M. Night Shyamalan Movies: Filmography, Best & Worst Rated

Few directors spark as much debate as M. Night Shyamalan. His name alone signals something unpredictable—a twist, a surprise, a polarizing reaction. This guide walks through his complete filmography, from the record-breaking The Sixth Sense to his latest release, Trap, and breaks down where critics and audiences agree (and where they don’t). Along the way, we tackle the biggest questions about his career, his controversies, and how his films stack up against the wider movie landscape.

Number of directed films: 16 (as of 2024) ·
Highest-grossing film: The Sixth Sense ($672.8 million) ·
Lowest-rated film (Rotten Tomatoes): The Last Airbender (5%) ·
Most recent film: Trap (2024)

Shyamalan’s career spans 25 years, with 16 feature films that paint a clear picture: an auteur who divides critics but often wins at the box office. Here are the key facts at a glance.

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

According to the Rotten Tomatoes editorial team (film critics), the top three Shyamalan films by Tomatometer score are The Sixth Sense (86%), Split (79%), and Signs (76%). That same guide places Unbreakable at 70%, Knock at the Cabin at 67%, and The Visit at 68%—a tightly clustered middle tier of well-reviewed films.

How do critics rank Shyamalan’s films?

• The Sixth Sense (1999) – 86% Tomatometer, $673 million worldwide (Wikipedia)
• Split (2016) – 79% Tomatometer, $278 million worldwide (Wikipedia)
• Signs (2002) – 75% Tomatometer (per Wikipedia), $408 million worldwide (Wikipedia)
• Unbreakable (2000) – 70% Tomatometer, $248 million worldwide (Wikipedia)

Which Shyamalan movie has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score?

The Sixth Sense holds the highest Tomatometer at 86%, according to the Rotten Tomatoes guide. It also remains his only film to exceed 80%.

What is the fan-favorite Shyamalan film?

While critics lean toward The Sixth Sense, many fans champion Unbreakable as his most underrated work. The film’s slow-burn character study and restrained twist have earned it a devoted following over two decades after release (Rotten Tomatoes guide).

The pattern is clear: his early thrillers earned the strongest reviews, while later genre experiments steadily lost critical favor. The average Tomatometer across his eleven-film dataset is 56% (Rotten Tomatoes analysis).

What are the accusations against M. Night Shyamalan?

In 2023, a copyright infringement lawsuit over the Apple TV+ series Servant was dismissed. A jury cleared Shyamalan of all claims, according to Variety (trade publication) (Variety). No other major legal actions have been filed against him.

Was Shyamalan found guilty of copyright infringement?

No. The case, filed by author Francesca Gregorini, alleged that Servant copied her 2013 short film. After a two-week trial, the jury ruled in Shyamalan’s favor. The verdict was widely reported by Variety.

What are the common criticisms of his filmmaking style?

Critics often point to his heavy reliance on twist endings and what they perceive as a decline in quality after The Village (2004). The Rotten Tomatoes guide notes that The Happening (18%) and Lady in the Water (25%) mark a sharp drop from his early work (Rotten Tomatoes guide). Some also accuse him of being overly controlling on set, though these remain industry chatter rather than formal accusations.

What’s the lowest rated film ever?

Shyamalan’s own lowest-rated film is The Last Airbender with a 5% Tomatometer (Rotten Tomatoes guide). By comparison, the worst-rated films on Rotten Tomatoes—such as The Ridiculous 6 (2015) and Jaws: The Revenge (1987)—have a 0% score (Wikipedia list of 0% films). No Shyamalan-directed film has ever reached 0%.

What is the lowest rated film on IMDb?

According to Wikipedia, Shyamalan’s lowest IMDb user rating is for The Last Airbender (4.0/10). IMDb’s all-time lowest-rated films, like Disaster Movie (1.9), are far below that threshold, though those scores come from a separate database.

What film holds the record for lowest Rotten Tomatoes score?

Multiple films share a 0% Tomatometer. Notably, no Shyamalan film is among them—his floor is 5%.

What is the biggest flop movie ever?

When adjusted for inflation, the biggest box office bomb in history is The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002), which lost over $150 million (Wikipedia list of box-office bombs). Other notable examples include John Carter (2012) and The Lone Ranger (2013). Shyamalan’s biggest commercial disappointment is After Earth (2013), which reportedly lost an estimated $130 million, though exact loss figures vary.

Which movie lost the most money at the box office?

According to Wikipedia’s compilation, The Adventures of Pluto Nash tops the list when accounting for inflation. Among Shyamalan films, After Earth is the most prominent failure, with a Tomatometer of 11% and a worldwide gross of $243 million against a $130 million production budget.

How does Shyamalan’s After Earth compare to other flops?

While After Earth lost tens of millions, it is not among the top ten all-time bombs. Still, its 11% Tomatometer (Rotten Tomatoes guide) and poor audience reception cemented it as a low point in his career.

What movie took 23 years to make?

The Hungarian animated film The Tragedy of Man (2011) holds the distinction of taking 23 years to produce, from 1988 to 2011 (Wikipedia). No Shyamalan film required anything close to that timeframe. His typical production cycle is one to three years between releases, with the longest gap being six years between The Village (2004) and The Last Airbender (2010).

What films had the longest production times?

• The Thief and the Cobbler – over 30 years
• The Tragedy of Man – 23 years
• The Boy and the Heron – 7 years

Did any Shyamalan film take decades to produce?

No. Shyamalan’s films are typically written, shot, and released within a few years. His quickest turnaround was The Visit (2015), which was shot in roughly 30 days and released the same year.

What film has 0% Rotten Tomatoes?

As of 2024, more than 20 films hold a 0% Tomatometer, including The Ridiculous 6 (2015), Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002), and Jaws: The Revenge (1987) (Wikipedia list). None of Shyamalan’s films have ever received a 0% score.

How many films have a 0% Rotten Tomatoes score?

Over 20 as of 2024. The list includes major studio releases, independent films, and straight-to-video titles.

What is the worst-reviewed Shyamalan film?

The Last Airbender (5%) is his lowest. It is often grouped with the 0% films in popular culture discussions, but technically it avoided the 0% club.

“This is a movie that works on so many levels. It’s a ghost story, a family drama, and a thriller.”

— Roger Ebert, film critic, on The Sixth Sense (RogerEbert.com)

“I wanted to create a character that is both terrifying and sympathetic.”

— M. Night Shyamalan, director, on Split (Rotten Tomatoes interview)

Shyamalan’s career is a study in contrast: a filmmaker who earned a reputation for twist endings, yet whose most celebrated film is the one that cemented that reputation. The average worldwide box office of his eleven-film dataset is $236 million (Rotten Tomatoes analysis), a number that hides wild swings between blockbuster and bomb. For audiences trying to decide which Shyamalan movie to watch next, the choice is clear: start with the one that started it all, or take a risk on the underdog—because either way, you’ll get a twist you didn’t see coming.

For a deeper look at his most acclaimed work, check out this guide to M. Night Shyamalans best films and box office hits.

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