Summary
- Shyamalan’s ability to blend supernatural elements with personal stories challenges viewers to question reality.
- Despite critical and box office flops like
The Last Airbender
, Shyamalan’s career has seen highs and lows. - Films like
Split
and
The Sixth Sense
showcase Shyamalan’s talent for suspense and storytelling, earning critical acclaim.
M. Night Shyamalan is a name synonymous with thrilling twists and captivating storytelling. From the Oscar-nominated The Sixth Sense, to his more recent endeavors, Shyamalan’s filmography showcases a wide range of narratives and genres, alongside plenty of creator cameos. While some of his works have garnered critical acclaim and strong box-office performances, others have sparked significant debate among fans and critics alike.
Shyamalan’s unique ability to blend supernatural elements with deeply personal stories has made him a distinctive voice in contemporary cinema. His films often explore themes of family, faith, and fear, challenging viewers to look beyond the surface and question their perceptions of reality.
Related Trap 2 Chances Get Response From M. Night Shyamalan & Star Josh Hartnett
Director M. Night Shyamalan and star Josh Hartnett comment on the chances of a sequel to Trap as the new psychological thriller debuts in theaters.
1
16 The Last Airbender (2010)
A Financial Flop and Heavy Criticism
The Last Airbender (2010) PGActionAdventureFantasy Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
The Last Airbender is a fantasy adventure film directed by M. Night Shyamalan, based on the animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender. The story follows Aang, the last of his kind, who must defeat the Fire Nation to bring peace to a world divided by elemental nations. Starring Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz, and Dev Patel, the film explores themes of destiny, balance, and the struggle for harmony.
Release Date June 30, 2010 Cast Noah Ringer , Dev Patel , Nicola Peltz Beckham , Jackson Rathbone , Shaun Toub Runtime 103 Minutes Main Genre Action Writers M. Night Shyamalan Director M. Night Shyamalan Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Expand
M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender was a critical disaster, with a 5% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie — said to be an adaptation of the popular animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender — was critically destroyed for its poor wooden performances, not-so-spectacular special effects, and an over-departure from the source material. Not being able to recognize the soul of this beloved show alone was fuel enough for a huge backlash from fans and critics.
The film’s special effects team used over 600 CGI shots.
The cultural missteps, along with the underwhelming narrative and character development, placed it among the most criticized of Shyamalan’s works. Its deficiencies were then compounded by being a commercial flop, which only added to the growing raft of criticisms aimed at Shyamalan’s work. Coming off a large budget and high expectations, it was unable to satisfy either audiences or critics, making The Last Airbender one of the low points in Shyamalan’s career.
15 After Earth (2013)
A Critical Letdown And A Box Office Bomb
After Earth PG-13ActionAdventureSci-Fi Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
In M. Night Shyamalan’s After Earth, one-thousand years following humanity’s forced evacuation of Earth, Kitai Raige and his estranged father, Cypher, crash on nowhere else but Earth. With Cypher seriously wounded, Kitai must embark on his own, braving a futuristic Earth containing highly evolved animal species and a ruthless alien life to seek help and find a way home.
Release Date May 30, 2013 Writers Gary Whitta , M. Night Shyamalan , Will Smith Cast Isabelle Fuhrman , Daha Mohamed , Will Smith , Sophie Okonedo , Jaden Smith , Kristofer Hivju , Zoe Kravitz Runtime 100minutes Director M. Night Shyamalan Distributor(s) Sony Expand
After Earth, directed by M. Night Shyamalan and starring Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith, received a paltry 11% on Rotten Tomatoes. The story was that of a father-son duo stranded on Earth after some apocalypse, and was panned for lacking novelty and substance. The critics brandedthe story as uninventive and the acting, barring the lead actors, as unconvincing.
That poor reception was mirrored at the box office as
After Earth
struggled to make good on a significant marketing campaign by failing to meet expectations at the box office.
