Top 10 M. Night Shyamalan Movies

M. Night Shyamalan gained worldwide popularity for his iconic movie The Sixth Sense

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M. Night Shyamalan is a renowned movie director-producer and writer who is well-known for his signature storytelling and suspenseful plots.

He began his career as a writer and director in the movie Praying with Anger, in which he also acted in the lead role. The movie screened at the 1993 AFI Fest and won the “First Film Competition” for American independent filmmakers.

Shyamalan gained worldwide recognition for directing iconic movies like The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable trilogy.

He has also produced and directed some well-known series and movies like Servant, Split, and Wayward Pines.

Furthermore, Shyamalan was nominated for two Oscars for best writing and direction and has won several prominent awards, including the Golden Satellite, Nebula, and ShoWest Awards.

From psychological thrillers to supernatural mysteries, Shyamalan’s movies showcase his genre versatility, making him one of the greatest directors and writers of all time.

Here is the list of M. Night Shyamalan’s top 10 movies that you must watch once in a lifetime.

10. The Happening

The Happening is a science fiction drama adventure movie written, directed, and produced by M. Night Shyamalan.

It stars Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, and Betty Buckley in the leading roles.

The movie follows a terrible incident in New York City’s Central Park where people begin to take their own lives due to a bio-terrorist attack using an airborne neurotoxin that quickly spread across the Northeastern United States.

Moreover, the movie describes the struggle of a science teacher, Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg), his wife (Alma Moore), and a young girl (Julian) to survive the epidemic, which was spreading quickly as a global disaster.

The movie was nominated for the 2009 Saturn Award and has won the ASCAP Award.

The Happening

IMDb Sci-FiDramaAdventure

A teacher and his family struggle to survive a devastating pandemic that causes infected people to take their own lives.

DirectorM. Night Shyamalan
Release DateJune 13, 2008
Studio20th Century Fox
Dune Entertainment
UTV Motion Pictures
Spyglass Entertainment
Blinding Edge Pictures
CastMark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel,
John Leguizamo
,
Ashlyn Sanchez
, Frank Collison,
Betty Buckley
, Spencer Breslin
WriterM. Night Shyamalan
Runtime1 hour 31 minutes
RatingR

9. Wide Awake

Wide Awake is an American comedy-drama family movie written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

The movie stars Denis Leary, Dana Delany, Joseph Cross, and Rosie O’Donnell in the leading roles.

It follows Joshua A. Beal (Joseph Cross), a ten-year-old boy who, after the demise of his beloved grandfather, goes on a journey to search for answers about life, death, and God.

Furthermore, The movie illustrates Joshua’s school life at Waldron Mercy Academy, a private Catholic boys’ school in Philadelphia, and his bond with his best friend Dave.

Wide Awake was nominated for “Best Family Feature-Drama” and “Best Performance in a Feature Film-Leading Young Actor” at the 1999 Young Artist Awards.

Wide Awake

IMDb ComedyDramaFamily

After the demise of his beloved grandfather, a 10-year-old boy, Joshua, tries to search for answers about life and death.

DirectorM. Night Shyamalan
Release DateMarch 24, 2006
StudioUniversal Pictures
Imagine Entertainment
40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks
CastJoseph Cross, Timothy Reifsnyder, Dana Delany, Denis Leary, Rosie O’Donnell, Camryn Manheim
WriterM. Night Shyamalan
Runtime1 hours 28 minutes
RatingPG

8. The Village

The Village is an American period thriller mystery drama movie written, produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

It stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, and Brendan Gleeson in the leading roles.

The movie follows 19th-century Pennsylvania, a small village where people live in fear of nameless humanoid creatures that inhabit the woods and stay away as long as villagers avoid the woods.

When one of the young villagers becomes seriously ill, a girl from the village ignores the elders and goes to the woods to retrieve medicine. The mystery unfolds when the girl discovers the monster is someone from the village.

The movie became the tenth highest-grossing PG-13 movie of 2004 and was nominated for an Oscar, Golden Schmoes, Golden Trailer, and Empire Award.

The Village

IMDb MysteryDramaThriller

In a small village in Pennsylvania, the terror of a monster from the woods instilled fear among people not to go near the woods, no matter how difficult the situation was.

DirectorM. Night Shyamalan
Release DateJuly 30, 2004
StudioTouchstone Pictures
Blinding Edge Pictures
Scott Rudin Productions
CastBryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Brendan Gleeson, Cherry Jones, Celia Weston, John Christopher Jones
WriterM. Night Shyamalan
Runtime1 hour 48 minutes
RatingPG-13

7. Knock At the Cabin

Knock at the Cabin is an American apocalyptic, psychological horror mystery movie directed and produced by M. Night Shyamalan.

The movie is based on the 2018 novel The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul G. Tremblay.

It stars Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kriste Cui, Abby Quinn, and Rupert Grint in the leading roles.

