Every M. Night Shyamalan movie brings something unique, and by this point in his career the director's name is synonymous with thrilling twists and captivating storytelling. From the Oscar-nominated The Sixth Sense, to his more recent endeavors, Shyamalan's filmography showcases a wide range of narratives and genres, alongside plenty of creator cameos. While some of his works have garnered critical acclaim and strong box-office performances, others have sparked significant debate among fans and critics alike.

M. Night Shymalan directed his first movie in 1992, the student film Praying with Anger, but it was in 1998 that audiences first met his unique style in the comedy-drama Wide Awake. Shyamalan's unique ability to blend supernatural elements with deeply personal stories has made him a distinctive voice in contemporary cinema, especially thanks to hits like 1999's The Sixth Sense and Signs in 2002. M. Night Shyamalan movies often explore themes of family, faith, and fear, challenging viewers to look beyond the surface and question their perceptions of reality.

16 The Last Airbender (2010)

A Financial Flop and Heavy Criticism

The Last Airbender was a critical disaster, with a 5% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie -- said to be an adaptation of the popular animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender -- was critically destroyed for its poor wooden performances, not-so-spectacular special effects, and an over-departure from the source material. Not being able to recognize the soul of this beloved show alone was fuel enough for a huge backlash from fans and critics.

The film's special effects team used over 600 CGI shots.

The cultural missteps, along with the underwhelming narrative and character development, placed it among the most criticized of Shyamalan's works. Its deficiencies were then compounded by being a commercial flop, which only added to the growing raft of criticisms aimed at Shyamalan's work. Coming off a large budget and high expectations, it was unable to satisfy either audiences or critics, making The Last Airbender one of the low points in Shyamalan's career.

15 After Earth (2013)

A Critical Letdown And A Box Office Bomb

After Earth, directed by M. Night Shyamalan and starring Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith, received a paltry 11% on Rotten Tomatoes. The story was that of a father-son duo stranded on Earth after some apocalypse, and was panned for lacking novelty and substance. The critics branded the story as uninventive and the acting, barring the lead actors, as unconvincing.

That poor reception was mirrored at the box office as After Earth struggled to make good on a significant marketing campaign by failing to meet expectations at the box office.

It was the heavy reliance on exposition and the lack of engaging plot elements that contributed to the poor reception of the film. That poor reception was mirrored at the box office, as After Earth struggled to make good on a significant marketing campaign by failing to meet expectations at the box office. The film bombed both in box-office performance and with critics, making it a major disappointment for Shyamalan.

14 The Happening (2008)

The Happening Was Unintentionally Comical

Probably more memorable for its unintentional camp moments, The Happening rings in at a meager 18% on Rotten Tomatoes. This movie, involving some sort of mystery ecological disaster that somehow makes people kill themselves, has been lambasted by critics for its weak plot and stilted dialogue. The critically serious undertone was undermined by a poorly executed narrative of the film and a lack of coherent explanation for the happening events. Though, some of the actors say the film was misunderstood.

The film’s original script was heavily revised due to production issues.

These are the very factors that have made it ed as one of Shyamalan's more flawed works. Others, on the other hand, would say that its aim to carve out a new narrative device is irable. However, the attempt was so poor that it ended up at the bottom of Shyamalan's filmography.

13 Lady in the Water (2006)

Lady In The Water Is Ambitious But Misguided

Lady in the Water received 25% on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus stated that it was very ambitious but misguided. The film tells the story of a woman from a fantasy world who washes up at a suburban apartment complex. The criticisms were focused on its jumbled plot and self-indulgent nature.

Shyamalan tried to concoct a modern fairytale, but instead crafted an overcomplicated tale that lacked any semblance of coherence. The unique idea behind the film did not attract audiences very much; it was a box office bomb, and one that bombed critically as well. Even though it contained moments of ingenuity, Lady in the Water was still regarded as a misstep in Shyamalan's career.

12 Wide Awake (1998)

There Were Some Limitations In This Promising Debut

Shyamalan's feature film directorial debut, Wide Awake holds a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Tackling the theme of a small boy searching for meaning in life after his grandfather's death, this film was commended for its earnest storytelling and emotional depth. However, the critics felt that, compared to the latter works, the ending and depth of the execution were lacking.

M. Night Shyamalan was only 28 years old when he made this film.

Though flawed, Wide Awake demonstrated the promise of Shyamalan as a filmmaker while giving the world a flavor of what was to come in his storytelling style. Although less famous compared to his later works, it is still an integral part of his early career.

11 Praying with Anger (1992)

Early Work With Limited Impact

Praying with Anger is a 1992 film and the first full feature by M. Night Shyamalan; it has a 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Written, directed, and starring Shyamalan, the picture wades into the waters of cultural and spiritual identity.

In the estimation of many critics, while the film has laudable motives in dealing with such complex themes, it is weak in form and substance. As this was Shyamalan's first film, Praying with Anger was not much of a commercial or critical success. It did, however, set up the rest of Shyamalan's work and firmly entrenched his interest in heavy subjects early on.

10 The Visit (2015)

Found Footage Done Right

It wasn't until The Visit in 2015 that Shyamalan started to find his footing once more; on Rotten Tomatoes, it scored 64%. The film centers around two children who spend the week at the country home of their estranged grandparents, only to find something unsettling. Critical reception hailed the film as suspenseful, clever, and effective in the way it played out its found footage technique.

The Visit was widely praised for producing current tension and being a return to form for Shyamalan in the horror genre. Its success restored part of Shyamalan's reputation as a filmmaker who could craft engaging and unnerving stories. The film was also made on a modest budget of only five million dollars.

9 Glass (2019)

An Ambitious Conclusion To A Trilogy

Glass is the capstone to Shyamalan's Eastrail 177 trilogy, sitting at a 36% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film tries to incorporate characters from Unbreakable with those from Split, which -- as some critics say -- it failed at. The expectations behind the crossover were profound and much appreciated; however, its poor execution and pacing were highly criticized.

Even though it had major critical shortcomings, to some fans, Glass was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, weaving together the narrative threads of Shyamalan's prior films. Ultimately, though, it received mixed reviews for its complex and slightly convoluted plot.

8 Old (2021)

A Mixed Bag of Suspense and Concept

Old is a movie about a group of people who somehow find themselves in a mysterious condition where they begin to age at an ultra-high speed on the beach, holding a rating of 50% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Some positive things noted by critics were its interesting premise and a few suspenseful scenes, but generally, many critics found it unevenly executed with a script that could not completely develop the ideas presented. While Old gave audiences some refreshing ideas and tense moments, the overall reception of it was mixed. The unique concept gave interest to the film, although how the storyline was executed didn't quite satisfy some viewers.

7 The Village (2004)

An Intriguing Premise With A Controversial Twist

The Village -- at 43% on Rotten Tomatoes -- had some promise in its riveting premise: a village secluded from the rest of the world and harboring a sinister secret. It was praised for its atmosphere and acting performances but was heavily criticized for its twist ending, considered too controversial. For many of the critics, that twist took away from the buildup and resolution of the movie.

Although this film received quite polarizing reviews, The Village is still one of the more interesting films in Shyamalan's oeuvre due to its peculiar setting and some thought-provoking themes. However, what glued many viewers to this film was that polarizing twist.