Beyond Entrapment: Every M. Night Shyamalan Movie, Ranked Best to Worst

TrapM. Night Shyamalan's next film, is coming to theaters and looks set to be another mega-production by the Indian filmmaker. In the plot, a father and his daughter attend a pop music concert when they realize they are caught up in a police hunt for a serial killer. As in a classic Shyamalan film, however, not everything is as it seems.

If you follow the filmmaker's career, you probably already know that M. Night Shyamalan is known for his plots full of twists and turns (which often divide the public's opinion). Loved or hated, the director is one of the most talked about in Hollywood since it released the great Sixth Sense (1999) and Closed Body (2000).

With the premiere of Trap Almost there, how about we remember M. Night Shyamalan's filmography, from worst to best, according to critics' ratings on Rotten Tomatoes?

14. The Last Airbender (2010)

Opening the list, the much criticized adaptation of the anime Avatar: The Last Airbender. The film received a 5% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was summarized as “a waste of the source material, with an incomprehensible plot, terrible acting, and detached and sad direction.” Years after its release, the director admitted that accepting the project was a mistake.

• Available to rent on Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play Movies

13. After Earth (2013)

Followed by The Last Airbenderwe have After Earthwith its 12% approval rating. Starring Will and Jaden Smith, the film is a science fiction film in which Earth is now a hostile and uninhabitable place.

“After a mission, General Cypher Raige returns to his family and his thirteen-year-old son. But shortly after his return, an asteroid shower causes the ship where they live to crash on Earth. With his father at risk of death, the young teenager must learn to tame this planet on his own,” says the synopsis.

12. End of Days (2008)

In End of Timeswe follow an apocalyptic and invisible threat bringing a series of violent and unexplained deaths around the world. Science teacher Elliot Moore tries to escape the “killer”, but it soon becomes clear that it will be much more difficult than he imagined.

Lead actor Mark Wahlberg has even publicly declared that he regrets having participated in the film. End of Times is rated with a score of 25% by critics.

11. Lady in the Water (2006)

“When Cleveland saves an enigmatic young woman from danger, he doesn't realize she's a character from a children's story who's trying to return to where she came from. As time goes by, Cleveland realizes that he and the tenants of the building are also characters in the story,” reads the official synopsis.

With Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard and Jeffrey Wright in the cast, The Lady in the Water It also didn't work out and only accumulated a 25% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

10. Glass (2019)

The continuation of Closed Body and Fragmented unfortunately it didn't yield good numbers. The film is the end of the trilogy that began in 2000 and brings Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson back to the roles of David Dunn and Elijah Price, respectively.

With only 37% approval, the film shows the Beast from Split meeting the two main characters.

9. The Village (2004)

In one of M. Night Shyamalan's most famous films, the members of a 19th-century community fear the strange creatures that inhabit the forest surrounding the village. Despite having a bitter 44% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has many fans who defend the twist at the end.

The cast features Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix and Adrien Brody in the lead roles.

• Not available on streaming

8. Eyes Wide Open (1998)

Perhaps Shyamalan's “wittiest” film, Open Eyes follows a 10-year-old boy who begins to question the meaning of life after his grandfather's death. While studying at a Catholic school, he tries to relate concepts such as God and justice. The film has a 45% rating on the rating aggregator.

• Not available on streaming

7. Time (2021)

Gael García Bernal stars in the film Timewhich brings another different story. In the plot, “a tropical vacation turns into a nightmare when a family visits a secluded beach that causes people to age rapidly – ​​reducing their entire lives to a single day”, says the official synopsis.

On Rotten, Time is rated with 50% critical approval.

• Available to rent on Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play Movies

6. Knock on the Door (2023)

Now we come to the films that are certified “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes (that is, over 60% on the critics' Tomatometer).

Knock on the Door brings another apocalypse story: “while on vacation in a remote cabin, a couple is taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avoid the apocalypse. Now, the family must decide what to believe before all is lost.” The film has a 67% approval rating.

5. The Visit (2015)

The terror The Visit It has a 68% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In the film, two brothers are sent by their mother to visit their grandparents who live on a farm far from the city. When they get there, however, they realize that the elderly people are hiding something dark. And the two are probably in danger.

• Available to rent on Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play Movies

4. Unbreakable (2000)

In Closed Bodya train crash leaves the world shocked: all the passengers end up dead, except David Dunne, who escapes unharmed. While searching for explanations about what could have saved his life, David meets Elijah Price, a stranger who presents a bizarre explanation.

Shyamalan's third feature as director has a 70% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

3. Signs (2002)

Reaching the top of the list, we have perhaps one of the films that caused the most trauma in children of the 2000s. After all, how could we forget the ET from Passo Fundo?

Signs has a 75% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and follows the Hess family, who live in rural Pennsylvania. They are intrigued by the appearance of mysterious crop circles in their crop field, with no clue as to who made them or why.

2. Split (2016)

Starring the acclaimed James McAvoy, Fragmented is another Shyamalan film that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Rated 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film shows a man who has 23 distinct personalities. One day, he kidnaps three teenagers, who must figure out how to escape.

At the time of its release, a nice surprise was that the film worked as a setup for the sequel Closed Body.

• Available on Disney+ and Prime Video

1. The Sixth Sense (1999)

A classic is a classic! With an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Sixth Sense was M. Night Shyamalan's first big hit in theaters.

In the plot, a boy sees the spirits of dead people around him. One day, he tells the secret to psychologist Malcolm Crowe, who tries to help him discover what is behind the disturbances. Crowe's research into the boy's powers causes unexpected consequences for both of them.

It is worth noting that the list only includes films in which M. Night Shyamalan worked as director. In addition to productions for the big screen, the filmmaker has also been an executive producer on TV series, including Servant (Apple TV+) and Wayward Pines (Fox).

So, what’s your favorite filmmaker? Tell us on Minha Série’s social media!