Is 'Twilight' the *NSYNC of Films: Bye Bye Bye in 5 Years?

By Rob Shuter Posted Jul 6th 2010 08:30AM

As 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' dominates the box office with over $175 million in its first six days, industry sources tell me that like most summer romances, 'Twilight' will be forgotten in a very, very short time.

"The 'Twilight' saga of films are like a cheap soap opera," one studio executive told me. "Yes, we are all jealous about the amount of money they are making, but you will find no one in the industry who is jealous of the quality of the filmmaking, acting or script. Sixty-five percent of its audience is young females who will abandon 'Twilight' in a few years just like they are now ashamed to admit they listened to *NSYNC."

Could this possibly be true? I used to be a huge *NSYNC fan and now couldn't tell you their names if my dog's life depended on it. Will the same happen to Edward, Bella and Jacob in a few years?

This needed expert advice, so I turned to my favorite film critic, Joe Neumaier from The New York Daily News.

"The boy band analogy is spot-on," Joe told me. "Although, I think ultimately 'Twilight' will be like that dark, brooding Goth guy girls fall for in high school and, though they outgrow him, they always remember him. The intense emotions, the striving for another life, the overall theme of a transformation you can't undo -- that all strikes such a primal chord in Twi-hards, it may never be completely buried."

Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box office division of Hollywood.com, has a similar opinion. "Whether or not 'Twilight' stands the test of time from a critical standpoint hardly matters," Paul tells me. "No one creates a franchise like this with the intent of drawing critical praise, the approval of the intellectual elite or to wind up on a list of the greatest films of all time. It's called 'show business' for a reason, and with $1.4 billion in global box office and counting, 'Twilight' is big-time show business."

Bonnie Fuller, president and editor-in-chief at HollywoodLife.com, goes even further, telling me that 'Twilight' is the 'Star Wars' of young women's films.

"It will be remembered," argues Bonnie. "Not just fondly as a groundbreaking trilogy that proved that women were a box office force you couldn't ignore. All young women feel like outsiders and are desperate for unconditional love. It's not easy to express that Hollywood!"

Bonnie believes that 'Twilight' will not only be remembered but will change the face of film with lots of 'Twilight'-esque copycat movies in the near future. "The biggest threat to the reputation of the 'Twilight' series will be all the others that try to copy it but take the 'Sex & the City' route and cheese it up."

I can't imagine forgetting the epic fight for Bella's heart between Edward and Jacob, but then I thought I would always care about Justin Timberlake, JC, the one that did 'Dancing With The Stars' and the other dude that made up *NSNYC!

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Tags: NSync, twilight

Comments

(30)

Tuesday 06 July

By eyeh8twilight

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I agree 100%. Kids and their mom's who are in love with Twilight will be ashamed to say that they even liked it in 5 years and the actors will no non-existant.

Unlike Harry Potter, which will be remembered as one of the best book/film franchises. Also, with OOTP it broke the record for highest grossing film franchise, and I don't think anything will beat that anytime soon.

By Rebecca

Really, lots of girls "desperate" for unconditional love? That just makes you sound desperate, Bonnie. And also, "Yes, we are all jealous about the amount of money they are making, but you will find no one in the industry who is jealous of the quality of the filmmaking, acting or script. That just sounds like someone is jealous of all the money being made on these films, okay, he said that, but i had to say it again. Sour grapes, anyone?

You're a Twi-Tard, aren't you? This is why everyone says Twi-Tards are so immature and childish. You guys can't even stand true and accurate criticism of your film franchise.

BTW, which age demographic are you? Part of the 50 year olds that have husbands that don't pay attention to them, or 13 year olds that aren't mature enough to understand good literature?

By Will

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I've never heard anyone call Twi-hards immature and childish. Plus this isn't accurate nor true critisim of the film. This is someone like you who hates the franchise so they make up little articles and what not to dog on it.You may not see this as good literature but they do and that doesn't make them immature.

By John Stein

It sounds like they worked harder on the title to this article rather than the article itself.

