"Twilight Zone" is a song by American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande, released by Republic Records on April 8, 2025, as the lead single from Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead (2025), the deluxe reissue of her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine (2024). Grande wrote and produced the song with Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh. A synth-pop track, it features 1980s-influenced production that contrasts with lyrical themes of betrayal and grief.
"Twilight Zone" received favorable reviews from music critics, who highlighted Grande's songwriting and its ethereal production. The song charted at number seven on the Billboard Global 200 and entered the top ten in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. It reached the top 20 in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States. Directed by Christian Breslauer, the accompanying music video was released as part of the short film Brighter Days Ahead, and was later issued as a standalone video. Grande performed "Twilight Zone" on the Eternal Sunshine Tour (2026).
Contents
Background and production
American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande released her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, to critical acclaim on March 8, 2024, following a hiatus of over three years. In July, she revealed that a deluxe album was in production but would not be released until the following year due to her film promotional commitments for Wicked. Fan speculation regarding the deluxe edition grew after months of teasers. Between late February and early March 2025, Grande posted a series of cryptic social media updates hinting at new music before announcing the deluxe edition, titled Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead. She revealed the title of the track "Twilight Zone" on March 17, and a preview snippet was later released through the "Brighter Days" hotline on March 25.
"Twilight Zone" is named after The Twilight Zone (1959–1964), a series that Grande had frequently referenced and discussed prior to the song's release. It was written and produced by Grande, Max Martin, and Ilya Salmanzadeh, with Grande handling the lyrics and lead vocals. Martin and Salmanzadeh contributed instrumentation and programming, including drums, bass, keyboards, and arrangements. The song was recorded across three facilities: Jungle City Studios, MXM Studios, and House Mouse—the first located in New York City and the latter two in Stockholm, Sweden—with audio engineering by Sam Holland and Lou Carrao. Mixing was carried out by Serban Ghenea alongside mixing engineer Bryce Bordone at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and the track was mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound in Edgewater, New Jersey.
Music and lyrics
"Twilight Zone" is a synth-pop song with a mid-tempo rhythm. Steven J. Horowitz of Variety noted its 1980s-influenced style, while Gary Grimes of Attitude remarked that it evokes a night-drive atmosphere reminiscent of works by Grande's frequent collaborator, The Weeknd. Taylor Henderson of Out characterized the production as "ethereal", "dreamy", and "breezy", with a "light" sound that contrasts with lyrics exploring intimate betrayal and disbelief over a past romance. Singing in her light lyric soprano range, Grande delivers a performance that Danielle Holian of Atwood Magazine described as "calm", "soothing", "wistful", and "plaintive". Jordi Bardají of Jenesaispop felt the song is a continuation of her 2024 single "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)", finding similarities in their sounds and concepts.
Commentators interpreted the lyrics as an allusion to Grande's relationship with her ex-husband, Dalton Gomez. It opens with the protagonist questioning her perception of events: "Did I dream the whole thing? / Was I just a nightmare?" Describing an experience of deception, she compares her ex-partner to the "best actor" and questions whether his new partner sees through him. The singer asks if she completely lost her identity in the relationship—"Or was I just not me at all?"—expressing the universal self-doubt people feel when a relationship ends. Kyle Denis of Billboard observed that the protagonist considers warning her ex-partner's new companion about his manipulation, yet stops after acknowledging her efforts to sustain the relationship. She is caught between that external conflict and her inner struggle to protect the one who caused her pain. Karcin Hagi of The Georgetown Voice opined that the narrator owns up to the lingering heartache but ultimately accepts the past without wishing to change it. The singer ruminates at the end—"It's not that I miss you, I don't. Sometimes I just can't believe you happened"—before the instrumental fades to isolate her stacked a cappella vocals.
Release and live performances
"Twilight Zone" was made available on March 28, 2025, as part of Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead, the deluxe reissue of Eternal Sunshine. A cappella and instrumental versions followed on April 1, before Republic Records released the track to US contemporary hit radio on April 8 as the reissue's lead single. On June 20, a digital single bundling the main track with its instrumental and a cappella mixes was issued. The accompanying music video debuted on March 28 within the 26-minute short film Brighter Days Ahead, directed by Christian Breslauer, showing Grande wandering through a folklore-esque old house. She observes her ransacked surroundings and walks downstairs to find the ground floor flooded before exiting the house. It was later released as an independent video on June 20.
During Act IV of the Eternal Sunshine Tour (2026), Grande performed "Twilight Zone" alongside "Past Life", "Hampstead", "Dangerous Woman", and "Honeymoon Avenue". For this segment, she wore a custom purple off-the-shoulder Vivienne Westwood ensemble with black lace detailing, paired with sheer gloves, Christian Louboutin boots, and a ribbon choker.
Commercial performance
"Twilight Zone" debuted and peaked at number seven on the Billboard Global 200 issue dated April 12, 2025. The same week, in the United States, the single reached number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. It climbed to number five on the US Pop Airplay chart on July 5, and entered the Canadian Hot 100 at number 23. The track secured a top-five position on the UK Singles Chart and was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). It achieved top-20 entries in Australia (number 16) and New Zealand (number 17), receiving Gold certifications in both countries. Elsewhere, the single reached the top ten in several Asian markets, peaking at number six in Singapore and number seven in Malaysia and the Philippines.
Critical reception
"Twilight Zone" was praised by music critics, with Megan LaPierre of Exclaim! deeming it the highlight of the entire Eternal Sunshine project. Rolling Stone critic Brittany Spanos and Atwood Magazine writer Danielle Holian viewed the song as a "standout" on the deluxe edition; Holian described it as an "introspective" and "heartfelt" track set over "smooth" production. In Billboard, Kyle Denis ranked it third among the deluxe tracks of Eternal Sunshine, praising the cut as a "formidable" follow-up to "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)". The publication also placed it 17th on its mid-year list of the 50 best songs of 2025, with Josh Glicksman noting Grande's "ever-impressive" songwriting.
Maria Murphy of Impact 89FM characterized "Twilight Zone" as a "beautiful" track, highlighting Grande's writing and her "stellar job of delivering meaningful messages through very realistic lyrics". Howe Chen, writing for 34th Street Magazine, praised its "hypnotic" atmosphere alongside "delicate synths", calling it a "subtle yet powerful demonstration that moving on is far from linear". Marcus Adetola of Neon Music found the song "haunting, unfinished" yet carried by a "more honest" delivery than that of a polished production, noting it as "the one that quietly cuts deepest".
Track listing
Digital download and streaming
"Twilight Zone" – 3:18
"Twilight Zone" (a cappella) – 3:01
"Twilight Zone" (instrumental) – 3:18
7-inch vinyl, cassette, and CD
"Twilight Zone" – 3:18
"Twilight Zone" (a cappella) – 3:01
Credits and personnel
The credits are from the liner notes of the "Twilight Zone" 7-inch vinyl single.
Locations
Recorded at Jungle City Studios (New York City), MXM Studios (Stockholm), and House Mouse (Stockholm)
Mixed at MixStar Studio (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Mastered at Sterling Sound (Edgewater, New Jersey)