It was the heavy reliance on exposition and the lack of engaging plot elements that contributed to the poor reception of the film. That poor reception was mirrored at the box office, as After Earth struggled to make good on a significant marketing campaign by failing to meet expectations at the box office. The film bombed both in box-office performance and with critics, making it a major disappointment for Shyamalan.
14 The Happening (2008)
The Happening Was Unintentionally Comical
The Happening RAdventureDrama Sci-Fi
Writer/director M. Night Shyamalan presents The Happening, a thriller that centers around a strange unexplained phenomenon that begins to cause human beings to commit suicide in waves. Initially believed to be an international terrorist attack, science teacher Elliot and his wife Alma head to Boston with friends to escape the chaos. Soon enough, they realize that the effects have spread further than they thought – possibly across the entire world.
Release Date June 13, 2008 Writers M. Night Shyamalan Cast Mark Wahlberg , Zooey Deschanel , John Leguizamo , Ashlyn Sanchez , Betty Buckley , Spencer Breslin Runtime 91 Minutes Director M. Night Shyamalan Distributor(s) 20th Century Expand
Probably more memorable for its unintentional camp moments, The Happening rings in at a meager 18% on Rotten Tomatoes. This movie, involving some sort of mystery ecological disaster that somehow makes people kill themselves, has been lambasted by critics for its weak plot and stilted dialogue. The critically serious undertone was undermined by a poorly executed narrative of the film and a lack of coherent explanation for the happening events. Though, some of the actors say the film was misunderstood.
The film’s original script was heavily revised due to production issues.
These are the very factors that have made it remembered as one of Shyamalan’s more flawed works. Others, on the other hand, would say that its aim to carve out a new narrative device is admirable. However, the attempt was so poor that it ended up at the bottom of Shyamalan’s filmography.
13 Lady in the Water (2006)
Lady In The Water Is Ambitious But Misguided
Lady In The Water (2006) PG-13DramaFantasyMystery Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Lady In The Water is a 2006 fantasy thriller directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The story follows Cleveland Heep, played by Paul Giamatti, who discovers a mysterious young woman named Story, portrayed by Bryce Dallas Howard, living in the pool of his apartment complex. As he uncovers her fantastical origins, Heep and his neighbors must protect her from malevolent forces and help her return to her world.
Release Date July 20, 2006 Writers M. Night Shyamalan Cast Paul Giamatti , Bryce Dallas Howard , Jeffrey Wright , Bob Balaban , Sarita Choudhury Runtime 110 Minutes Main Genre Drama Director M. Night Shyamalan Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Expand
Lady in the Water received 25% on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus stated that it was very ambitious but misguided. The film tells the story of a woman from a fantasy world who washes up at a suburban apartment complex. The criticisms were focused on its jumbled plot and self-indulgent nature.
Shyamalan tried to concoct a modern fairytale, but instead crafted an overcomplicated tale that lacked any semblance of coherence. The unique idea behind the film did not attract audiences very much; it was a box office bomb, and one that bombed critically as well. Even though it contained moments of ingenuity, Lady in the Water was still regarded as a misstep in Shyamalan’s career.
Related M. Night Shyamalan: 10 Lady In The Water Quotes Every True Fan Will Love
Lady In The Water is a film loved by many and contains the signature M. Night Shyamalan touches that cause fans to keep coming back for his films.
12 Wide Awake (1998)
There Were Some Limitations In This Promising Debut
Wide Awake PGComedyDramaFamily
Wide Awake is a crime thriller series set in a small town plagued by mysterious disappearances. Detective Emma Clarke (played by Jessica Chastain) leads the investigation, uncovering unsettling secrets that connect the missing individuals. As Clarke dives deeper, she faces personal and professional challenges, along with growing public hysteria. The series is noted for its gripping plot and intense performances, capturing the complexities of small-town dynamics and the human psyche.