I'm not the biggest fan of Twilight but there are a lot of haters out there. I don't think that Twilight will fade out because there are still 'NSYNC fans out there who arn't ashamed. The movie's and books mean something different to the true fans and that will make them stick around.
As for the actors I think that some of them have a shot at being bigger. If you saw Remember Me you would know that Rob Pattinson is a better actor outside of the Twilight movies. Plus some of the actors are already in other good movies.
I just don't understand why the haters love to trash things other people love.

By melanie

N'sync was soo bad where someone would be embarrased to admit they listened to them; that's dumb. So what! The Twilight franchise has tapped into a formula that is working. I don't think these people went into this wanting to win major awards. I don't care. We're fickle- good today, sucks tommorrow. Make money and laugh all the way to the bank. People still going to critize. That's entertainment.

By TT

What a cheap shot. At least NSYNC lasted 5 years and sold a few million records.

By CJ

If you're looking for fantasy to hang your hat on wait for the next two Harry Potter films! That's right, the emotion's J. K. Rowling's characters display are real world and well rounded. Twightlight is more of a fake romance snore feast! Bella can barely be regognized as a human girl for Pete's sake. Who could get excited over this fake Edward/Bella love affair except for girl's! Junior High School girl's! In five years when those girl's have moved on with real life they will look back and see it for themselves, in the rear view mirroe! LOL

By Twilight Sucks!

...not to mention SM wussified vampires. I'm so sick of hearing, "I thought vampires were stupid until I read Twilight!"
Please.
I thought vampires were cool until I read Twilight.

Team Lestat, suckers!

Wednesday 07 July

By T

hmm...i was a huge fan of nsync and i am not ashamed of it...i still listen to a couple of their songs today...its a hell of a lot better than half the crap their putting out these days. nsync actually had meaning behind their songs. and for twlight, the movies are ok and yea maybe we will forget about them somtime but its the books that have the most avantage. i believe that they will be remade sometime down the line cause they were huge hits. i think that people are pretty pathetic to sit here and bash movies and music all day. get a life and a real job

By adrian

these movies are just this generations disco (but without the talent) but if this franchise gets some of these airheads to read a book it cant be that bad. why are people so much like cattle. twilight, nsync, disco, hitler its all about the image and it dosent take much to impress these sheeple.

By Plutogirl

Shallow, lack of talent junk. Hollywood, stop casting people just because of who their parents are (John Stewart, Kristen Stewart). Look for some real talent. It's right here. You've got stars and starlets, superstars, and megastars, but one--Plutogirl--will eclipse them all. Just you wait!!!

By Robyn

It's a MOVIE everybody..taken from a book just like a million other movies. Who cares if it's not the next "Grease" or "Wizard of Oz?" Who cares if you are 13 or 113? The book is fantasy and everybody likes to get away from life and pretend there's somebody our there willing to sacrifice it all for them. Take it for what it is..a romance. And what's so wrong with that?

By No. Just no.

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What's wrong with it? Only creepy guys watch you while you sleep. Only silly crazy girls get suicidal when their boyfriend leaves...or the mentally impaired.

By Snow Flower

A lot of the people that are into it now are ashamed and hide the fact that they've even so much as watched it. I can't imagine 10 years down the line.

By Frances

Your article is offensive to pop fans. Someone said it earlier but i'll say it again. Huge cheap shot. *N Sync wasn't obnoxious or as hated as Twilight is.

By rugbymom

I am 48 and read every Steven King and Anne Rice book ever written. I could not get into the Twilight Stories because they were piss poor. It was like reading a 16 year olds diary. Lots of drama little substance. I was dragged to the first movie by my 21 year old daughter and almost gagged on all the cheesey lines uttered by Edward. Tweens are setting themselves up for a lifetime of dissappointment. Guys do not act like that in real life. This will run its course, Thank God.

By divastar

TWO of NSYNC's members did dancing with the stars...fyi

By Kathy

Remember when Lord of the Rings lost the best picture Oscar to Lost in Translation? I didn't either, I had to look up the name of the picture that beat LOTR.
Twilight will be remembered but it's not like it will win an Oscar. Just as the teen series of movies about vampires, with that guy that was in Harry Potter and is channeling Christopher Walken as Edward. I swear he sounds like him sometimes.

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