M. Night Shyamalan filmography

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Shyamalan at a press conference for The Happening in 2008 M. Night Shyamalan 2008 - still 40580.jpg
Shyamalan at a press conference for The Happening in 2008

Indian-American filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan wrote, directed, and starred in his first project, the independent film Praying with Anger , while he was a student at New York University; inspired by his cultural upbringing, the movie was released in 1992 and earned him praise at film festivals. [1] [2] His next film, the comedy-drama Wide Awake about a grieving child struggling with his Catholic faith, was completed in 1995 but shelved by the studio Miramax until 1998. [3] [4] During this period, he did an uncredited rewrite of the script for the romantic-comedy She's All That that allegedly "got the movie green-lit" and co-wrote the live-action/animated film Stuart Little (both released in 1999). [5] [6] Also in 1999, he wrote and directed the supernatural drama The Sixth Sense , starring Bruce Willis as a child psychologist whose patient claims he can see and talk to the dead. The three projects were commercially successful, but The Sixth Sense earned Shyamalan international attention and name recognition from critics and audiences, becoming the second-highest grossing film of the year and earning him Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. [7] [8]

Contents

He reunited with Willis on the thriller Unbreakable about a seemingly average man, David Dunn, who learns he has superhuman abilities. The film co-starred Samuel L. Jackson and was released in 2000. Like Unbreakable, his science-fiction thriller Signs (2002) and period drama The Village (2004) found financial success and solidified him as a filmmaker known for his twist endings and cameo appearances. [9] [10] [11] The next decade, however, saw a series of critical misfires with Lady in the Water (2006), The Happening (2008), and the higher-budgeted The Last Airbender (2010) and After Earth (2013). [12] In 2015, he had a career resurgence after partnering with Universal Pictures on the found footage horror film The Visit , which made $98.5 million on a $5 million budget he self-funded by taking out a loan against his estate. [13] He worked with Universal again on Split (2016) and its sequel Glass (2019), which with Unbreakable comprise the Eastrail 177 Trilogy , Old (2021), and Knock at the Cabin (2023). [14] He partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures for his latest film, Trap (2024). [15] Since The Visit, he has partly self-financed his films. [16] In television, he directed the pilot of Wayward Pines (2015) and showran Servant (2019–2023).

Films

M. Night Shyamalan's film credits
YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerNotesRef(s)
1992 Praying with Anger YesYesYesStudent film [1]
1998 Wide Awake YesYesNo [17]
1999 She's All That NoUncredited rewriteNo [18]
The Sixth Sense YesYesNo [19]
Stuart Little NoYesNo [6]
2000 Unbreakable YesYesYes [20]
2002 Signs YesYesYes [21]
2004 The Village YesYesYes [22]
2006 Lady in the Water YesYesYes [23]
2008 The Happening YesYesYes [24]
2010 The Last Airbender YesYesYes [25]
Devil NoStoryYes [26]
2013 After Earth YesYesYes [27]
2015 The Visit YesYesYes [28]
2016 Split YesYesYes [29]
2019 Glass YesYesYes [30]
2021 Old YesYesYes [31]
2023 Knock at the Cabin YesYesYes [32]
2024 The Watchers NoNoYes [33]
Trap YesYesYes [34]
Caddo Lake NoNoYes [35]

Notes

    Television

    M. Night Shyamalan's television credits
    YearTitleDirectorExecutive producerNotesRef(s)
    2015–16 Wayward Pines YesYesEpisode: "Where Paradise Is Home" [36]
    2019–23 Servant YesYesEpisodes: "Reborn", "Jericho", "2:00", "Donkey", "Awake" [37]

    Acting credits

    M. Night Shyamalan's acting credits
    YearTitleRoleNotesRef(s)
    1992 Praying with Anger Dev Raman [1]
    1999 The Sixth Sense Dr. Hill [38]
    2000 Unbreakable JaiCredited as "stadium drug dealer" [38]
    2002 Signs Ray Reddy [38]
    2004 The Village JayCredited as "guard at desk" [38]
    2006 Lady in the Water Vick Ran [38]
    2007 Entourage HimselfEpisode: "Sorry, Harvey" [39]
    2008 The Happening JoeyPlayed a voice on a phone call made by a character [38]
    2010 The Last Airbender FirebenderUncredited [40]
    2016 Split Jai [38]
    2019 Glass Jai [38]
    2019, 2020 This Is Us HimselfEpisodes: "The Pool: Part Two" and "A Hell of a Week: Part Two" [41] [42]
    2019 Servant Delivery manEpisode: "Reborn" [43]
    2021 Old TheoCredited as "hotel van driver" [44]
    2023 Knock at the Cabin Infomercial co-host [45]
    2024 Trap Lady Raven's uncle [46]

