The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 was released on November 18, 2011. The film was successful in the box office making $283.5 million its opening weekend. Though the film received negative reviews, Stewart's performance was praised. Gabriel Chong called Stewart's performance "mesmerising" and said that she "makes [Bella's] every emotion keenly felt that runs the gamut from joy, trepidation, anxiety, distress and above all quiet and resolute determination" and the Village Voice's Dan Konis saying Stewart "beautifully underplays" the role. However, some critics found Pattinson and Stewart's chemistry lacking and said that the relationship came off like a "charade" onscreen or that none of the three leads were convincing in their roles.

On December 6, 2011, Stewart was named number one on Forbes magazine's list of Hollywood's Best Actors for the Buck. On January 13, 2012, she became the face of a new unnamed Balenciaga perfume and on June 29, it was announced that the perfume will be entitled "Florabotanica".

On June 1, 2012, Stewart starred as Snow White in the film Snow White and the Huntsman. Stewart will also appear as Mary Lou in the upcoming film adaptation of Jack Kerouac's cult classic novel On the Road. Shooting began in August 2010.

In 2012, according to Forbes, Stewart was the highest paid actress in Hollywood between the May 2011 and May 2012 season with total earnings of $34.5 million.She earned $12.5 million each for last two installments in the Twilight series, including royalties.