Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke says the only “bonus” she received after the 2008 vampire romance shattered expectations was a single mini-cupcake from Summit Entertainment, a gesture she now cites as proof of the different yardsticks Hollywood applies to women behind the camera. The claim follows similar remarks she made in July interviews, where she contrasted her treatment with stories of male peers handed cars or multi-picture deals for comparable hits.
Studio executives had privately forecast a U.S. debut of roughly $30 million, yet Twilight opened to $69 million and went on to earn $402 million worldwide against a reported $37 million budget. Box Office Mojo figures show the franchise later generated more than $3.3 billion across five films, ranking among Summit’s most profitable series. Hardwicke, however, was replaced by Chris Weitz for 2009’s New Moon after resisting an accelerated schedule, underscoring how quickly creative control can shift once blockbuster stakes rise.
Hardwicke told The Guardian she “walked into a room full of gifts” addressed to the studio before discovering her own token dessert, calling the moment “an earth-shattering reality.” The director had faced pay disparity before: for her 2003 debut Thirteen she accepted a symbolic $3 fee to secure financing. Industry advocates say such anecdotes highlight a wider pattern; a San Diego State University study found women directed just 16 percent of 2024’s top 250 films, a share that has barely moved in two decades.
Summit has not responded to requests for comment, but the story has reignited online debate about gender equity. Reddit threads tracking the cupcake anecdote drew thousands of upvotes within hours, while Variety’s social channels echoed Hardwicke’s frustration. Nicole Kidman, speaking at Cannes in May, urged studios to back more female-led projects, noting her own goal of working with a woman director every 18 months.
Hardwicke is now in post-production on Street Smart, a drama about homeless youth shot independently in Los Angeles; she says the cupcake episode sharpened her resolve to champion voices the system tends to overlook.
