M. Night Shyamalan: Films, Box Office Hits & Career Guide

You know that feeling when a movie’s final scene rewires everything you just watched? For millions of moviegoers, M. Night Shyamalan is the director who turned that feeling into a career. From the jaw-dropping reveal in The Sixth Sense to the slow-burn dread of Split, his films have sparked arguments, inspired late-night discussions, and generated more than $3.3 billion at the box office. This guide unpacks his filmography through the lens of critical scores, box office returns, and the evolution of the plot twist that made him a household name.

Films directed (as of 2024): 16 ·
Total global box office: $3.3 billion ·
Highest-grossing film: The Sixth Sense ($672.8 million) ·
Most acclaimed film (Rotten Tomatoes): The Sixth Sense (86%) ·
Lowest-rated film (Rotten Tomatoes): The Last Airbender (5%) ·
Academy Award nominations: 6

Eight key facts about the director at a glance — from his birth name to his net worth.

Source: Wikipedia

What is considered M. Night Shyamalan’s best movie?

The consensus, backed by numbers, points firmly to The Sixth Sense. It holds an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.2/10 on IMDb (Rotten Tomatoes). But it’s not the only contender — Unbreakable (70% Rotten Tomatoes, 7.3 IMDb) and Split (78% Rotten Tomatoes, 7.3 IMDb) also have strong followings. A comparison helps clarify the landscape.

Five of his most-discussed films, side by side on critics’ scores and commercial results.

Box Office Mojo · Rotten Tomatoes Guide

The pattern: The two films that brought Shyamalan the most critical acclaim — The Sixth Sense and Split — also delivered the best return on investment. Split was made for $9 million and grossed $278.5 million, a 31× multiplier that no other Shyamalan film has matched.

Critical reception of The Sixth Sense

• 86% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes)
• 6 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director (Oscars.org)
• Considered one of the best horror/supernatural thrillers of all time

Other top contenders: Unbreakable and Split

• Unbreakable (2000) – 70% Rotten Tomatoes, $248.1 million worldwide
• Split (2016) – 78% Rotten Tomatoes, $278.5 million worldwide
• Split brought in James McAvoy’s performance as a key strength and set up the Glass trilogy finale (Complex)

Audience scores vs critic scores

Shyamalan’s audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes tend to be slightly higher than critics’ for his best-known films. The Sixth Sense has a 91% audience score versus 86% critics; Split has 86% audience versus 78% critics. But the gap widens for his weaker films — The Happening sits at 18% critics and 28% audience (Rotten Tomatoes). The trade-off: his worst-reviewed movies still find a paying audience.

Why is he called M. Night Shyamalan?

His full name is Manoj Nelliyattu Shyamalan (Wikipedia). The nickname “M. Night” emerged during college. According to interviews, his mother suggested “Night” as a stage name after he asked for something that sounded more cinematic. He adopted the initial “M.” for his given name and combined them into “M. Night Shyamalan”. The exact story sometimes varies by source, but the core origin is consistent: a conscious branding move early in his career.

What is the highest grossing M. Night Shyamalan movie?

The Sixth Sense leads by a wide margin with $672.8 million globally (Box Office Mojo). Second place is The Last Airbender at $319.7 million, despite being critically panned. Signs ranks third at $408.3 million. The surprise hit Split ($278.5 million) is the most profitable, with a budget of just $9 million (The Numbers).

What this means: Shyamalan’s biggest commercial success also happened to be his first major film. Later films never matched that peak, but a handful performed well enough to keep him working in Hollywood for over two decades.

Is M. Night Shyamalan still making movies?

Yes. His most recent film is Trap, released in 2024. He continues to write and direct, with no announced retirement. He has directed 16 feature films as of 2024 (Rotten Tomatoes Guide). Plans for his next project have not been publicly confirmed, but his production company, Blinding Edge Pictures, remains active.

• Recent release: Trap (2024) — psychological thriller
• Previous: Knock at the Cabin (2023) — based on the novel The Cabin at the End of the World
• No indication of hiatus or retirement

Is Bruce Willis in M. Night Shyamalan?

Bruce Willis collaborated with Shyamalan on three films: Unbreakable (2000), Split (2016), and Glass (2019). In each, Willis plays David Dunn, a man with superhuman strength who becomes the central figure of the Eastrail 177 trilogy. The role was a defining one for Willis in the 2000s (Rotten Tomatoes).

Willis praised Shyamalan’s script for Unbreakable in a 2000 interview, noting the director’s unique vision. Their partnership ended with Glass, which closed the trilogy with mixed reviews (37% Rotten Tomatoes).

What is the lowest rated film of all time?

Among Shyamalan’s films, The Last Airbender (2010) holds the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score at 5% (Rotten Tomatoes Guide). It’s widely regarded as his worst critically. After Earth (2013) also scored low at 11%. However, both films performed reasonably well at the box office — The Last Airbender grossed $319.7 million globally (Box Office Mojo).

Quotes from the director and collaborators

“I think the twist ending is just a byproduct of the kind of stories that I like to tell.”

— M. Night Shyamalan, in a 2019 Variety interview

“[Shyamalan’s] script for Unbreakable was unlike anything I had read before. It was a superhero story that felt real.”

— Bruce Willis, in a 2000 New York Times interview

Related reading: **Best Horror Movies – Critics and Audience Rankings** · **28 Years Later – Release Date, Cast, Plot Guide**

For a deeper dive into his entire body of work, check out this comprehensive guide to his filmography that ranks all 16 films.

Frequently asked questions