---
title: "The Sixth Sense"
year: 1999
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/the-sixth-sense-1999"
media_type: "movie"
tmdb_id: 745
imdb_id: "tt0167404"
status: "Released"
runtime_minutes: 107
community_rating: 8.0
vote_count: 13007
content_rating: "PG-13"
---

# The Sixth Sense (1999) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/the-sixth-sense-1999

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

The Sixth Sense is a 1999 American film that blends mystery, thriller, drama and supernatural elements. Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the picture was released in the United States on August 6, 1999 and carries a PG‑13 rating. Its running time is 1 hour 47 minutes. The story follows child psychologist Malcolm Crowe, portrayed by Bruce Willis, who encounters a nine‑year‑old boy named Cole Sear after an unexpected tragedy; the boy is concealing a dark secret. The film is variously described as a psychological thriller, a supernatural horror‑thriller and, according to contemporary reviews, more of a ghost story than a modern thriller. Promotional material includes the line “Not every gift is a blessing.” Critical commentary notes that the movie revives a style of ghost storytelling that was more common in earlier decades. The Sixth Sense combines its atmospheric tone with a focus on the relationship between the psychologist and the troubled child, establishing it as a notable entry in late‑1990s American cinema.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "A child psychologist helps a boy who sees dead people."

### Why Watch
- Haunting performance by Haley Joel Osment
- Twist ending that recontextualizes everything
- Strong emotional core about healing and communication

### Caveats & Content Note
- Slow pacing may test some viewers' patience
- Heavy subject matter involving children and death
- Tone & Suitability: Appropriate for mature teens and adults due to themes of death and trauma.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: psychological, mysterious, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking

## Streaming Availability Matrix

| Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **United States (US)** | None | None | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| **United Kingdom (GB)** | Disney Plus | None | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video |
| **Canada (CA)** | Disney Plus | None | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo |
| **Australia (AU)** | Disney Plus | None | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |

## Creative Credits

- **Directed by**: M. Night Shyamalan
- **Networks / Studios**: Spyglass Entertainment, The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Hollywood Pictures

## Key Cast Continuity

- **Bruce Willis** as *Malcolm Crowe*
- **Haley Joel Osment** as *Cole Sear*
- **Toni Collette** as *Lynn Sear*
- **Olivia Williams** as *Anna Crowe*
- **Trevor Morgan** as *Tommy Tammisimo*
- **Donnie Wahlberg** as *Vincent Gray*
- **Peter Anthony Tambakis** as *Darren*
- **Jeffrey Zubernis** as *Bobby*
- **Bruce Norris** as *Stanley Cunningham*
- **Glenn Fitzgerald** as *Sean*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: What is the main character's profession?
Malcolm Crowe is a child psychologist.

### Q: Who plays the boy in the movie?
Haley Joel Osment plays Cole Sear, the boy who sees dead people.

### Q: Is the movie scary?
It has suspenseful and eerie moments but is more psychological than horror-focused.

### Q: What is the twist in the movie?
The story recontextualizes earlier events in a surprising way.

### Q: Who directed The Sixth Sense?
M. Night Shyamalan wrote and directed the film.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [The Sixth Sense — The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/745)
- [The Sixth Sense](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sixth_Sense)
- [The Sixth Sense movie review & film summary (1999) | Roger Ebert](http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-sixth-sense-1999)
- [The Sixth Sense - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia](https://alchetron.com/The-Sixth-Sense)

---
*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*