Say what you will about Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Saga, but the soundtracks are absolute bops. Every single one of them delivers top quality, angsty jams, and I’ve been here for it since 2008. The Twilight movie soundtracks all bring something different to the table, so I thought I would give the world what nobody asked for: the Definitive Rankings of the Twilight Movie Soundtracks.

That’s right, you’re welcome.

Robert Pattinson recently told Billboard that the Twilight soundtracks were “ahead of their time,” and I couldn’t agree more with R Pattz. As an angsty rock aficionado, I have the Twilight soundtracks to thank for my supreme music taste. Before Twilight, I was deep in the emo/soft rock/Fall Out Boy aesthetic of the mid-2000s. Twilight really introduced me to a Brave New World of indie music, and I HAVE BEEN HERE EVER SINCE.

This post might be controversial because everyone and their brother has polarized feelings about the soundtracks. We can all agree that they’re absolute bangers, but some might be bangier (?) than others. Here is the Twilight movie soundtrack’s definitive ranking by movie.

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The Least Banging: Breaking Dawn Pt 2

The soundtrack to Breaking Dawn Pt 2, like the movie itself, doesn’t quite deliver. I get it. They’d been putting these films out for years by this point. They’d tossed the directors around like hot potatoes. It was messy and everyone just wanted to wash their hands of it once and for all.

There are some good picks here and some random ones. “Where I Come From” by Passion Pit was probably the best possible way to represent Bella’s vampire transformation and “Cover Your Tracks” makes me weep when I drink too much wine, so there’s that. Also, shout out to the “Fire In The Water” sex scene sequence when Bella and Edward are finally able to achieve Bella’s One True Desire (aka more sex with Edward).

However, “The Forgotten” has the be the cringiest Green Day song I’ve ever heard, and I’m usually all-in for Green Day. Yikes. Also, we get a reappearance of “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri which literally nobody needed a remix of. Thanks I hate it.

Quality: “Cover Your Tracks” (A Boy and His Kite), “Speak Up” (POP ETC), “Fire In The Water” (Feist)

Actual Trash: “A Thousand Years (Remix)” (Christina Perri), “All I’ve Ever Needed” (Paul McDonald)

A Few Faves: Eclipse

I found Eclipse to be one of the least memorable movie/book in the Saga. Does anything happen? Why are they still dealing with James’ girlfriend? Why didn’t they just play baseball with James & Friends in book one? Why don’t you give more answers, Stephanie?

Either way, there are many faves to be found in the Twilight soundtrack for Eclipse. It has Muse, Florence + the Machine, The Black Keys, Beck, Bat For Lashes, Vampire Weekend, and Metric. That sentence alone sounds like an indie rock fever dream.

My personal favorite is “Let’s Get Lost” by Beck and Bat For Lashes. What a better way to symbolize Bella’s inability to hide from Edward’s clinginess? It’s poetry. “Jonathan Low” by Vampire Weekend is another hit, no surprise.

This breaks my heart to admit, but Muse’s “Neutron Star Collision” comes across as a poorly executed “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and this is from a Muse enthusiast. That’s probably the only reason I can’t rank this soundtrack any higher. You let me down, Muse. This just goes to show, folks: don’t write songs specifically for the Twilight soundtrack. A lesson we can all learn.

Quality: “Eclipse” (Metric), “Chop and Change” (the Black Keys), Jonathan Low (Vampire Weekend), “Life on Earth” (Band of Horses)

Actual Trash: “Atlas” (Fanfarlo), “A Million Miles an Hour” (Eastern Conference Champions), “Rolling In On A Burning Tire” (The Dead Weather)

The OG: Twilight

The OG Twilight set the bar pretty high. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a physical CD as much as I listened to Twilight. We’ve got some heavy hitters here, and honestly it’s a wonder so many big-name bands signed on for such a no-name movie. We’ve got Paramore (?!?), Muse, Linkin Park, and did I say Paramore?

Just about every song here is a bop, no joke. We’ve got the first Muse song I’ve ever listened to that started my spiral into 90s rock. “Supermassive Black Hole” somehow managed to impress me despite it being paired with the worst baseball scene in cinema history. We’ve also got Radiohead’s classic “15 Steps.” I could die right now and be happy, but NOPE. We are not done!

We were blessed with not one but TWO Paramore hits, and it’s hard to decide which one 13-year-old me liked best. I mean, these thoughts I can’t decode?!

Finally, we were BLESSED with Robert Pattinson’s raspy, confusing voice in “Never Think??” Followed by Iron & Wine’s melodic “Flightless Bird, American Mouth??” I’m crying in the club at the magic of it all.

