Shyamalan, pictured in 2008 at a press conference for The Happening

Indian-American filmmaker and actor M. Night Shyamalan began his career in 1992 with the student film Praying with Anger, which he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in. He then wrote the screenplays for the comedy movies Wide Awake (1998; also directed) and Stuart Little (1999). In 1999, he rose to prominence for writing and directing the supernatural movie The Sixth Sense, for which he received Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.[1] He then wrote, directed, and produced the superhero movie Unbreakable, the first entry in the Eastrail 177 Trilogy followed by Split in 2016 and Glass in 2019.[2]

After Unbreakable, Shyamalan made Signs (2002) and The Village (2004), which increased his popularity with moviegoers and further established him as a filmmaker known for his original twist endings.[3][4] The next decade, however, saw a series of critical misfires with Lady in the Water (2006), The Happening (2008), The Last Airbender (2010), and After Earth (2013).[5] In 2015, he partnered with Universal Pictures for The Visit, a commercial success that made $98.5 million on a $5 million budget.[6] Universal has since released his films Split, Glass, Old (2021), and Knock at the Cabin (2023).[7] Shyamalan's next film, Trap, is set to be released by Warner Bros. Pictures in 2024.[8][9]

Films

M. Night Shyamalan's film credits
Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes Ref(s)
1992 Praying with Anger Yes Yes Yes Student film [10]
1998 Wide Awake Yes Yes No [11]
1999 The Sixth Sense Yes Yes No [12]
2000 Unbreakable Yes Yes Yes [13]
2002 Signs Yes Yes Yes [14]
2004 The Village Yes Yes Yes Uncredited executive soundtrack producer [15]
2006 Lady in the Water Yes Yes Yes [16]
2008 The Happening Yes Yes Yes [17]
2010 The Last Airbender Yes Yes Yes [18]
2013 After Earth Yes Yes Yes Co-written with Gary Whitta and Will Smith [19]
2015 The Visit Yes Yes Yes [20]
2016 Split Yes Yes Yes [21]
2019 Glass Yes Yes Yes [22]
2021 Old Yes Yes Yes [23]
2023 Knock at the Cabin Yes Yes Yes Co-written with Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman [24]
2024 Trap Yes Yes Yes Post-production [25]

Writer and/or producer only

M. Night Shyamalan's film credits
Year Title Writer Producer Notes Ref(s)
1999 She's All That Rewrites No Uncredited[note 1] [26]
Stuart Little Yes No [27]
2010 Devil Story Yes [28]
2024 The Watchers † No Yes Post-production [29]
TBA Caddo Lake † No Yes Post-production [30]
Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Acting credits

M. Night Shyamalan's acting film credits
Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
1992 Praying with Anger Dev Raman [10]
1999 The Sixth Sense Dr. Hill [31]
2000 Unbreakable Jai Credited as "stadium drug dealer" [31]
2002 Signs Ray Reddy [31]
2004 The Village Jay Credited as "guard at desk" [31]
2006 Lady in the Water Vick Ran [31]
2008 The Happening Joey Voice role [31]
2010 The Last Airbender Firebender Uncredited [32]
2016 Split Jai [31]
2019 Glass Jai [31]
2021 Old Hotel van driver [33]
2023 Knock at the Cabin Infomercial co-host [34]

Television

M. Night Shyamalan's television credits
Year Title Director Executive
producer 		Notes Ref(s)
2015–16 Wayward Pines Yes Yes Episode: "Where Paradise Is Home" [35]
2019–23 Servant Yes Yes Episodes: "Reborn", "Jericho", "2:00", "Donkey", "Awake" [36]

Acting credits

M. Night Shyamalan's acting television credits
Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2007 Entourage Himself Episode: "Sorry, Harvey" [37]
2019–20 This Is Us Himself Episodes: "The Pool: Part Two" and "A Hell of a Week: Part Two" [38][39]
2019 Servant Delivery man Episode: "Reborn" [40]

Critical and public response

Critical and public response to films from M. Night Shyamalan
Year Film Rotten Tomatoes[41] Metacritic[42] CinemaScore[43]
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


See also

Notes

  1. ^ R. Lee Fleming, Jr. is officially credited as the sole screenwriter for the film. In a 2002 interview, M. Night Shyamalan stated that he polished the screenplay while adapting Stuart Little and writing a spec script for The Sixth Sense. This was also confirmed in the film's audio commentary by director Robert Iscove.[26]

References

  1. ^ "The 72nd Academy Awards | 2000". Academy Awards. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  2. ^ Mathai, Jeremy (January 20, 2021). "Reassessing M. Night Shyamalan's Glass After a Year With No MCU". IGN. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Barnes, Brooks (August 18, 2015). "With The Visit, M. Night Shyamalan Returns to His Filmmaking Roots". The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  6. ^ "The Visit". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 7, 2022). "New M. Night Shyamalan Thriller Dated By Universal For 2024". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ a b "AFI Catalog - Praying with Anger (1993)". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  11. ^ Ebert, Roger (March 27, 1998). "Wide Awake". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ Freer, Ian. "Lady In The Water Review". Empire. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  17. ^ Honeycutt, Kirk (June 9, 2008). "The Happening: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 9, 2015). "The Visit: Review". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ a b 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.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ Rajput, Priyanca (September 5, 2023). "Ishana Shyamalan's debut feature The Watchers wraps in Dublin". KFTV.com. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h 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.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ 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.
  34. ^ Abdulbaki, Mae (February 6, 2023). "Where To Spot M. Night Shyamalan's Cameo In Knock At The Cabin". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  35. ^ 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.
  36. ^ 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.
  37. ^ Haque, Ahsan (July 9, 2007). "Entourage: 'Sorry, Harvey' Review". IGN. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  38. ^ 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.
  39. ^ 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.
  40. ^ 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.
  41. ^ "M. Night Shyamalan". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  42. ^ "M. Night Shyamalan". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  43. ^ "CinemaScore". CinemaScore. Retrieved February 12, 2021. Each film's score can be accessed from the website's search bar.

External links

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