The Twilight Saga: New Moon is a 2009 romantic fantasy film directed by Chris Weitz, based on the novel of the same name by Stephenie Meyer. It is the second installment in the Twilight series and continues the story of Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and her relationship with Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), a vampire.
The film begins with Bella celebrating her 18th birthday, which brings her anxiety about aging and the age difference between her and Edward, who is eternally 17. The celebration takes a dark turn when Bella accidentally cuts her finger while opening a gift at the Cullen house. The scent of her blood provokes Jasper (Jackson Rathbone), Edward's brother, causing him to nearly attack her. In response to this danger, Edward decides to leave Bella, believing it is for her safety. He tells her that he will never return, leaving Bella heartbroken and depressed.
In the aftermath of Edward's departure, Bella isolates herself and struggles with intense grief. She finds solace in her friendship with Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), who helps her through her emotional turmoil. As their bond deepens, Bella discovers that Jacob is part of the Quileute tribe and possesses the ability to transform into a werewolf—a natural enemy of vampires.
As Bella navigates her new reality, she engages in reckless behavior in an attempt to feel closer to Edward. This leads to a series of dangerous encounters that culminate in a confrontation with Laurent, a vampire seeking revenge for the death of his friend James. Jacob and his pack intervene just in time to save Bella, revealing the ongoing conflict between vampires and werewolves.
The film reaches its climax when Alice Cullen (Ashley Greene), who has the ability to see the future, receives a vision of Bella jumping off a cliff. Misinterpreting this as a suicide attempt, Edward believes Bella is dead and travels to Italy to provoke the Volturi, a powerful vampire coven, into killing him. Meanwhile, Bella learns of Edward's plan and races against time to save him.
In a dramatic finale set in Volterra, Italy, Bella arrives just in time to prevent Edward from exposing himself as a vampire in public. The film concludes with the Cullens facing the Volturi, who agree to let them leave under the condition that Bella will be transformed into a vampire soon.
New Moon explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery while deepening the mythology of the Twilight universe. It received mixed reviews from critics but was commercially successful, grossing over $700 million worldwide. The film further establishes the complex relationships between its characters and sets the stage for future conflicts in the series.