Fans gathered outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood as Twilight’s trio—Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner—drew a buzzing crowd for a hand and footprint ceremony on the forecourt. The moment marked a milestone for the franchise, placing the young stars among the many legends who left their marks on the same famous ground.
Such handprint ceremonies are a time-honored Hollywood tradition, a tangible link between a performer’s career and the cinema legacy that surrounds this iconic venue. On that morning, the forecourt became a temporary monument where fresh impressions joined the footprints of R2D2, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Daniel Radcliffe, and a long list of other memorable icons.
“This is such an incredible honor,” Robert Pattinson told the crowd, noting how young they are and how ridiculous and amazing the moment felt at the same time.
“I think this is the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Kristen Stewart said. “This is insane that I’m doing this.”
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 opened in theaters on November 18, 2011, drawing fans from across North America to celebrate the film’s release and the franchise’s enduring popularity.
A video of the ceremony captured the excitement, showing the stars smiling and posing as their prints settled into the cement, a keepsake that would outlast the moment itself. The footage circulated through entertainment outlets, offering fans a chance to relive the scene from home if they missed the live event.
Alongside the trio’s hands and footprints, the ground already carried the marks of a long line of celebrated figures, including R2D2, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, and Daniel Radcliffe, among others, illustrating how Grauman’s forecourt has become a living gallery of film history.
This public ritual underscored Twilight’s lasting impact in North American pop culture, a phenomenon that continued to ignite conversations among fans and critics alike as the franchise expanded. For viewers in Canada and the United States, the ceremony served as a memorable snapshot of how a contemporary film saga can anchor itself in the pantheon of cinematic milestones.
In the end, the moment stood as a vivid reminder of Hollywood’s tradition of honoring talent and success. The handprint event became a touchstone for fans, a tangible reminder that the Twilight era remains a defining chapter in modern movie history, and a precursor to the ongoing conversations about its legacy and influence.