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The film evolution of Robert Pattinson, from Twilight to Good Time
Unrecognisable in Good Time (2017), directed by the Safdie brothers, Robert Pattinson traded his good-kid appearance for a role suited for him. Prisoner of his image in the Twilight saga, audiences had almost forgotten what a good actor he really is. From his role as a popular pale vampire to securing roles in David Cronenberg’s films, the British actor definitely underwent a huge metamorphosis.
By Alexis Thibault.
Published on 8 September 2020. Updated on 16 June 2026.
From teen movies to independent cinema
British actor Robert Pattinson has been a muse and object of fantasies since his intoxicating performances as the vampire Edward in the Twilight saga and as a brave wizard in the 4th installment of the Harry Potter franchise. The road was long but the London native eventually managed to leave the teen movie genre behind him and land in the world of independent cinema.
His beauty became ironic as he watched anarchy destroy New York behind the tinted windows of a limousine in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis (2012), a bold adaptation of Don DeLillo’s novel. Next came Maps to the Stars (2014) by the same director, The Lost City of Z (2016) by James Gray, Remember me (2010), Water for Elephants (2011) and Life (2015) by Anton Corbijn, a dramatic biopic in which he portrays photographer Dennis Stock.
One can question the direction of his earliest projects. Robert Pattinson missed a stratospheric career launch. The frenzy that surrounded the good-looking boy could have been a terrible curse, judging by how it affected the stars’ children in the 1090s. Yet, against all odds, the actor has succeeded in renewing himself and completely changing course. Indie directors and filmmakers started to notice him, and were cleverly able to see in him something more than a sex symbol.
A breakout role in Benny and Josh Safdie’s film Good Time
Good Time (2017), directed by Benny and Josh Safdie, tells the story of a robbery going wrong. Connie (Robert Pattinson) manages to escape, but his brother doesn’t. Does he get the bail money or just escape? The directors give us a fast-paced neo-thriller through the streets of Queens, New York, the true protagonist of the plot. Good Time reveals an obsession for marginal heroes, a complex reflection on Robert Pattinson’s character. It was a tailor-made role for the British actor. The filmmakers called upon Ronald Bronstein, scriptwriter of Mad Love in New York, to dive into the city’s tabloids, scrutinising juvenile delinquency and acts of criminality that backfired. A must-watch thriller that marked a turning point for a now highly sought-after actor.
Good Time (2017) by Josh and Benny Safdie, available on Amazon Prime Video.