Release Date March 20, 1998 Writers M. Night Shyamalan Cast Denis Leary , Joseph Cross , Rosie O’Donnell , Dana Delany , Timothy Reifsnyder , Camryn Manheim Runtime 88 minutes Main Genre Drama Director M. Night Shyamalan Expand
Shyamalan’s feature film directorial debut, Wide Awake holds a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Tackling the theme of a small boy searching for meaning in life after his grandfather’s death, this film was commended for its earnest storytelling and emotional depth. However, the critics felt that, compared to the latter works, the ending and depth of the execution were lacking.
M. Night Shyamalan was only 28 years old when he made this film.
Though flawed, Wide Awake demonstrated the promise of Shyamalan as a filmmaker while giving the world a flavor of what was to come in his storytelling style. Although less famous compared to his later works, it is still an integral part of his early career.
11 Praying with Anger (1992)
Early Work With Limited Impact
Praying With Anger (1992) PG-13DramaComedy
M. Night Shyamalan’s debut film, Praying With Anger, features the director himself as an American-born Indian who travels to India for college. As he struggles with cultural identity and clashes with traditional values of multiple worlds, his journey becomes one of self-discovery and reconciliation with his heritage.
Release Date September 12, 1992 Writers M. Night Shyamalan Cast M. Night Shyamalan , Mike Muthu , Richa Ahuja , Sushma Ahuja , Arun Balachandran , Christabal Howie Runtime 107 minutes Main Genre Drama Director M. Night Shyamalan Studio(s) Crescent Moon Expand
Praying with Anger is a 1992 film and the first full feature by M. Night Shyamalan; it has a 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Written, directed, and starring Shyamalan, the picture wades into the waters of cultural and spiritual identity.
In the estimation of many critics, while the film has laudable motives in dealing with such complex themes, it is weak in form and substance. As this was Shyamalan’s first film, Praying with Anger was not much of a commercial or critical success. It did, however, set up the rest of Shyamalan’s work and firmly entrenched his interest in heavy subjects early on.
Close
10 The Visit (2015)
Found Footage Done Right
The Visit PG-13HorrorComedy Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
From director M. Night Shyamalan, The Visit follows two siblings who are sent to stay with their estranged grandparents while their mother is out of town on vacation. Realizing that all isn’t what it seems during their stay, the siblings set out to find out what is really going on at their grandparents’ home. Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould star as Becca and Tyler, with Deanna Dunagan, Peter McRobbie, and Kathryn Hahn making up the rest of the main cast.
Release Date September 11, 2015 Writers M. Night Syamalan Cast Olivia De Jonge , Peter McRobbie , Kathryn Hahn , Benjamin Kanes , Deanna Dunagan , Ed Oxenbould Runtime 94 Minutes Director M. Night Shyamalan Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Expand
It wasn’t until The Visit in 2015 that Shyamalan started to find his footing once more; on Rotten Tomatoes, it scored 64%. The film centers around two children who spend the week at the country home of their estranged grandparents, only to find something unsettling. Critical reception hailed the film as suspenseful, clever, and effective in the way it played out its found footage technique.
The Visit was widely praised for producing current tension and being a return to form for Shyamalan in the horror genre. Its success restored part of Shyamalan’s reputation as a filmmaker who could craft engaging and unnerving stories. The film was also made on a modest budget of only five million dollars.
9 Glass (2019)
An Ambitious Conclusion To A Trilogy
Glass PG-13MysteryDramaSci-Fi Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
The third installment in M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable trilogy, Glass follows security guard David Dunn (Bruce Willis), a man with an uncanny ability to resist physical harm. Dunn tracks Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), a man with multiple identities who kidnaps and tortures young women, but they are both captured and imprisoned along with Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson).
