed fight scene with tons of drama and a shocking twist that actually makes sense within the context of the story. In a franchise filled with moments that are only ironically great, the end of the saga delivers a climax that's actually worthy of applause.

There are still some silly things here, to be sure, like how the vampires basically just become X-Men, with powers to match. Even then, though, it works. The "Twilight" films spend an inordinate amount of time harping on melodrama and slow-paced angst, which is undeniably part of the appeal. Still, it's nice to see the series let loose and have some real, honest fun. That's exactly what "Breaking Dawn — Part 2" does, and it does it the only way "Twilight" knows how — completely over the top.

While not quite as action-packed as the end of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2," the climax of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" gets bonus points because the fights actually happen. From the end of the first film onward, the villainous Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre, then Bryce Dallas Howard) lurks in the background like a shadowy plot device, just waiting for the story to call her name again. At the end of "Eclipse," she finally gets her chance at vengeance against Edward and Bella for the killing of her vampire lover James (Cam Gigandet), and the encounter is wild in about eight different ways.

From the minute Victoria's sad stooge rebound boy Riley Biers (Xavier Samuel) confronts Edward, the dramatics start flying like fireworks. There's a delicious "angel and devil on your shoulder" moment as Edward tries to convince Riley of Victoria's manipulation, which is interrupted when a wolf-form Seth (Booboo Stewart) freight-trains into the hapless fall guy from off-screen. Chaos ensues, then ends with both villains' heads being violently removed from their bodies.

This sequence has everything you're looking for: awkward cuts between obviously different takes, gloomy snarling, and a Riley kicking a wolf in the head. The dialogue oozes melodrama from start to finish, putting a tonally appropriate cap on a movie all about toxic relationships.

Most of the "Twilight" saga embraces the core driver of teenage angst, but "New Moon" takes it to a whole other level. After Edward and the other Cullens leave Forks for fear of bringing Bella harm, she falls down a seemingly endless hole of depression. Teen mental illness is a real and serious thing, which is probably part of why so many viewers resonated with Bella's journey in the film. Still, "New Moon" pushes things fully into the realm of melodrama.

The spinning montage sequence of Bella's depressive spiral is maybe the most iconic scene in the whole series. As the camera lethargically swoops around her, the names of the passing months fade in and out on the screen, and we see the seasons changing, as she does, through her bedroom window. Lykke Li's somber ballad "Possibility" drums on in the background, and Bella's hoodie-covered outfit remains the same as the time drones by.

Of course, Bella's breakup blues aren't just relegated to sitting in a chair. We also see her screaming in absolute agony in bed, either from terrifying nightmares (of what exactly?) or just — sadness? Either way, it's loud enough to fill the whole house. Obviously, we're meant to feel for Bella here, and we do, but her dad, Charlie (Billy Burke), is equally deserving of pity and compassion. It's not exactly a happy home life, but it's still completely over the top.

Is there a more iconic moment in the "Twilight" saga than Edward's first vampire reveal? Probably not. By now, the scene has entered the halls of cinematic legend, with diehard fans able to quote the whole thing from memory. "You're impossibly fast, and strong," Bella begins when Edward asks her what he is. You already know the rest.

This whole sequence is just delicious camp, from the perfectly melodramatic line reads to the hilarious effects on Edward's super-speed and sparkly skin. How long has he been 17? A while, of course. "Say it," he demands. "Out loud." How else, exactly, would she say it, Edward?

It's easy to poke fun at the cheap special effects and the cringey lines, but this scene also embodies what makes the "Twilight" saga so enduringly popular. It's willing to embrace the camp, to pick up the bucket of silliness and angst and pour it all over itself. There's an unabashed sincerity to the drama in "Twilight" that you can't help but respect, and it really shines here, as all the supernatural fun and over-the-top writing come together. This is the scene of a killer, Bella.