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"The Sixth Sense" isn't a thriller in the modern sense, but more of a ghost story of the sort that flourished years ago, when ordinary people glimpsed hidden dimensions. It has long been believed that children are better than adults at seeing ghosts; the barriers of skepticism and disbelief are not yet in place. In this film, a small boy solemnly tells his psychologist, "I see dead people. They want me to do things for them." He seems to be correct.

The psychologist is Malcolm Crowe ( Bruce Willis ), who is shot one night in his home by an intruder, a man who had been his patient years earlier and believes he was wrongly treated. The man then turns the gun on himself. "The next fall," as the subtitles tell us, we see Crowe mended in body but perhaps not in spirit, as he takes on a new case, a boy named Cole Sear ( Haley Joel Osment ) who exhibits some of the same problems as the patient who shot at him. Maybe this time he can get it right.

The film shows us things adults do not see. When Cole's mother ( Toni Collette ) leaves the kitchen for just a second and comes back in the room, all of the doors and drawers are open. At school, he tells his teacher "they used to hang people here." When the teacher wonders how Cole could possibly know things like that, he helpfully tells him, "when you were a boy they called you Stuttering Stanley." It is Crowe's task to reach this boy and heal him, if healing is indeed what he needs. Perhaps he is calling for help; he knows the Latin for "from out of the depths I cry into you, oh Lord!" Crowe doesn't necessarily believe the boy's stories, but Crowe himself is suffering, in part because his wife, once so close, now seems to be drifting into an affair and doesn't seem to hear him when he talks to her. The boy tells him, "talk to her when she's asleep. That's when she'll hear you." Using an "as if" approach to therapy, Crowe asks Cole, "What do you think the dead people are trying to tell you?" This is an excellent question, seldom asked in ghost stories, where the heroes are usually so egocentric they think the ghosts have gone to all the trouble of appearing simply so they can see them. Cole has some ideas. Crowe wonders whether the ideas aren't sound even if there aren't really ghosts.

Bruce Willis often finds himself in fantasies and science fiction films. Perhaps he fits easily into them because he is so down to earth. He rarely seems ridiculous, even when everything else in the screen is absurd (see " Armageddon "), because he never over-reaches; he usually plays his characters flat and matter of fact. Here there is a poignancy in his bewilderment. The film opens with the mayor presenting him with a citation, and that moment precisely marks the beginning of his professional decline. He goes down with a sort of doomed dignity.

Haley Joel Osment, his young co-star, is a very good actor in a film where his character possibly has more lines than anyone else. He's in most of the scenes, and he has to act in them--this isn't a role for a cute kid who can stand there and look solemn in reaction shots. There are fairly involved dialogue passages between Willis and Osment that require good timing, reactions and the ability to listen. Osment is more than equal to them. And although the tendency is to notice how good he is, not every adult actor can play heavy dramatic scenes with a kid and not seem to condescend (or, even worse, to be subtly coaching and leading him). Willis can. Those scenes give the movie its weight and make it as convincing as, under the circumstances, it can possibly be.

I have to admit I was blind-sided by the ending. The solution to many of the film's puzzlements is right there in plain view, and the movie hasn't cheated, but the very boldness of the storytelling carried me right past the crucial hints and right through to the end of the film, where everything takes on an intriguing new dimension. The film was written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, whose previous film, " Wide Awake ," was also about a little boy with a supernatural touch; he mourned his dead grandfather, and demanded an explanation from God. I didn't think that one worked. "The Sixth Sense" has a kind of calm, sneaky self-confidence that allows it to take us down a strange path, intriguingly.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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The Sixth Sense movie poster

The Sixth Sense (1999)