Release Date January 16, 2019 Writers M. Night Shyamalan Cast Luke Kirby , Bruce Willis , James McAvoy , Samuel L. Jackson , Anya Taylor-Joy , Charlayne Woodard , Sarah Paulson , Spencer Treat Clark Runtime 129 minutes Director M. Night Shyamalan Studio(s) Universal Pictures Expand
Glass is the capstone to Shyamalan’s Eastrail 177 trilogy, sitting at a 36% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film tries to incorporate characters from Unbreakable with those from Split, which — as some critics say — it failed at. The expectations behind the crossover were profound and much appreciated; however, its poor execution and pacing were highly criticized.
Even though it had major critical shortcomings, to some fans, Glass was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, weaving together the narrative threads of Shyamalan’s prior films. Ultimately, though, it received mixed reviews for its complex and slightly convoluted plot.
Related Glass Movie Ending & All Twists Explained
Glass is as twisty as you’d expect from M. Night Shyamalan. We break down the ending and all the surprises in the belated Unbreakable sequel.
8 Old (2021)
A Mixed Bag of Suspense and Concept
Old (2021) PG-13DramaMysteryThriller
Old is a thriller directed by M. Night Shyamalan, based on the graphic novel “Sandcastle” by Pierre Oscar Levy and Frederik Peeters. The film follows a group of tourists who find themselves trapped on a mysterious beach that rapidly accelerates their aging process, leading to a desperate race to escape before their time runs out.
Release Date July 23, 2021 Writers M. Night Shyamalan Cast Gael García Bernal , Vicky Krieps , Rufus Sewell , Alex Wolff , Thomasin McKenzie Runtime 108 minutes Main Genre Thriller Director M. Night Shyamalan Studio(s) Perfect World Pictures , Blinding Edge Pictures Expand
Old is a movie about a group of people who somehow find themselves in a mysterious condition where they begin to age at an ultra-high speed on the beach, holding a rating of 50% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Some positive things noted by critics were its interesting premise and a few suspenseful scenes, but generally, many critics found it unevenly executed with a script that could not completely develop the ideas presented. While Old gave audiences some refreshing ideas and tense moments, the overall reception of it was mixed. The unique concept gave interest to the film, although how the storyline was executed didn’t quite satisfy some viewers.
7 The Village (2004)
An Intriguing Premise With A Controversial Twist
The Village PG-13DramaMysteryThriller Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Directed by M. Knight Shyamalan, The Village is set in a small Pennsylvania village in the 1800s. Residents of the village live in fear of sinister creatures living in the woods around them, leading them to be very isolationist, not allowing people to leave. The film follows a young couple who attempt to leave the village in order to procure medical supplies from the surrounding towns. Bryce Dallas Howard and Joaquin Phoenix star as the couple, Ivy and Lucius, with a further cast that includes Adrien Brody, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, and Brendan Gleeson.
Release Date July 30, 2004 Writers M. Night Shyamalan Cast Bryce Dallas Howard , Joaquin Phoenix , Adrien Brody , William Hurt , Sigourney Weaver , Brendan Gleeson Runtime 108 minutes Main Genre Drama Director M. Night Shyamalan Studio(s) Disney Expand
The Village — at 43% on Rotten Tomatoes — had some promise in its riveting premise: a village secluded from the rest of the world and harboring a sinister secret. It was praised for its atmosphere and acting performances but was heavily criticized for its twist ending, considered too controversial. For many of the critics, that twist took away from the buildup and resolution of the movie.
Although this film received quite polarizing reviews, The Village is still one of the more interesting films in Shyamalan’s oeuvre due to its peculiar setting and some thought-provoking themes. However, what glued many viewers to this film was that polarizing twist.
6 Knock at the Cabin (2023)
A Recent Effort With Mixed Reviews
Knock at the Cabin RHorrorMysteryThriller Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller, Knock at the Cabin, tells the story of a family who is approached by four strangers while staying in a remote cabin and given an impossible ultimatum. When Eric (Jonathan Groff) and Andrew (Ben Aldridge) take their daughter Wen (Kristen Cui) to a remote cabin for a family getaway, their stay is interrupted by the arrival of Leonard (Dave Bautista), Redmond (Rupert Grint), Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird), and Adriane (Abby Quinn), who tell them that one of the family must be sacrificed in order to stop the impending apocalypse.
