Performance & Direction: Twilight Review
Last updated: January 21, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Twilight (1998) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.1/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Crime.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Crime is often anchored by its ensemble, and Twilight features a noteworthy lineup led by Paul Newman . Supported by the likes of Susan Sarandon and Gene Hackman , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Twilight (1998) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.1/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: Twilight
Quick Plot Summary: Twilight is a Crime, Thriller film that dives into the criminal underworld with a grounded sense of realism and complex morality. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: Twilight
Ending Breakdown: Twilight concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to crime resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the crime themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Twilight reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Twilight Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
Twilight incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a crime, thriller film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: Twilight adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch Twilight?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Crime films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want solid genre entertainment
Box Office Collection: Twilight
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $37.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $15.1M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Twilight Budget
The estimated production budget for Twilight is $37.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Twilight
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Where to Watch Twilight Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
Amazon Prime Video
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Amazon VideoTwilight Parents Guide & Age Rating
1998 AdvisoryWondering about Twilight age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Twilight is 94 minutes (1h 34m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.1/10, and global collection metrics, Twilight stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1998 cinematic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Twilight worth watching?
Twilight is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Crime movies. It has a verified rating of 6.1/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Twilight parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Twilight identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Twilight?
The total duration of Twilight is 94 minutes, which is approximately 1h 34m long.
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Critic Reviews for Twilight
Whilst this boasts a really strong cast, it isn't really anything much to write home about as thriller. Retired cop "Ross" (Paul Newman) lives with the wealthy, but terminally ill, actor "Ames" (Gene Hackman) and his wife "Catherine" (Susan Sarandon). When a young girl is kidnapped, he is asked to deliver the ransom money - but as ever, no good deed goes unpunished, and soon he is embroiled in a twenty year old cold case involving her former husband that becomes distinctly perilous! James Garner appears and somehow that just put me in mind of one of the episodes from the "Rockford Files" upon which this could easily have been based. The cast are on screen, but they - especially Hackman - don't really seem to care. Their efforts are flat - not helped by an unremarkable screenplay and a plot that offers us nothing at all new. Indeed, one has to wonder what Paul Newman saw in it when he accepted the part. It's fairly clear to the audience who is pulling the strings and thereafter it's all just a procedural effort made watchable only by the charisma that is on the screen in spades. It is aptly named for the two leading gents; I doubt this is a film they would have touched in their prime.
Great cast in a so-so neo-noir thriller. Paul Newman, Gene Hackman and Susan Sarandon were great and Newman's scenes with Hackman was some of the highlights. Also get to see Reese Witherspoon (and all her glory) and Liev Schreiber in supporting roles, along with James Garner who was always great even in a smaller role here. But the script and noir never quite clicked for me and the ending was a bit predictable, however at the very least this never dragged. **3.0/5**
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.