The Twilight soundtrack should be number one, but it was quickly outdone by the films after it. However, this vampire flick set the bar super high for all other movies in existence.

Quality: “I Caught Myself” (Paramore), “Eyes on Fire” (Blue Foundation), “Spotlight” (Mutemath)

Actual Trash: “Never Think” (Robert Pattinson), “Tremble For My Beloved” (Collective Soul), “Go All The Way” (Perry Farrel)

Quality Jams: Breaking Dawn Pt I

Controversial opinion: Breaking Dawn Pt 1 is better than Pt 2. Is that controversial? I just love the angst. And the soundtrack is almost at max angst with some surprises thrown in. I remember seeing Breaking Dawn Pt 1 come out in theaters (3 times) when I was in high school, and I was OBSESSED with the soundtrack for weeks.

I’d like to take this moment to formally apologize to Hatty who lived next to me in the dorm basement. We had separate rooms, but I’m confident she still heard me belt out “Turning Page” by Sleeping at Last when I thought she was sleeping. Whoops.

It’s been 7 years since then, and I’m still screaming about Sleeping at Last 100% of the time because it’s one of my top favorite bands. I’d like to propose a vote to make “Turning Page” the OG Twilight Song. Move over Christina Perri.

Other bops include the more upbeat songs like “From Now On” by The Features which makes me want to honeymoon on an exotic Brazilian island. We’ve also got “Endtapes” by The Joy Formidable. I’d like that song played at my funeral, thanks. Let us not forget “Sister Rosetta” during Bella’s pre-sex getting ready sequence. I can think of no better song to shave my legs to.

There are no real losers on this soundtrack unless we’re counting Christina Perri’s I HAVE DIED EVERY DAY WAITING FOR YOU, which I do. I’ve heard that song at too many weddings so please let it die, thanks.

Quality: “Turning Page” (Sleeping At Last), “I Didn’t Mean It” (The Belle Brigade), “Love Will Take You” (Angus & Julia Stone), “Neighbors” (Theophilus London), “Cold” (Aqualung),

Actual Trash: “A Thousand Years” (Christina Perri)

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Basically My Religion: New Moon

Last but not least, we’ve arrived at the Top Tier Soundtrack of our list: New Moon. First of all, I have a soft spot for New Moon. I find it to be the most visually compelling movie, and I think it’s the most well-directed. But the soundtrack really is on a whole new level.

I’ll be the first to admit to being very biased towards angsty music. I think this entire post has proven that. The darker and more depressing, the better. It’s a bit problematic whenever someone hands me the aux cord. However, I think we can all agree Bella’s emo stage is the perfect setting for the angstiest of soundtracks.

We’ve got Death Cab for Cutie. We’ve got Hurricane Bells. We’ve got Muse (yet again). Bon Iver, St. Vincent, Lykke Li, Thom Yorke, The Killers, Anya Marina, OK Go, Grizzly Bear. UGH! Picture the most angsty emo hair flip and that’s what I’m doing right now listening to the New Moon soundtrack.

There are no bad songs here. When Bella’s going through her months-passing-quickly-depression, we are greeted to the melodic, monotonous sounds of Lykke Li’s “Possibility,” sinking into our own time-locked states.

When Victoria is running through the woods with the wolves tracking her, we’re brought into the thrill of the chase with Thom Yorke’s almost upbeat, repetitive “Hearing Damage.” As Bella plunges into the ocean in her angsty-as-heck cliff dive, Grizzly Bear’s “Slow Life” reminds us, “Even though you’re the only one I see, it’s the last catastrophe.” MORE POETRY.

New Moon has the best soundtrack of any Twilight movie. Sorry, I don’t make the rules, I just tell the truth as I hear it.

Quality: “I Belong to You” (Muse), “Monsters” (Hurricane Bells), “Shooting the Moon” (OK Go), “Friends” (Band of Skulls), “Satellite Heart” (Anya Marina), “White Demon Love Song” (The Killers)

Actual Trash: NOTHING IT’S ALL PERFECT

Twilight Soundtrack Rankings

There you have it, folks. This is the ultimate Twilight soundtrack rankings. It’s set in stone, sorry. I won’t take any other opinions into consideration. It’s angst or nothing around these parts.

I think we can all send Stephanie Meyer and Summit Entertainment a big thank you for introducing our generation to some sweet tunes. While you’re at it, I highly recommend Stephanie’s Twilight playlist. As you might expect, it’s a banger.