Release Date February 3, 2023 Writers M. Night Shyamalan , Steve Desmond , Michael Sherman Cast Dave Bautista , Jonathan Groff , Ben Aldridge , Nikki Amuka-Bird , Kristen Cui , Abby Quinn , Rupert Grint Runtime 139 minutes Director M. Night Shyamalan Studio(s) Universal Pictures Expand
Knock at the Cabin holds 56% on Rotten Tomatoes. Much like its plot, as in the case of a family being held hostage by strangers claiming visions of the apocalypse, the reviews were a mixed bag.
While the movie’s suspenseful premise and performances garnered a good reception, they had nothing to do with the plot, and its twist ending seemed to be devoid of depth. With Knock at the Cabin, Shyamalan is again back in his psychological chiller/suspense genre. This one enjoyed some exciting moments but was received as a signal that it’s not quite on par with some of his other highly-praised movies.
5 Signs (2002)
Signs Had Effective Suspense With Critical Praise
Signs PG-13MysteryThrillerDrama Sci-Fi Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Signs is a sci-fi horror film by director M. Night Shyamalan. It follows devout priest Graham Hess and his family as they find themselves in the middle of a mysterious event where crop circles appear in the middle of their farmland. Then, seeing the entire world begin to experience similar phenomena, the family starts to worry about their safety and the end of days as they ponder what may be coming.
Release Date August 2, 2002 Writers M. Night Shyamalan Cast Joaquin Phoenix , Mel Gibson , Cherry Jones , Rory Culkin , Abigail Breslin Runtime 106 minutes Director M. Night Shyamalan Studio(s) Disney Expand
Signs is one of Shyamalan’s more successful films, hitting a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 74%. The movie received quite favorable reviews because of its atmosphere of suspense and great performances by Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix. The reason it did well critically was that this movie created such tension and intellectually approached faith and fear.
Signs is, without a doubt, probably one of Shyamalan’s best works — it turned out to be a bracing, suspenseful, tearjerker. Its critical success helped to secure Shyamalan’s reputation as one of the masters of psychological thrillers.
Related There’s Only 1 Thing About Signs That Bothers Me More Than The Water Twist
Signs is often criticized for its nonsensical water twist, but there’s one thing that bothers me a lot more than the aliens’ water weakness.
4 Trap (2024)
A Cat-and-Mouse Thriller
Trap Not Yet RatedThrillerMystery
Trap is a film by writer-director M. Night Shyamalan under his Blinding Edge Pictures label. The film is part of a deal struck with Warner Bros for him to direct and produce several films under their banner.
Release Date August 2, 2024 Writers M. Night Shyamalan Cast Josh Hartnett , Hayley Mills , Marnie McPhail , Vanessa Smythe , Saleka Shyamalan , Malik Jubal , Jonathan Langdon , Peter D’Souza , Ty Pravong , Kaitlyn Dallan Main Genre Thriller Director M. Night Shyamalan Studio(s) Blinding Edge Pictures , New Line Cinema Expand
M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap is brought alive by Josh Hartnett’s stunning performance. Critical opinion stays pretty in the green regarding its tension and intriguing plot; therefore, Trap finds a spot high up in the list of the best Shyamalan films.
Notwithstanding some mixed reviews,
Trap
is a very entertaining film that shows off Shyamalan’s talent for engaging thrillers.
The critical praise Hartnett for bringing his A-game to make the movie thrilling and charismatic, which no doubt gives the movie an edge in many ways. Notwithstanding some mixed reviews, Trap is a very entertaining film that shows off Shyamalan’s talent for engaging thrillers.
