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Why M. Night Shyamalan Thinks His Critics Dislike His Movies

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Summary

  • Critically acclaimed films like
    The Sixth Sense
    and
    Unbreakable
    stand in contrast with some of Shyamalan’s more poorly received recent films.
  • Lady In The Water
    was viewed as chaotic, but Shyamalan thought of it as “jazz.”
    Split
    received praise, but its follow-up
    Glass
    was criticized.
  • Shyamalan says that critics might find his films “easier to swallow” if he was making them about “Indian mathematicians or something like that.”


Acclaimed but divisive director M. Night Shyamalan reveals why he thinks critics dislike his movies. The seasoned film director, producer, and screenwriter currently stands as a highly-influential figure in 21st century film, especially when it comes to horror and thrillers. His extensive filmography boasts a cumulative gross of $3.3 billion globally. Despite Shyamalan’s huge commercial success, however, his movies have received a lot of mixed reviews from critics over the years.

Now, in a recent conversation with The Atlantic, the veteran director speaks about why some of his various projects haven’t been well received by critics. He speaks particularly about Lady In The Water, his 2006 fantasy thriller that was critically panned, stating that what many saw as “chaos,” he sees as a kind of “jazz.” He adds that he’s an immigrant and the fact that he does not tell immigrant stories probably contributes to why his movies are not well received. Read his full quote below:


“I am an immigrant, at the end of the day, and I’m telling stories not about immigrants. Sometimes it feels like it would be easier to swallow if I was making movies about Indian mathematicians or something like that. Then I would get the benefit of the doubt.”


What Have Critics Said About M. Night Shyamalan’s Movies Over The Years?

Shyamalan’s illustrious career began with a couple of critical and commercial hits that quickly earmarked him as one of the most talented up-and-coming directors around. His breakthrough, The Sixth Sense, earned him two Academy Award nominations, and boasts an approval rating of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, his highest score on the website to date. Subsequent releases like Unbreakable and Signs also received rave reviews from critics, who praised Shyamalan’s writing.


Though he remains divisive, a string of recent releases have seen Shyamalan see a resurgence of sorts…

His more recent movies, however, haven’t been well received by critics. 2010’s The Last Airbender was originally planned to kickstart a trilogy but a terrible reception from critics along with its poor performance at the box office caused the trilogy to be abandoned. The movie holds a 5% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics describing the plot as incomprehensible and Shyamalan’s directing as joyless. The poor use of 3D animation is also among the many issues that plagued the movie.

A selection of M. Night Shyamalan's best and worst films

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M. Night Shyamalan’s 5 Best & 5 Worst Movies (According to Rotten Tomatoes)

M. Night Shyamalan is a divisive director in Hollywood. Some of his movies are amazing, others are terrible. This is what Rotten Tomatoes thinks.


2016’s Split saw a return to form for Shyamalan, with the movie receiving largely positive reviews from critics, who praised his masterful homage to Alfred Hitchcock as well as James McAvoy’s incredible acting work. The 2019 follow-up, however, once again received poor reviews from critics. The movie was described as underwhelming and disappointing, managing a low 37% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Though he remains divisive, a string of recent releases have seen Shyamalan see a resurgence of sorts, beginning with The Visit in 2015 (and excluding the aforementioned Split follow-up Glass). Trap, his newest film, will hit theaters August 2 and though reviews are not out yet, early reactions have praised the upcoming thriller starring Josh Hartnett.

Source: The Atlantic




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