Famous for his twist endings, you have most likely seen at least one of M. Night Shyamalan’s movies in the past, and despite some touch and go moments, he does seem to be back in the game somewhat. Here is our list of what we consider to be the best M. Night Shyamalan flicks – you should certainly check these out.
Lady in the Water (2006)
Absolutely the most underrated movie in this guy’s back catalog. The movie limped into theaters and limped out again pretty quickly as well, but it’s very underrated. Sure, it might be a little self-indulgent and meandering in places, but it’s a passion project, and one Shyamalan cares deeply about. The movie is a sweet fairytale with a lot of heart, and a strong turn from Bryce Dallas Howard; it also has Shyamalan in a meaty supporting role. The film is flawed, but we actually have a lot of time for it, and the kids will love it!
The Village (2004)
Definitely, the most divisive Shyamalan movie of them all, though with arguably the best twist ending aside from The Sixth Sense. Many have even argued if this feature should be named as a horror movie or simply and allegory for reality. The Village is a neat and well-structured fable, with some wonderful acting and a breathtaking twist. Yes, there are a few problems, such as pacing, and the fact that the movie has two different protagonists. But, it’s a clever and visually stimulating movie, with a powerful and important social message.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
You must have heard the name somewhere before, and if not – go and watch it tonight! This is the movie that started it all, put M. Night Shyamalan on the map, and popularized the cinematic fad of twist endings. The Sixth Sense is indeed a fantastic movie; dreary, atmospheric, wonderfully acted, and the ending packs one of the best punches we’ve ever seen. You probably know the twist, even if you haven’t seen the film, that’s how iconic it is – but we won’t ruin it for you. This is a film that deserves to be enjoyed again and again. It is considered by many to be M. Night Shyamalan’s best movie, and we can’t really argue with that.
It’s clear that M. Night Shyamalan has a huge fanbase in the world of film, and he has proven himself to be a highly talented movie maker and storyteller. Although we picked only a few, Shyamalan has created several other fantastic movies such as Devil, The visit and Split, all of them has the unique Shyamalan charm. We can understand why people have gripes with him, as well as the issues with many of his movies, but, for the most part, we enjoy watching them – yes, even The Happening. But, we definitely think that the ones we’ve listed rank as his best movies to date. He might well produce some brilliant flicks in the future, though we are unlikely to see him better The Sixth Sense.