Rated PG-13 For Intense Thematic Material and Violent Images

106 minutes

Toni Collette as Lynn Sear

Haley Joel Osment as Cole Sear

Bruce Willis as Malcolm Crowe

Olivia Williams as Anna Crowe

Donnie Wahlberg as Vincent Gray

Written and Directed by

  • N. Night Shyamalan

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August 6, 1999 FILM REVIEW 'The Sixth Sense': A Boy Who Sees the Dead, and a Psychologist Determined Not to Fail Him Related Articles The New York Times on the Web: Current Film Video Video: Selected Scenes and Trailer From the Film 'The Sixth Sense' Forum Join a Discussion on Current Film By STEPHEN HOLDEN nd this year's "Touched by an Angel" award for gaggingly mawkish supernatural kitsch goes to Bruce Willis' newest film, "The Sixth Sense." The star, who plays Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a gifted child psychologist in Philadelphia, also earns the Robin Williams-manque award for ineffable, twinkling, half-smiling misty-eyed empathy with adorable tots. But since Willis has only one basic facial expression in all his films, it isn't his icky smirk that telegraphs the doctor's extra-special sensitivity. (Willis wears exactly the same smirk when he's about to shoot someone in the face.) No, it is the movie's treacly soundtrack by James Newton Howard, the Hollywood maestro du jour for smearing on goo whenever it's time to clench back tears. In its first hour, "The Sixth Sense," which was written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, half-heartedly poses as a horror film about to erupt into gore. Its opening scene finds the doctor and his wife, Anna (Olivia Williams), tipsily celebrating his award from the city of Philadelphia for outstanding something-or-other. As the Crowes, flushed from imbibing a $100 bottle of wine, are about to tumble into bed, they discover an intruder in their bathroom. The uninvited guest turns out to be Vincent Gray (Donnie Wahlberg), a former child patient of the doctor's, now grown up and in full maniacal froth. "You failed me!" he screams and pulls out a gun and shoots the doctor in the stomach before turning the weapon on himself. We jump ahead several months. The doctor has apparently recovered from his wounds, but his spirit is broken. Still haunted by his "failure," he takes on a new patient, Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), a waifish 9-year-old boy who lives with his divorced mother, Lynn (Toni Collette), and whose severe psychological problems are uncannily reminiscent of the young Vincent Gray's. This time, the doctor vows to himself, he won't fail his patient. And after much game-playing and hanging out with Cole (the doctor seems to have nothing better to do all day than follow Cole around, smirking empathetically), the boy reveals his secret. He claims he can see the dead. And every so often, the movie gives us creepy little glimpses of the corpse-strewn world as it appears through Cole's tormented vision. At first, the doctor doesn't believe the boy. But then, well, let's not take the story any further lest its colossally sentimental payoff be compromised. Because it unfolds like a garish hybrid of "Simon Birch" and "What Dreams May Come," with some horror-movie touches thrown in to keep us from nodding off, "The Sixth Sense" appears to have been concocted at exactly the moment Hollywood was betting on supernatural schmaltz. For Willis, the movie continues the unpromising track he took with "Mercury Rising," in which his character goes through hell to save the life of an autistic child. For Shyamalan, "The Sixth Sense" is a slight improvement over last year's "Wide Awake." But that isn't saying much. That insufferably coy drama of another wee Philadelphian searching for proof of God's existence barely registered at the box office. The Willis name should insure that "The Sixth Sense" stays around a little bit longer. PRODUCTION NOTES 'THE SIXTH SENSE' is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). It includes images of dead bodies and a fantasy of a woman's suicide. 'THE SIXTH SENSE' Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan; director of photography, Tak Fujimoto; edited by Andrew Mondshein; music by James Newton Howard; production designer, Larry Fulton; produced by Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy and Barry Mendel; released by Hollywood Pictures/Spyglass Entertainment. Running time: 107 minutes. WITH: Bruce Willis (Malcolm Crowe), Haley Joel Osment (Cole Sear), Toni Collette (Lynn Sear), Olivia Williams (Anna Crowe), Trevor Morgan (Tommy Tammisimo) and Donnie Wahlberg (Vincent Gray).

