History Creator / MNightShyamalan

After this phase, however, [[CareerResurrection Shyamalan's career started to take a turn for the better]] ([[WesternAnimation/RobotChicken what a twist!]]), with his next films consistently succeeding at the box office and seeing a general upward trend in critical responses. ''Film/TheVisit'' (2015), a relatively low-key {{horror comedy}}, was praised for bringing new blood to the tired [[FoundFootageFilms found footage]] genre. The OntologicalMystery TV series ''Series/WaywardPines'', which Shyamalan executive produced and directed the pilot for, ran for two seasons from 2015 to 2016, opening to great reviews that turned mixed as the series progressed. ''Film/{{Split}}'' (2016) continued to buck the trend and generated impressive commercial success on a low budget; ''Film/{{Glass|2019}}'' (2019) was another financial smash but saw notably more polarized reactions than Shyamalan's past few films, as did ''Film/{{Old}}'' (2021), although the latter was still one of the more profitable releases of summer 2021 amidst the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. ''Film/KnockAtTheCabin'' (2023) saw moderately positive returns and reception; his next film, ''Trap'', is scheduled for release on August 2, 2024.

* ''Trap'' (2024)

Then came ''Film/TheVillage2004'' (2004), ''Film/LadyInTheWater'' (2006), and ''Film/TheHappening'' (2008). ''The Village'' had some defenders and was quite profitable, but critics were still unkind to it, mainly because they found the ending to be too sharp a curveball. ''Lady in the Water'' broke from the twist ending formula (being based on a bedtime story Shyamalan had conceived for his daughters), but became the point where his status in some circles officially fell from "failing director" to "laughingstock", and also where Creator/{{Disney}} (who were set to distribute the film although their executives didn't even understand its story) was compelled to sever its remaining ties with him. ''The Happening'', a delve into apocalyptic horror that made for Shyamalan's first R-rated film, was supposed to be his WinBackTheCrowd movie. It was well-marketed, and more commercially successful than ''Lady'', but soon grew infamous as the public consensus considered it to be more effective as an [[SoBadItsGood accidental comedy]] rather than a straight-up horror, as -- among various other problems -- its villains were [[GaiasVengeance evil]] [[AttackOfTheKillerWhatever plants]].

Shyamalan's next film was ''Film/TheLastAirbender'' (2010), adapting the first season of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' (an animated show the director stated he quite enjoyed) to the big screen. Less than one week after its release, the film garnered a near-universal negative reaction from fans and critics alike, and has since been considered one of the worst films of its time. Although it became Shyamalan's highest-grossing project in nominal U.S. dollars since ''Signs'', making over $300 million worldwide (in large part because of the fans of the original TV series, many of whom later admitted that they regretted spending the money to see it in theaters), the film was a BoxOfficeBomb due to an overinflated marketing budget.

Shyamalan still had an outstanding deal with Media Rights Capital to produce -- but not direct -- one film a year for the next three years. The first of these, ''The Night Chronicles: Film/{{Devil}}'', was released in September 2010. Trailers initially played up Shyamalan's involvement in the film, but due to negative reaction, his name was not prominently featured in later trailers and the planned sequels were left unmade. His next film was ''Film/AfterEarth'' (2013), conceived by Creator/WillSmith as a vehicle for his son Creator/{{Jaden|Smith}} which Shyamalan directed but didn't write; notably, the film's trailer and promotional material made absolutely ''no'' mention of Shyamalan's involvement. It too was savaged by critics, although not quite to the levels of ''The Last Airbender'', and it failed commercially in the U.S./Canada market (and a movie with Will Smith is usually guaranteed to be a success).

* UncreditedRole: He was an uncredited script doctor for ''Film/ShesAllThat''. His contributions are mentioned on the DVDCommentary for the film.

* ''Film/TheVillage2004'' (2004)

Then came ''Film/TheVillage'' (2004), ''Film/LadyInTheWater'' (2006), and ''Film/TheHappening'' (2008). ''The Village'' had some defenders and was quite profitable, but critics were still unkind to it, mainly because they found the ending to be too sharp a curveball. ''Lady in the Water'' broke from the twist ending formula (being based on a bedtime story Shyamalan had conceived for his daughters), but became the point where his status in some circles officially fell from "failing director" to "laughingstock", and also where Creator/{{Disney}} (who were set to distribute the film although their executives didn't even understand its story) was compelled to sever their remaining ties with him. ''The Happening'', a delve into apocalyptic horror that made for Shyamalan's first R-rated film, was supposed to be his WinBackTheCrowd movie. It was well-marketed, and more commercially successful than ''Lady'', but soon grew infamous as the public consensus considered it to be more effective as an [[SoBadItsGood accidental comedy]] rather than a straight-up horror, as -- among various other problems -- its villains were [[GaiasVengeance evil]] [[AttackOfTheKillerWhatever plants]].

* ''Film/TheVillage'' (2004)

** Several actors have ended up as main characters in sequential films. Creator/BruceWillis in ''Film/TheSixthSense'' and ''Film/{{Unbreakable}}''. Creator/JoaquinPhoenix in ''Film/{{Signs}}'' and ''Film/TheVillage''. Creator/BryceDallasHoward for ''The Village'' and ''Film/LadyInTheWater''. Creator/BettyBuckley breaks the trend somewhat by not being in sequential films, ''Film/TheHappening'' and ''Film/{{Split}}''.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox initially approached Shyamalan as the screenwriter and director for TheFilmOfTheBook for ''Literature/LifeOfPi'', which would actually have been quite appropriate because the novel's protagonist is also from Pondicherry, India, but he stepped away due to concerns on how his MandatoryTwistEnding reputation would impact people's perceptions of the ending.. It was meant to be his first project after ''Film/TheVillage''; but instead, he then made ''Film/LadyInTheWater''.

After this phase, however, [[CareerResurrection Shyamalan's career started to take a turn for the better]] ([[WesternAnimation/RobotChicken what a twist!]]), with his next films consistently succeeding at the box office and seeing a general upward trend in critical responses. ''Film/TheVisit'' (2015), a relatively low-key horror-comedy, was praised for bringing new blood to the tired [[FoundFootageFilms found footage]] genre. The OntologicalMystery TV series ''Series/WaywardPines'', which Shyamalan executive produced and directed the pilot for, ran for two seasons from 2015 to 2016, opening to great reviews that turned mixed as the series progressed. ''Film/{{Split}}'' (2016) continued to buck the trend and generated impressive commercial success on a low budget; ''Film/{{Glass|2019}}'' (2019) was another financial smash but saw notably more polarized reactions than Shyamalan's past few films, as did ''Film/{{Old}}'' (2021), although the latter was still one of the more profitable releases of summer 2021 amidst the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. ''Film/KnockAtTheCabin'' (2023) saw moderately positive returns and reception; his next film, ''Trap'', is scheduled for release on August 2, 2024.

** He's used them to the point of becoming stale. Also, no matter how good the twist is, it helps if the ''hundred minutes leading up to it'' support this twist instead of being a random swerve.