The Milestones of M. Night Shyamalan Movies

M. Night Shyamalan is one of the most distinctive and influential filmmakers of our time. He is known for his original and twisty stories, atmospheric and suspenseful style, and exploration of themes such as faith, identity, and destiny. He has written, directed, and produced over 15 feature films since 1992, ranging from horror to sci-fi to fantasy. Here are some of the milestones of his movie career.

The Sixth Sense (1999)

The Sixth Sense was Shyamalan’s breakthrough film that catapulted him to fame and acclaim. The film tells the story of a child psychologist (Bruce Willis) who tries to help a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) who can see and communicate with dead people. The film was a huge commercial and critical success, grossing over $672 million worldwide and receiving six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. The film also features one of the most famous and shocking twist endings in movie history.

Unbreakable (2000)

Unbreakable was Shyamalan’s follow-up film that marked his first collaboration with Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson. The film is a deconstruction of the superhero genre, focusing on a security guard (Willis) who survives a train crash without a scratch and discovers that he has superhuman abilities. He is then contacted by a comic book collector (Jackson) who believes that he is a real-life superhero and that he has a nemesis. The film was praised for its originality, performances, and cinematography, but was less successful than The Sixth Sense at the box office. The film also spawned two sequels: Split (2016) and Glass (2019), forming the Eastrail 177 Trilogy.

Signs (2002)

Signs was Shyamalan’s third consecutive hit film that starred Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix as brothers who live on a farm with their children. They discover mysterious crop circles in their fields, which are soon followed by other signs of an alien invasion. The film is a blend of sci-fi, horror, and drama, with themes of faith, family, and fate. The film was well-received by critics and audiences alike, earning over $408 million worldwide and becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 2002.

The Village (2004)

The Village was Shyamalan’s fourth film that featured an ensemble cast that included Joaquin Phoenix, Bryce Dallas Howard, Adrien Brody, Sigourney Weaver, and William Hurt. The film is set in an isolated 19th-century village that lives in fear of mysterious creatures in the woods. The film explores the themes of love, fear, and deception, as well as the nature of reality and society. The film received mixed reviews from critics and fans, who praised its performances, visuals, and score, but criticized its plot and twist ending. The film was also a moderate box office success, grossing over $256 million worldwide.

Lady in the Water (2006)

Lady in the Water was Shyamalan’s fifth film that starred Paul Giamatti as an apartment building superintendent who finds a water nymph (Bryce Dallas Howard) in the pool he maintains. He then tries to help her return to her world with the help of his tenants. The film is a fantasy fairy tale that was inspired by a bedtime story that Shyamalan told his children. The film received mostly negative reviews from critics and audiences, who found it self-indulgent, pretentious, and confusing. The film was also a box office flop, grossing only $72 million worldwide on a $70 million budget.

The Happening (2008)

The Happening was Shyamalan’s sixth film that starred Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel as a couple who try to escape from a mysterious phenomenon that causes people to commit suicide. The film is an eco-thriller that explores the themes of nature, humanity, and survival. The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics and audiences, who criticized its plot, dialogue, acting, and logic. The film was also mocked for its unintentional comedy and absurdity. The film was a modest box office success, grossing over $163 million worldwide on a $48 million budget.

The Last Airbender (2010)

The Last Airbender is a 2010 film adaptation of the animated TV series Avatar: The Last Airbender, which follows the adventures of Aang, a young boy who can manipulate the four elements of air, water, earth, and fire. He is the last of his kind, the Avatar, who can master all four elements and bring balance to the world. Along with his friends Katara, Sokka, and Toph, he must stop the Fire Nation from conquering the other nations and ending the Hundred Year War. The film was written, directed, and co-produced by M. Night Shyamalan, and starred Noah Ringer as Aang, Dev Patel as Prince Zuko, Nicola Peltz as Katara, and Jackson Rathbone as Sokka. The film was a critical and commercial failure, receiving negative reviews for its plot, dialogue, acting, and deviation from the source material. The film was also accused of whitewashing and cultural appropriation for casting mostly white actors in roles that were originally Asian or Inuit. The film grossed $319 million worldwide on a $150 million budget.

After Earth (2013)

After Earth was Shyamalan’s eighth film that starred Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith as a father and son who crash-land on a post-apocalyptic Earth that has become hostile to humans. The film is a sci-fi adventure that explores the themes of fear, courage, and father-son relationship. The film received mostly negative reviews from critics and audiences, who criticized its story, direction, acting, and special effects. The film was also a box office disappointment, grossing over $243 million worldwide on a $130 million budget.

The Visit (2015)

The Visit was Shyamalan’s ninth film that marked his return to the horror genre. The film stars Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould as siblings who visit their grandparents (Deanna Dunagan and Peter McRobbie) for the first time. However, they soon discover that their grandparents are hiding a dark secret. The film is a found footage horror comedy that explores the themes of family, trust, and aging. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics and audiences, who praised its humor, scares, and twist ending. The film was also a huge box office success, grossing over $98 million worldwide on a $5 million budget.

Split (2016)

Split was Shyamalan’s tenth film that starred James McAvoy as a man with 23 different personalities who kidnaps three teenage girls (Anya Taylor-Joy, Haley Lu Richardson, and Jessica Sula). The film is a psychological thriller that explores the themes of trauma, identity, and power. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics and audiences, who praised McAvoy’s performance, Shyamalan’s direction, and the surprise connection to Unbreakable. The film was also a massive box office hit, grossing over $278 million worldwide on a $9 million budget.

Glass (2019)

Glass was Shyamalan’s eleventh film that served as a sequel to both Unbreakable and Split. The film stars Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, James McAvoy, and Anya Taylor-Joy as they are captured by a psychiatrist (Sarah Paulson) who tries to convince them that they are not superheroes or supervillains. The film is a superhero thriller that explores the themes of belief, reality, and legacy. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, who praised the performances and the concept, but criticized the plot and the ending. The film was also a moderate box office success, grossing over $247 million worldwide on a $20 million budget.

 

Old (2021)

Old was Shyamalan’s twelfth film that starred Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Alex Wolff, Thomasin McKenzie, and Abbey Lee as a group of tourists who find themselves trapped on a beach where they age rapidly. The film is a mystery horror that explores the themes of time, mortality, and family. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, who praised the premise and the cinematography, but criticized the dialogue and the execution. The film was also a modest box office success, grossing over $86 million worldwide on an $18 million budget.

Knock at the Cabin (2023)

Knock at the Cabin is Shyamalan’s thirteenth film that is based on the novel The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul G. Tremblay.