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‘the sixth sense’: thr’s 1999 review.

On Aug. 6, 1999, Buena Vista unveiled M. Night Shyamalan's breakout hit in theaters.

By Michael Rechtshaffen

Michael Rechtshaffen

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'The Sixth Sense'

On Aug. 6, 1999, Buena Vista unveiled M. Night Shyamalan’s breakout hit The Sixth Sense in theaters. The film went on to be nominated for six Oscars at the 72nd Academy Awards, including best picture. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below: 

Alternatively chilly and chilling,  The Sixth Sense  is a psychological thriller that relies on the psychological as its primary scare tactic rather than CGI overload.

Summoning the spirit of  The Omen  and  Truly Madly Deeply , the picture is probably too quietly purposeful and deliberately paced (read: slow) for the cheap-thrills, fright-night set. But writer-director M. Night Shyamalan has an effective secret weapon in convincingly haunted young lead Haley Joel Osment, not to mention a nifty twist ending that packs a spooky wallop.

Related Stories

'deadwood': thr's 2004 review, 'family guy': thr's 1999 review.

An ideal release for Hollywood Pictures, which has been repositioned as Disney’s genre film division, the modestly budgeted effort, given the right kind of handling, could scare up sturdy theatrical business followed by healthy ancillary afterlife.

Bruce Willis, in low-key, quiet-guy mode, plays it close to the vest as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, respected child psychologist whose misdiagnosis of a former patient has had tragic repercussions. Searching for a little personal and professional redemption, Crowe is determined not to make the same mistakes twice when he takes on the case of Cole Sear (Osment), a troubled 8-year-old who has been harboring a dark secret — wherever he goes, he’s tormented by the restless ghosts of dead people.

Afraid to tell his concerned but worn-down mother (Toni Collette) about his unwelcome visitors, Cole ultimately opens up to Crowe. Crowe isn’t sure he’s going to be able to “cure” Cole but is willing to try, at the expense of shutting out his wife (Olivia Williams), who has begun to turn elsewhere for attention.

While Willis, Collette and Williams are fine, the film is handily stolen by 11-year-old Osment, probably best known as young Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump . His soulful, sad-eyed performance provides the film with an affecting emotional center that helps offset Shyamalan’s weakness for occasionally burdening scenes in weighty significance.

But his decision to delay bringing out the bogeyman until well into the story, allowing the unsettling mood to build fully, is a refreshing change from the usual slice ‘n’ dice assault on the senses. Although there’s sticky, New Agy-y subtext to some of the plot resolutions, it’s nice to see old-fashioned storytelling and staging serving as the picture’s most potent special effects.

Also contributing to the unsettling vibe is Tak Fujimoto’s ( The Silence of the Lambs ) cinematography, which playfully summons the spirit of  Rosemary’s Baby  and Larry Fulton’s just-slightly-off production design. —  Michael Rechtshaffen, originally published on Aug. 2, 1999.

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The Sixth Sense Reviews

the sixth sense 1999 movie review

A breakout hit for all parties involved for good reason. Still manages to be effective and engaging no matter how long you've known the ending, especially thanks to Osment's tortured performance.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Sep 20, 2023

the sixth sense 1999 movie review

Intelligent and poignant; this is a unique kind of ghost story. The human kind.

Full Review | Nov 12, 2021

the sixth sense 1999 movie review

One of the rare horror films to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, it remain a personal best for the director.

Full Review | Oct 15, 2021

the sixth sense 1999 movie review

Haley Joel Osment gives one of the best child performances ever, while director/writer M. Night Shyamalan rewards us with one of the best twists of all time. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 10, 2021

the sixth sense 1999 movie review

Boasts a startling twist ending - a trope that isn't a stranger to the genre, but one that writer/director M. Night Shyamalan uses perfectly.