The movie follows seven-year-old Wen as she vacations with her fathers, Eric and Andrew, at a remote cabin in rural Pennsylvania. There, she encounters a stranger named Leonard, who explains that he needs Wen and her parents’ help to save the world.

Things change when three other individuals break into their cabin with weapons and hold Wen and her father hostage, describing that they have been driven to find the family by visions of an upcoming apocalypse in which oceans will rise, a pandemic will spread, and the sky will fall which can only be prevented by sacrificing Wen’s family.

The movie further displays the struggle of Wen’s family and the series of terrible incidents that occur in the cabin.

It received positive reviews from critics worldwide for its direction and performance and was nominated for several awards like the Saturn Award, Astra Award, Critics Choice Super Awards, and the GLAAD Media Awards.

Knock At the Cabin

IMDb MysteryThrillerHorror

Wen and her family are held captive by some armed strangers who demand the family sacrifice themself in order to save the world from the apocalypse.

DirectorM. Night Shyamalan
Release DateFebruary 3, 2023
StudioUniversal Pictures
Blinding Edge Pictures
FilmNation Entertainment Wishmore Entertainment
CastDave Bautista,
Jonathan Groff
, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Rupert Grint, Abby Quinn, McKenna Kerrigan, Ian Merrill Peakes
WriterM. Night Shyamalan, Paul Tremblay, Steve Desmond, Michael Sherman
Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
RatingR

6. The Visit

The Visit is an American found footage horror mystery movie written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

The movie stars Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould, Deanna Dunagan, Peter McRobbie, and Kathryn Hahn in the leading roles.

It follows two young siblings, Becca (Olivia DeJonge) and her younger brother Tyler (Ed Oxenbould), who go to stay with their estranged grandparents for five days while their divorced mother, Loretta, goes on a trip.

Things turn around when the siblings plan to record a documentary movie about their visit to their grandparent’s farmhouse and discover their grandparents’ disturbing activities in the house.

The mystery unfolds when the siblings show their mother the records and discover that the people they were living with were not actually her grandparents.

The movie received positive reviews from critics, with many calling it a return to form for Shyamalan’s career after The Last Airbender and After Earth failed critically.

It was also nominated for many renowned awards, such as the Saturn Award, Golden Trailer, IGN Award, and Golden Schomoes Award.

The Visit

IMDb MysteryHorrorThriller

Two Siblings, Becca and Tyler, visit their estranged grandparents on vacation and discover disturbing and horrific events in their grandparents’ farmhouse, unraveling a hidden mystery.

DirectorM. Night Shyamalan
Release DateSeptember 11, 2015
StudioUniversal Pictures,
Blinding Edge Pictures
Blumhouse Productions
CastOlivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould, Deanna Dunagan, Peter McRobbie, Kathryn Hahn, Patch Darragh, Benjamin Kanes
WriterM. Night Shyamalan
Runtime1 hour 34 minutes
RatingPG-13

5. Signs

Signs is an American science fiction drama mystery movie written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

It stars Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, and Rury Culkin in the leading roles.

The movie follows Graham Hess, a former Episcopal priest who lives on a rural farm in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, with his children and younger brother Merill after the demise of his wife.

One day, when going to work on their cornfield, Hess and his brother discover mysterious large crop circles, which resulted in the beginning of an invasion of aliens. The movie further depicts the struggle of families from the attack of aliens.

The movie received praise for its cinematography and story and was nominated for several renowned awards, such as Saturn, Golden Satellite, SFX, Golden Trailer, and Golden Schomoes Awards.

Signs

IMDb MysteryDramaSci-Fi

A former priest, along with his brother and children, discovers a mysterious crop circle in their cornfield, which begins destructive events created by aliens.

DirectorM. Night Shyamalan
Release DateAugust 2, 2002
StudioTouchstone Pictures
Blinding Edge Pictures
The Kennedy/Marshall Company
CastMel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin, M. Night Shyamalan, Patricia Kalember, Ted Sutton, Cherry Jones
WriterM. Night Shyamalan
Runtime1 hour 46 minutes
RatingPG-13

4. Glass

Glass is a drama, sci-fi superhero movie directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan. It is the third and final installment in the Unbreakable trilogy.

It stars James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sarah Paulson, and Samuel L. Jackson in the leading roles.

The movie follows David Dunn, who uses his supernatural abilities to track down Kevin Wendell, a man with multiple personalities called the Horde who has kept four cheerleaders hostage to feed to the Beast, a Superman personality that he worships.

It also depicts Dunn’s encounter with Elijah Price, also known as Mr. Glass, in the Raven Hill Memorial, where all three Dunn, Horde, and Glass are held captive and their struggle in the locked room.

The movie received praise for the actors’ performance and was nominated for several awards like Saturn, People’s Choice, and National Film and Television Awards.

Glass

IMDb Sci-FiDramaHorror

David Dunn entangled himself with his archenemy Elijah Price in a mental hospital while tracking down Kevin Wendell, a disturbed man with 24 personalities.