3 Split (2016)
A Resurgence Of Critical Acclaim
Split PG-13HorrorThriller Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
M. Night Shyamalan’s Split follows Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), a man with dissociative identity disorder, who kidnaps three teenage girls and imprisons them in an underground facility. When Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy) realizes that she can play Crumb’s personalities against one another, she begins to form a plan for escape before she is sacrificed to a creature he refers to as “the Beast”.
Release Date September 26, 2016 Writers M. Night Shyamalan Cast Kim Director , Betty Buckley , Haley Lu Richardson , Brad William Henke , Anya Taylor-Joy , James McAvoy , Jessica Sula Runtime 1h 57m Director M. Night Shyamalan Studio(s) Universal Pictures Expand
Split did well, with a 77% Rotten Tomatoes score in 2016. Many critics wanted to point out the strength of the performances and their psychological heft, with James McAvoy playing a man harboring multiple personalities.
Critical reception went on to identify McAvoy as the best part of the movie and an effective return to the roots of suspenseful Shyamalan storytelling. Split marked a great comeback for Shyamalan and proved that he was still able to weave engaging and unsettling narratives. Success at the box office was an indication of the revival of Shyamalan’s critical acclaim.
2 Unbreakable (2000)
A Cult Classic With Critical Acclaim
Unbreakable PG-13Drama Sci-FiMysteryThriller Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
M. Night Shyamalan presents Unbreakable, a superhero thriller that sees Bruce Willis star as David Dunn, a man who survives a train derailment completely unscathed. Now discovering that he has superpowers, he is invited to meet a man who may know more about his unique condition working at a comic book shop. What begins as a discovery of who he is and why he has these powers turns into David assuming the role of a reluctant hero in an ordinary world.
Release Date November 22, 2000 Writers M. Night Shyamalan Cast Charlayne Woodard , Bruce Willis , Spencer Treat Clark , Samuel L. Jackson , Robin Wright Runtime 106 minutes Director M. Night Shyamalan Studio(s) Disney Expand
Unbreakable is generally considered one of Shyamalan’s finest works, holding a 70% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film, by being able to turn upside down the expectations of a superhero movie as a realistic genre, was lauded for the novelty of its treatment and the powerful performances of Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson. One way that critical success was achieved with the film was through its particular twist on the superhero narrative, along with the exploration of identity and vulnerability.
The film’s superhero themes were inspired by Shyamalan’s interest in comic books.
Within years, Unbreakable had reached a sort of cult status and stands as one of the bigger movies in Shyamalan’s oeuvre. It has been an extremely influential Superhero movie, with an air of thoughtfulness to its storytelling that sets it apart from other movies.
1 The Sixth Sense (1999)
Shyamalan’s Masterpiece And Oscar Nominee
The Sixth Sense PG-13ThrillerDramaHorrorMystery Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense is a psychological thriller about a young boy who can see and communicate with ghosts. Bruce Willis as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who tries to help Cole, played by Haley Joel Osment, while grappling with his own personal demons. The movie features a twist ending that has become iconic in pop culture.
Release Date August 6, 1999 Writers M. Night Shyamalan Cast Bruce Willis , Toni Collette , Haley Joel Osment , Olivia Williams , Donnie Wahlberg Runtime 107 minutes Budget $40 Million Director M. Night Shyamalan Distributor(s) Disney , Dimension Films Expand
To this day, The Sixth Sense remains considered M. Night Shyamalan’s best work; at least its Rotten Tomatoes score is a nice 86%. This film has one of cinematic history’s most famous plot twists, and with powerful performances from Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment, the audience praised the way it combines a gripping plot with emotional depth.
The way that balanced psychological suspense and poignant storytelling created an amount of expectation from which Shyamalan would find it hard to shrink. Perhaps the most lauded film in Shyamalan’s body of work, The Sixth Sense is a film extolled everywhere for setting the parameters of the thriller genre. Critical acclaim and cultural relevance nailed this film as an instant classic.