It was the late 2000s: Robert Pattinson was the new Hollywood heartthrob, and Kristen Stewart the poster child of ‘I’m-not-like-other-girls’. Vampire romance surged into the mainstream, only to be criticised for making young girls believe that it is okay to be attracted to the world’s most dangerous predator. Even if you didn’t watch Twilight, you would have heard about how cringeworthy it was through online tirades or shots of Pattinson’s glittery abs.

After seventeen years, it’s not cool to hate Twilight anymore. Millennial influencers capitalise on nostalgia with Twilight-themed content, and hour-long video essays decode the franchise’s impact on discourses of sexuality and desire. Bella’s house is now an Airbnb, booked for years. The fandom shame is fading, and now is the time to (re)claim this cultural touchstone in a museum. If you’re not a fan, please give it another chance—maybe not everything is a better love story than Twilight.

Catherine Hardwicke (b. 1955, United States) began her film career as a production designer, working on acclaimed blockbusters like Vanilla Sky (2001) and Three Kings (1999). Her directorial debut Thirteen (2003) earned critical acclaim for its gritty portrayal of adolescence. She became one of the most commercially successful female filmmakers for directing Twilight (2008), which kickstarted a million-dollar franchise.