    Critical and public response

    Critical and public response to films from M. Night Shyamalan
    YearFilm Rotten Tomatoes [47] Metacritic [48] CinemaScore [49]
    1992 Praying with Anger ———
    1998 Wide Awake 45% (33 reviews)——
    1999 The Sixth Sense 86% (158 reviews)64 (35 reviews)A–
    2000 Unbreakable 70% (173 reviews)62 (31 reviews)C
    2002 Signs 74% (236 reviews)59 (36 reviews)B
    2004 The Village 43% (218 reviews)44 (40 reviews)C
    2006 Lady in the Water 25% (212 reviews)36 (36 reviews)B–
    2008 The Happening 17% (185 reviews)34 (38 reviews)D
    2010 The Last Airbender 5% (192 reviews)20 (33 reviews)C
    2013 After Earth 12% (213 reviews)33 (41 reviews)B
    2015 The Visit 68% (229 reviews)55 (34 reviews)B–
    2016 Split 77% (307 reviews)62 (47 reviews)B+
    2019 Glass 36% (396 reviews)43 (53 reviews)B
    2021 Old 50% (313 reviews)55 (52 reviews)C+
    2023 Knock at the Cabin 68% (235 reviews)63 (54 reviews)C
    2024 Trap 57% (232 reviews)52 (46 reviews)C+

