DIRECTOR · BORN 1970
M. Night Shyamalan
- Born
- 6 August 1970
- Known for
- The Exorcist (1973), Psycho (1960), The Sixth Sense (1999), Lady in the Water (2006)
65 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
M. Night Shyamalan (born 6 August 1970) is a director and screenwriter best known for The Exorcist, Psycho and The Sixth Sense.
M. Night Shyamalan over the years
65 Interesting Facts About M. Night Shyamalan
Interesting Facts (20)
- #001
By the age of 17, M. Night Shyamalan had completed 45 homemade films.
M. Night Shyamalan: a sceneImage: Wikimedia Commons · CynSimp, CC BY-SA 2.0 - #002
M. Night Shyamalan's three supernatural thrillers The Sixth Sense (1999), Unbreakable (2000) and Signs (2002) grossed more than 1.3 billion dollars worldwide.
- #003
In his youth M. Night Shyamalan shot many films using a video camera. When his theatrical films are released on DVD, he includes a scene from one of his childhood films, marking his first attempt at the same genre. The Sixth Sense (1999) includes the ghost story Nightmare on Old Gulf, Unbreakable (2000) includes the action film Millionaire, Signs (2002) includes the monster film Pictures, and The Village includes an untitled period piece.
- #004
- #005
Wide Awake (1998) was one of the lowest-grossing and least profitable films of its year; by contrast, The Sixth Sense (1999) was the number 2 box-office phenomenon of 1999, surpassed only by Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).
- #006
M. Night Shyamalan is an avid comic book fan, something also clearly visible in his film Unbreakable (2000).
- #007
The inspiration for The Sixth Sense (1999) was based on an episode of The Tale of the Dream Girl (1994) directed by David Winning.
- #008
Beginning with his first feature film Praying with Anger (1992), M. Night Shyamalan has appeared on screen in many of his own films, including subsequent supporting and minor roles in The Sixth Sense (1999), Unbreakable (2000), Signs (2002), The Village (2004) and Lady in the Water (2006).
- #009
M. Night Shyamalan was offered the chance to direct The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) but turned it down.
- #010
M. Night Shyamalan's name is pronounced "SHAH-ma-lawn."
- #011
M. Night Shyamalan was offered the chance to write and direct new versions of both Spider-Man (around 2000) and Superman or Batman (around 2002), but turned them down because he had already directed his own superhero project with Unbreakable (2000).
- #012
Shyamalan lives in Wayne, Pennsylvania, part of Philadelphia's affluent "Main Line" suburban area.
- #013
One of the first scripts he sold was titled "Labor of Love," about a man who travels across the country to prove his love for his recently deceased wife. As of January 2017 it had still not been made.
- #014
On the bonus disc of Unbreakable (2000), it is said that the film was made from what began as only the first third of the original screenplay. He said he felt no connection to the final two-thirds of the text and decided to discard them.
- #015
The Episcopal Academy that Shyamalan attended is in fact a private academy affiliated with the Episcopal Church. It is a private school located in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, one of the wealthiest suburbs in the United States, which has at times been home to names such as Kobe Bryant and Blythe Danner.
- #016
He appeared in "The Guru," an NYU short film written and directed by Rob Schneider.
- #017
He ranked 21st on Premiere's 2003 annual Power 100 List. In 2002 he was 64th.
- #018
He ranked 30th on Premiere's 2005 Power 50 List. In 2004 he was 23rd.
- #019
He lives on the same street as Allen Iverson.
- #020
After attending the private Waldron schools and then the Episcopal Academy, he received that school's Distinguished Alumni Award in 2001.
Production Story (1)
- #021
M. Night Shyamalan turned down the chance to direct the Harry Potter series on three separate occasions. He was first offered Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) on the recommendation of his friend Steven Spielberg (who had previously been considered to direct), but declined because of post-production commitments on his own film Unbreakable (2000). After the great success of his film Signs (2002), Shyamalan was offered Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) and later Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005); he declined the first in order to direct his own project The Village (2004) and the second in order to work on his unfinished adaptation of the Yann Martel novel The Life of Pi.
