Every M. Night Shyamalan movie brings something unique, and by this point in his career the director’s name is 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.
M. Night Shymalan directed his first movie in 1992, the student film Praying with Anger, but it was in 1998 that audiences first met his unique style in the comedy-drama Wide Awake. Shyamalan’s unique ability to blend supernatural elements with deeply personal stories has made him a distinctive voice in contemporary cinema, especially thanks to hits like 1999’s The Sixth Sense and Signs in 2002. M. Night Shyamalan movies often explore themes of family, faith, and fear, challenging viewers to look beyond the surface and question their perceptions of reality.
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16
The Last Airbender (2010)
A Financial Flop and Heavy Criticism
The Last Airbender
3/10
- Release Date
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June 30, 2010
- Runtime
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103 Minutes
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
4/10
- Release Date
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May 30, 2013
- Runtime
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100minutes
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 branded the 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
2/10
- Release Date
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June 13, 2008
- Runtime
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91 Minutes
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
4/10
- Release Date
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July 20, 2006
- Runtime
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110 Minutes
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.
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12
Wide Awake (1998)
There Were Some Limitations In This Promising Debut
Wide Awake
- Release Date
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March 20, 1998
- Runtime
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88 minutes
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
- Release Date
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September 12, 1992
- Runtime
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107 minutes
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.
10
The Visit (2015)
The Visit
5/10
- Release Date
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September 11, 2015
- Runtime
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94 Minutes
- Writers
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M. Night Syamalan
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
5/10
- Release Date
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January 16, 2019
- Runtime
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129 minutes
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.
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8
Old (2021)
A Mixed Bag of Suspense and Concept
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
- Release Date
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July 30, 2004
- Runtime
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108 minutes
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)
An Intimate Apocalyptic Character Study
Knock at the Cabin
7/10
- Release Date
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February 3, 2023
- Runtime
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139 minutes
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 M. Night Shyamlan movie contained some exciting moments but was received as a signal that it’s not quite on par with some of his other highly-praised films.
5
Signs (2002)
Signs Had Effective Suspense With Critical Praise
Signs
8/10
- Release Date
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August 2, 2002
- Runtime
-
106 minutes
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 the best M. Night Shyamalan movies – 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.
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4
Trap (2024)
A Cat-and-Mouse Thriller
Trap
6/10
- Release Date
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August 2, 2024
M. Night Shyamalan’s 2024 thriller 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.
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)
The Nailbiting Collaboration With James MacAvoy
Split
7/10
- Release Date
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September 26, 2016
- Runtime
-
1h 57m
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
9/10
- Release Date
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November 22, 2000
- Runtime
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106 minutes
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 Oscar Nominated Masterpiece
The Sixth Sense
8/10
- Release Date
-
August 6, 1999
- Runtime
-
107 minutes
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.
What’s Next For M. Night Shyamalan?
M. Night Shyamalan’s career hasn’t lost any momentum since finding success with the likes of The Sixth Sense and Signs. His most recent film, Trap, arrived in 2024, and details of the next M. Night Shyamalan movie are already beginning to surface. It was revealed in early 2025 that Jake Gyllenhaal has signed on for a new Shyamalan film, leading the cast of an as-yet-untitled project. Few details are known about the movie, though Shyamalan has revealed that it will be a romantic thriller based on a story co-written with novelist Nicholas Sparks.
As an author, Nicholas Sparks is responsible for some of the source material of some of the most successful romance movies of the last few decades, including 2004’s The Notebook. The prospect of M. Night Shyamalan working with Sparks to create a romantic thriller is certainly intriguing, especially if the lead character is played by Jake Gyllenhaal – an actor renowned for diving head first into complex and layered roles.
M. Night Shyamalan’s last movie, 2024’s Trap, netted over $83million globally against a budget of $30million (via Box Office Mojo). The reviews from critics may have been middling, but the film was still a clear financial success and showed that Shymalan’s name continues to be a pull with audiences. It’s reported that the director is currently in talks with Warner Bros. to secure a theatrical release for his next movie, and the fact that Trap doubled its budget makes this a likely outcome. The new M. Night Shyamlan movie has no title or filming window at time of writing, though it will doubtless become highly anticipated as further details emerge.