    See also

    References

    1. 1 2 3 "AFI Catalog - Praying with Anger (1993)". American Film Institute . Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    2. ↑ Thomas, Lou (January 28, 2019). "Where to begin with M. Night Shyamalan". British Film Institute . Retrieved February 23, 2025.
    3. ↑ Davids, Brian (January 31, 2023). "M. Night Shyamalan Says He Has Experienced Hollywood Highs and Lows So Many Times". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved February 23, 2025.
    4. ↑ Abramovitch, Seth (July 21, 2021). "Rosie O'Donnell Recalls Confronting Harvey Weinstein About M. Night Shyamalan Film Wide Awake". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved February 23, 2025.
    5. ↑ Busis, Hillary (June 17, 2013). "M. Night Shyamalan and 'She's All That': Did he really write it?". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved February 23, 2025.
    6. 1 2 Floorwalker, Mike (June 14, 2021). "The Untold Truth Of M. Night Shyamalan". Looper.com . Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    7. ↑ Bolling, Gaius (August 4, 2024). "How M. Night Shyamalan Ruled the Summer Box Office in 1999". MovieWeb . Retrieved February 23, 2025.
    8. ↑ Mendelson, Scott (August 6, 2014). "'The Sixth Sense' Made M. Night Shyamalan Into Hollywood's Last Spielberg". Forbes . Retrieved February 23, 2025.
    9. ↑ Greiving, Tim (July 30, 2020). "M. Night Shyamalan Talks Signs, Twists, and Crop-Circle Tattoos". The Ringer . Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
    10. ↑ Morris, Wesley (August 24, 2020). "Plot Twist! Why 2004 Was a Surprising Year for Movies" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
    11. ↑ Goslin, Austen; Egan, Toussaint (October 25, 2024). "M. Night Shyamalan's cameos ranked in order of importance". Polygon . Retrieved February 23, 2025.
    12. ↑ Barnes, Brooks (August 18, 2015). "With The Visit, M. Night Shyamalan Returns to His Filmmaking Roots" . The New York Times . Retrieved October 11, 2022.
    13. ↑ Hiatt, Brian (December 20, 2018). "The Fall and Rise of M. Night Shyamalan" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
    14. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (September 16, 2019). "M. Night Shyamalan Sets His Next Two Movies at Universal for Release in 2021, 2023". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
    15. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 16, 2023). "M. Night Shyamalan Signs Multi-Year First-Look Deal at Warner Bros, Sets Trap At Studio". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 16, 2023.
    16. ↑ "M. Night Shyamalan's risky self-financing run continues with Trap". Associated Press . July 25, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
    17. ↑ Ebert, Roger (March 27, 1998). "Wide Awake". RogerEbert.com . Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    18. ↑ Russell, Mike (August 2002). "Night's Skies | In Focus, Volume II, Number 8". National Association of Theatre Owners . Archived from the original on July 14, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    19. ↑ Nichols, Mackenzie (August 2, 2019). "The Sixth Sense Turns 20: M. Night Shyamalan and Haley Joel Osment Tell All". Variety . Archived from the original on August 3, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    20. ↑ Bramesco, Charles (November 23, 2020). "Unbreakable at 20: the film that finally took superheroes seriously". The Guardian . Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    21. ↑ Budowski, Jade (July 29, 2017). "Signs At 15: The Scariest Alien Movie Ever?". Decider. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    22. ↑ Chitwood, Adam (July 30, 2019). "In Defense of M. Night Shyamalan's The Village". Collider . Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    23. ↑ Freer, Ian. "Lady In The Water Review". Empire . Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    24. ↑ Honeycutt, Kirk (June 9, 2008). "The Happening: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    25. ↑ "M Night Shyamalan's Last Airbender wins Razzie Awards". BBC Online . February 27, 2011. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    26. ↑ Miska, Brad (October 28, 2008). "Dowdle Brothers Team For Shyamalan's Devil". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
    27. ↑ Busis, Hillary (June 2, 2013). "After Earth: The funniest, meanest reviews". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    28. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 9, 2015). "The Visit: Review". Screen Daily . Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    29. ↑ Hidayat, Firhat (March 5, 2017). "Split (2016) — Not just an Ordinary Thriller Movie". Medium . Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    30. ↑ Edelstein, David (January 14, 2019). "M. Night Shyamalan's Glass Congeals on the Screen". Vulture . Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    31. ↑ McClintock, Pamela; Couch, Aaron (June 23, 2020). "Universal Sets M. Night Shyamalan's Next Movie for July 2021". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
    32. ↑ Dick, Jeremy (June 11, 2022). "M. Night Shyamalan Wraps Filming on Next Movie Knock at the Cabin". MovieWeb . Archived from the original on June 11, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
    33. ↑ Rajput, Priyanca (September 5, 2023). "Ishana Shyamalan's debut feature The Watchers wraps in Dublin". KFTV.com . Retrieved November 4, 2023.
    34. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 16, 2023). "M. Night Shyamalan Signs Multi-Year First-Look Deal at Warner Bros, Sets Trap At Studio". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
    35. ↑ Kroll, Justin (October 4, 2021). "M. Night Shyamalan's Blinding Edge Pictures To Produce Vanishings At Caddo Lake From Directing Duo Celine Held And Logan George". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 22, 2021.
    36. ↑ Dowling, Amber (April 30, 2015). "Wayward Pines: 'Where Paradise is Home' Review". IGN . Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    37. ↑ Weintraub, Steve (January 16, 2021). "M. Night Shyamalan on Servant, His 40-Episode Plan, and Future Movies". Collider . Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    38. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Roschke, Ryan (January 21, 2019). "9 M. Night Shyamalan Movie Cameos That Made Us Groan Into Our Popcorn". PopSugar . Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    39. ↑ Haque, Ahsan (July 9, 2007). "Entourage: 'Sorry, Harvey' Review". IGN . Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    40. ↑ Del Rosario, Alexandra (August 6, 2019). "The Cast of The Sixth Sense, Then and Now". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
    41. ↑ Fremont, Maggie (October 1, 2019). "This Is Us Recap: Pearson Family Fun Day". Vulture . Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    42. ↑ Siede, Caroline (January 28, 2020). "This Is Us asks us to put our faith in M. Night Shyamalan". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    43. ↑ Beasley, Tom (December 13, 2019). "M. Night Shyamalan on the burden of twist expectations and his Servant cameo (exclusive)". Yahoo! Movies . Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
    44. ↑ Desta, Yohana (July 23, 2021). "How M. Night Shyamalan's Old Updates the Graphic Novel Sandcastle" . Vanity Fair . Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
    45. ↑ Abdulbaki, Mae (February 6, 2023). "Where To Spot M. Night Shyamalan's Cameo In Knock At The Cabin". Screen Rant . Retrieved February 8, 2023.
    46. ↑ Papadopoulos, Charles (August 3, 2024). "M. Night Shyamalan's Cameo In Trap Explained". Screen Rant . Retrieved August 4, 2024.
    47. ↑ "M. Night Shyamalan". Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
    48. ↑ "M. Night Shyamalan". Metacritic . Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
    49. ↑ "CinemaScore". CinemaScore . Retrieved February 12, 2021. Each film's score can be accessed from the website's search bar.

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