Behind the Scenes (29)
- #022
His middle name, "Night," was made up during college.
- #023
He became Hollywood's highest-paid screenwriter when Disney paid him 5 million dollars to write Signs (2002).
- #024
By the age of 17 he had completed 45 homemade films.
- #025
His three supernatural thrillers The Sixth Sense (1999), Unbreakable (2000) and Signs (2002) grossed more than 1.3 billion dollars worldwide.
- #026
He turned down the chance to direct the Harry Potter series on three separate occasions. He was first offered Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001), on the recommendation of his friend Steven Spielberg (who had previously been considered to direct), but declined because of post-production commitments on his own film Unbreakable (2000). After the great success of his film Signs (2002), Shyamalan was offered Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) and later Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005); he declined the first in order to direct his own project The Village (2004) and the second because he was working on an abandoned adaptation of the Yann Martel novel The Life of Pi.
- #027
In his youth he shot many films using a video camera. When the theatrical films go to DVD, he includes a scene from one of his childhood films, marking his first attempt at the same genre. The Sixth Sense (1999) includes the ghost story Nightmare on Old Gulf, Unbreakable (2000) includes the action film Millionaire, Signs (2002) includes the monster film Pictures, and The Village includes an untitled period piece.
- #028
He keeps his offices and screening room in a converted barn in a Philadelphia suburb.
- #029
His six favorite films are: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The Exorcist (1973), Die Hard (1988), Psycho (1960), Nayakan (1987) and Reservoir Dogs (1992).
- #030
Wide Awake (1998) was one of the year's lowest-grossing, least profitable films; by contrast, The Sixth Sense (1999) was the number 2 box-office phenomenon of 1999, surpassed only by Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).
- #031
His parents, his wife and 9 other family members are medical doctors and/or hold doctorates.
- #032
He is an avid comic book fan, something also clearly visible in his film Unbreakable (2000).
- #033
The silver amulet he wears around his neck was given to him by his father and contains Sanskrit proverbs to keep him safe.
- #034
He is known for having A-list actors in his films in roles written specifically for them. Shyamalan managed to cast Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense (1999), Samuel L. Jackson in Unbreakable (2000), Mel Gibson in Signs (2002), Joaquin Phoenix in The Village (2004), Paul Giamatti in Lady in the Water (2006) and Mark Wahlberg in The Happening (2008).
- #035
The inspiration for The Sixth Sense (1999) was based on an episode of The Tale of the Dream Girl (1994), directed by David Winning.
- #036
He appeared on screen in many of his own films, beginning with his first feature Praying with Anger (1992) and including his later supporting and minor roles in The Sixth Sense (1999), Unbreakable (2000), Signs (2002), The Village (2004) and Lady in the Water (2006).
- #037
He was offered the chance to direct The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) but declined.
- #038
His name is pronounced "SHAH-ma-lawn."
- #039
He was set to direct an original screenplay titled The Connected for Fox; a supernatural thriller about a father searching for his missing child. Shyamalan had already cast Bruce Willis, Bradley Cooper and Gwyneth Paltrow in the lead roles, setting a tentative start date for early 2011, but the project fell apart for unknown reasons.
- #040
He and Dan Aykroyd are the only two men to have directed themselves in performances that "won" them a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor. Shyamalan "won" for his award and direction of Lady in the Water (2006).
- #041
He was offered the chance to write and direct new versions of both Spider-Man (around 2000) and Superman or Batman (around 2002), but turned them down because he had already directed his own superhero project with Unbreakable (2000).
- #042
He worked with two Oscar-nominated child actors. He guided the first to a nomination - Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense (1999) - and then helped introduce the second, Abigail Breslin, in Signs (2002) before her Little Miss Sunshine (2006) nomination.
- #043
One of the first screenplays he sold was titled "Labor of Love," about a man who travels across the country to prove his love for his recently deceased wife. As of January 2017 it has still not been made.