DirectorM. Night Shyamalan
Release DateJanuary 18, 2019
StudioUniversal Pictures
Perfect World Pictures
Blinding Edge Pictures
Blumhouse Productions
Buena Vista International
CastJames McAvoy,
Bruce Willis
, Samuel L. Jackson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sarah Paulson, Spencer Treat Clark,
Charlayne Woodard
WriterM. Night Shyamalan
Runtime2 hours 9 minutes
RatingPG-13

3. Split

Split is an American psychological thriller movie written, directed, and produced by M. Night Shyamalan.

It is the standalone sequel and the second installment of the Unbreakable trilogy and stars James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Betty Buckley in the leading roles.

The movie follows Philadelphia, where a man, Kevin, diagnosed with multiple personality disorders, abducts three young girls, Claire, Casey, and Marcia, and imprisons them in a secret underground lair beneath the Philadelphia Zoo.

Furthermore, the movie depicts the girls’ struggle to escape the terrible situation and reveals Kevin’s dark childhood.

The movie received positive reviews worldwide and won several awards, including the San Diego Film Critics Society Awards, Fright Meter, and Critics Awards.

Split

IMDb HorrorThriller

Three young girls who a man with multiple personality disorder abduct try to escape from him before any frightful events take place.

DirectorM. Night Shyamalan
Release DateJanuary 20, 2017 
StudioBlinding Edge Pictures
Blumhouse Productions
Universal Pictures
CastJames McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley, Haley Lu Richardson, Jessica Sula, Rosemary Howard
WriterM. Night Shyamalan
Runtime1 hour 57 minutes
RatingPG-13

2. Unbreakable

Unbreakable is an American science fiction drama mystery movie written, produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

It is the first installment in the Unbreakable trilogy and stars Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, and Robin Wright in the leading roles.

The movie follows a former star quarterback and security guard, David Dunn, who, while returning home to Philadelphia after a job interview in New York, gets into a tragic train accident where he is the only survivor.

After a few days, David finds a note in his car from Elijah Price, telling him to visit his art gallery, where Price explains his mysterious theory of unbreakable and regards David as one of those few unbreakable.

Furthermore, the movie depicts how David Dunn relates his past incidents with Price’s mysterious theory and learns more about his extraordinary powers as he discovers that touch contact with people brings him visions of criminal acts they have committed, which makes him help people in need.

The movie received worldwide acclaim for its direction and performance and was nominated for several awards, including the Saturn Award, Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, and Teen Choice Awards.

Unbreakable

IMDb MysteryDramaSci-Fi

A security guard and former quarterback, David Dunn, discovers his unique and special ability to feel things after being the sole survivor of a devastating train accident.

DirectorM. Night Shyamalan
Release DateNovember 22, 2000
StudioTouchstone Pictures
Blinding Edge Pictures
Barry Mendel Productions
Limited Edition Productions Inc.
CastBruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright,
Spencer Treat Clark
, Charlayne Woodard, Johnny Hiram Jamison, Leslie Stefanson, Eamonn Walker, Davis Duffield
WriterM. Night Shyamalan
Runtime1 hour 46 minutes
RatingPG-13

1. The Sixth Sense

The Sixth Sense is an American psychological drama mystery thriller movie written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

It stars Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams, and Haley Joel Osment in the leading roles.

The movie follows Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who is attacked by his former patient, Vincent Grey, who blames Malcolm for failing to treat him well.

Months later, after the incident, Malcom encounters a nine-year-old boy, Cole Sear, who reminds him of Vincent. To fix his failure to help Vincent, he begins working with Cole, who claims to see and talk to the dead.

The movie further unravels the mystery of Malcom’s unclear past after the attack, his relationship with his estranged wife, and also Cole’s vision and special ability to see the demised people.

The Sixth Sense received praise for the cast performance, direction, and surprising ending, establishing Shyamalan as a prevailing thriller screenwriter and director.

It was the second-highest-grossing movie of 1999 and was nominated for six Oscars for Best Direction, writing, and Best Actor and Actress in Supporting roles.

In addition, the movie has won several renowned awards, such as the Saturn Award, Blockbuster Entertainment Award, and Critics Choice Award.

The Sixth Sense

IMDb MysteryDramaThriller

Malcom Crowe, a child psychologist, when he starts to treat a young boy, Cole, discovers the boy’s special ability to see the demised people and also finds out more about his own past.

DirectorM. Night Shyamalan
Release DateAugust 6, 1999
StudioHollywood Pictures
Spyglass Entertainment
The Kennedy/Marshall Company
Barry Mendel Productions
CastBruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams, Trevor Morgan, Donnie Wahlberg, Peter Anthony Tambakis
WriterM. Night Shyamalan
Runtime1 hour 47 minutes
RatingPG-13
Suruchi Lohani
Suruchi Lohani
Suruchi is a student of Business Management, who is also a movie enthusiast. She loves writing articles and blogs related to movies. Besides that, she enjoys reading novels and is passionate about learning new things.

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