M. Night Shyamalan
Biography
Manoj Nelliyattu “M. Night” Shyamalan is an American filmmaker and actor born on August 6, 1970, in Mahé, India, and raised in Penn Valley, Pennsylvania. He is recognized for directing original movies that blend contemporary supernatural themes with twist endings. Shyamalan made his directorial debut in 1992 with the film Praying with Anger, followed by the comedy‑drama Wide Awake in 1998. His most acclaimed works include the supernatural thriller The Sixth Sense (1999), the superhero thriller Unbreakable (2000), and the science‑fiction thriller Signs (2002). Subsequent releases have been described as poorly received, though some achieved financial success, such as the period‑piece thriller The V.
Career overview
Manoj Nelliyattu “M. Night” Shyamalan is an American filmmaker and actor born on August 6, 1970, in Mahé, India, and raised in Penn Valley, Pennsylvania. He is recognized for directing original movies that combine contemporary supernatural themes with twist endings. Shyamalan’s directorial debut came in 1992 with the film Praying with Anger. He followed this with the comedy‑drama Wide Awake in 1998, establishing a pattern of genre‑blending storytelling early in his career.
The director’s most acclaimed works emerged at the turn of the millennium. The Sixth Sense (1999) solidified his reputation for suspenseful supernatural thrillers, while Unbreakable (2000) and Signs (2002) expanded his portfolio into superhero and science‑fiction thriller territory, respectively. These films are frequently cited as the high points of his oeuvre and contributed to his status as a notable figure in modern cinema.
In the years after 2002, Shyamalan released a series of movies that received mixed critical reception, though some achieved financial success. Among these later projects was a period‑piece thriller identified only as “The V.” Across his career, he has accumulated more than fifty directing credits, reflecting a prolific output that continues to influence the landscape of genre filmmaking.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Remain (2027) Director
- Remain (2027) Screenplay
- Remain (2027) Story
- Remain (2027) Producer
- Remain (2027) Novel
- Trap (2024) as Spotter
- Trap (2024) Writer
- Trap (2024) Director
- Trap (2024) Producer
- The Watchers (2024) Producer
- Caddo Lake (2024) Producer
- Knock at the Cabin (2023) as Infomercial Host
- Knock at the Cabin (2023) Producer
- Knock at the Cabin (2023) Screenplay
- Knock at the Cabin (2023) Director
- Old (2021) as Hotel Van Driver
- Old (2021) Screenplay
- Old (2021) Director
- Old (2021) Producer
- Glass (2019) as Jai, Security Guard
- Glass (2019) Director
- Glass (2019) Producer
- Glass (2019) Screenplay
- A Little Late with Lilly Singh (2019) as Self
- Servant (2019) as Delivery Man
- Servant (2019) Executive Producer
- Servant (2019) Director
- Norm Macdonald Has a Show (2018) as Self - Guest
- Split (2017) as Jai, Hooters Lover
- Split (2017) Director
- Split (2017) Writer
- Split (2017) Producer
- The Making of 'Split' (2017) as Self
- This Is Us (2016) as M. Night Shyamalan
- The Making of 'The Visit' (2016) as Himself
- Wayward Pines (2015) Executive Producer
- Wayward Pines (2015) Director
- The Visit (2015) Director
- The Visit (2015) Writer
- The Visit (2015) Producer
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- After Earth (2013) Director
- After Earth (2013) Screenplay
- After Earth (2013) Producer
- After Earth: A Father's Legacy (2013) as Self
- Bruce Willis: Why the Legend Never Dies (2013) as Self
- After Earth: 1,000 Years in 300 Seconds (2013) as Self
- Conan (2010) as Self - Guest
- The Last Airbender (2010) as Firebender at Earth Prison Camp (uncredited)
- The Last Airbender (2010) Writer
- The Last Airbender (2010) Director
- The Last Airbender (2010) Producer
- Devil (2010) Story
- Devil (2010) Producer
- The Shark Is Still Working (2009) as Self
- The Happening (2008) as Joey (voice)
- The Happening (2008) Director
- The Happening (2008) Screenplay
- The Happening (2008) Producer
- Visions of 'The Happening' (2008) as Self
- The Happening: Elements of a Scene (2008) as Self
- The Happening: A Day for Night (2008) as Self
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- In the Mood for Doyle (2007) as Self
- Lady in the Water (2006) as Vick Ran
- Lady in the Water (2006) Director
- Lady in the Water (2006) Producer
- Lady in the Water (2006) Screenplay
- Reflections of Lady in the Water (2006)
- Lady in the Water: A Bedtime Story (2006) as Himself
- Nos Bastidores de Hollywood (2005) as Self (archive footage)
- Deconstructing 'The Village' (2005) as Self
- Entourage (2004) as M. Night Shyamalan
- The Village (2004) as Jay
- The Village (2004) Director
- The Village (2004) Producer
- The Village (2004) Executive Music Producer
- The Village (2004) Writer
- Hitchcock and Dial M (2004) as Self
- Hitchcock and Dial M (2004) Thanks
- The Buried Secret of M. Night Shyamalan (2004) as Self
- Making 'Signs' (2003) as Self
- Making 'Signs' (2003) Thanks
- Signs (2002) as Ray Reddy
- Signs (2002) Director
- Signs (2002) Producer
- Signs (2002) Writer
- Unbreakable (2000) as Stadium Drug Dealer
- Unbreakable (2000) Director
- Unbreakable (2000) Producer
- Unbreakable (2000) Writer
- The Sixth Sense: The Actors (2000) as Self
- Music and Sound Design of 'The Sixth Sense' (2000) as Self
- The Sixth Sense: Rules and Clues (2000) as Self
- The Sixth Sense: A Conversation with M. Night Shyamalan (2000) as Self
- The Sixth Sense (1999) as Dr. Hill
- The Sixth Sense (1999) Director
- The Sixth Sense (1999) Writer
- Stuart Little (1999) Screenplay
- Wide Awake (1998) Writer
- Wide Awake (1998) Director
- The View (1997) as Self
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- Praying with Anger (1993) as Dev Raman
- Praying with Anger (1993) Director
- Praying with Anger (1993) Writer
- Praying with Anger (1993) Producer
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Magic 8 Ball Director
- Magic 8 Ball Executive Producer
- Magic 8 Ball Creator