- #044
In 2005 he was assigned to write and direct an adaptation of the Yann Martel novel The Life of Pi, which was planned to begin production that year. When the project stalled, Shyamalan left the film to direct his own screenplay for Lady in the Water (2006). Life of Pi was later passed to Alfonso Cuarón and then to Jean-Pierre Jeunet (both of whom subsequently left the film), and was eventually brought to the screen by director Ang Lee.
- #045
On the bonus disc of Unbreakable (2000) it is said that the film was made from what began as only the first third of the original screenplay. He said he felt no connection to the final two thirds of the text and decided to discard them.
- #046
The Episcopal Academy that Shyamalan was sent to is in fact a private academy affiliated with the Episcopal Church. It is a private school located in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, one of the wealthiest suburbs in the United States, which has at times been home to names such as Kobe Bryant and Blythe Danner.
- #047
He acted in the NYU short film "The Guru", written and directed by Rob Schneider.
- #048
He ranked 23rd on Premiere's 2004 annual Power 100 List. He was the highest-ranked 5th director. In 2003 he had placed 21st.
- #049
He directed a film nominated for Best Picture: Oscar: The Sixth Sense (1999).
- #050
After attending the private Waldron schools and then the Episcopal Acaedmy, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from that school in 2001.
Characters & Cast (2)
- #051
M. Night Shyamalan is known for having A-list actors as his first choices to play roles written specifically for them in his films. Shyamalan managed to cast Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense (1999), Samuel L. Jackson in Unbreakable (2000), Mel Gibson in Signs (2002), Joaquin Phoenix in The Village (2004), Paul Giamatti in Lady in the Water (2006) and Mark Wahlberg in The Happening (2008).
- #052
M. Night Shyamalan was set to direct an original screenplay titled The Connected for Fox, a supernatural thriller about a father searching for his missing child. Shyamalan had already chosen Bruce Willis, Bradley Cooper and Gwyneth Paltrow for the lead roles and set a tentative start date for early 2011, but the project collapsed for unknown reasons.
Career & Awards (4)
- #053
M. Night Shyamalan and Dan Aykroyd are the only two men to have directed themselves in performances that won a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor. Shyamalan "won" the award for his performance and direction in Lady in the Water (2006).
- #054
M. Night Shyamalan worked with two Oscar-nominated child actors. He steered the first to a nomination — Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense (1999) — and then helped introduce the second, Abigail Breslin, in Signs (2002) before her Little Miss Sunshine (2006) nomination.
- #055
He directed two Oscar-nominated performances: Haley Joel Osment and Toni Collette, both in The Sixth Sense (1999).
- #056
He directed a film nominated for Best Picture: The Sixth Sense (1999).
Life & Family (9)
- #057
M. Night Shyamalan's middle name, "Night," was invented during his college years.
- #058
Disney paid M. Night Shyamalan 5 million dollars to write Signs (2002), making him the highest-paid screenwriter in Hollywood.
- #059
M. Night Shyamalan's six favorite films are Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The Exorcist (1973), Die Hard (1988), Psycho (1960), Nayakan (1987) and Reservoir Dogs (1992).
- #060
M. Night Shyamalan's parents, his wife and 9 other family members are medical doctors and/or hold doctorates.
- #061
The silver amulet M. Night Shyamalan wears around his neck was given to him by his father and contains Sanskrit proverbs meant to keep him safe.
- #062
In 2005 he was set to write and direct an adaptation of Yann Martel's novel The Life of Pi, with production planned to begin that year. When the project stalled, Shyamalan left to direct his own script for Lady in the Water (2006). Life of Pi was later passed to Alfonso Cuarón and then to Jean-Pierre Jeunet (both of whom subsequently left the film), and was finally brought to the screen by director Ang Lee.
- #063
In his office he has posters of his three favorite films: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The Exorcist (1973) and Die Hard (1988).
- #064
He graduated from New York University.
- #065
His favorite films are The Godfather (1972), Jaws (1975), The Exorcist (1973), Being There (1979) and Rebecca (1940).
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Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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