Full Review | Original Score: 10/10 | Sep 24, 2020

the sixth sense 1999 movie review

The Sixth Sense has most importantly been reminding us of how powerful children can be as forces of knowledge, awareness, and healing, if only adults would actually listen to them.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | May 24, 2020

the sixth sense 1999 movie review

The end is just the icing on a perfectly designed and cooked cake. [Full Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Apr 17, 2020

the sixth sense 1999 movie review

At root, his films are patient vindications of crazy faiths, of ghosts and comic book heroes. Loneliness is his theme, and when blessed with courageous performers, as in The Sixth Sense, he can take us just about anywhere.

Full Review | Mar 16, 2020

It's simply one of the most affecting, deeply human ghost stories ever made.

Full Review | Jan 20, 2020

Anyone wanting a truly good scare, mixed with the sort of heartfelt character investment that makes the plot that much more enthralling, will never be disappointed with The Sixth Sense

Full Review | Jun 20, 2019

It's more than just a killer trick: The Sixth Sense holds up because of Bruce Willis's mournful performance as Dr. Malcolm Crowe.

Full Review | Mar 26, 2019

the sixth sense 1999 movie review

One of Hollywood's most accomplished genre films of the last 20 years.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 16, 2018

the sixth sense 1999 movie review

Shyamalan remains unable to wholeheartedly capture the viewer's interest for the duration of the movie's slightly overlong running time.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jan 23, 2017

Shyamalan's best film where he knew how to trick us with the history of a boy who sees dead people. It has one of the best endings I've seen in the genre. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Oct 31, 2016

the sixth sense 1999 movie review

You leave slightly asquirm. You know it will linger. It becomes a clammy, chilly movie building toward a revelation that you cannot predict. As I say: I cannot tell you. You'd hate me if I did. I can only say, don't look now, but look sometime.

Full Review | Oct 7, 2014

Beyond these startling apparitions, there's a surplus of mumbo-jumbo in here -- and some ludicrously false notes.

the sixth sense 1999 movie review

It takes you on an intriguing, unsettling journey.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 7, 2014

Dr Crowe gradually comes to believe that little Cole can indeed commune with the unquiet souls, who are reaching out to him for help. And, yes, the scenes where Cole does so can be very creepy indeed.

Full Review | Aug 27, 2013

M Night Shyamalan has fashioned a modern classic here, a chilly, intelligent, emotional ghost story that relies not on the obligatory gore and knifeplay for its many shocks but on glimpses of an afterlife that's anything but angels and harps.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Aug 27, 2013

Another "could-have-been" film, another almost successful compromise, another intelligent flick done in by its misplaced and worn-out star.

  • Buena Vista Pictures

Summary In this chilling, psychological thriller, 8-year-old Cole Sear (Osment) is haunted by a dark secret: he is visited by ghosts. Confused by his paranormal powers, Cole is too young to understand his purpose and too afraid to tell anyone about his anguish, except child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Willis). As Dr. Crowe tries to uncover t ... Read More

Directed By : M. Night Shyamalan

Written By : M. Night Shyamalan

The Sixth Sense

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Great, but sometimes scarier than R-rated horror.

The Sixth Sense Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Issues of life, death and afterlife are dealt with

Cole is a smart and likable kid who is gifted and

Several scary surprises, some quite grisly. Child

"S--t" and a few lesser swear words.

Some tipsiness.

Parents need to know that this movie has some thoughtful and meaningful views on life and death that some viewers may find comforting, and others may find sad or disturbing. The ghosts that Cole sees are of people who died violently and they are gruesome, even shocking, in appearance; you'll see a shooting, a…

Positive Messages

Issues of life, death and afterlife are dealt with in a smart, humanistic way. Depending on individual beliefs this could be comforting or disturbing. Regardless, however, the film deals with tremendous issues with sensitivity.

Positive Role Models

Cole is a smart and likable kid who is gifted and cursed with his ability to talk to the departed. The empathy the viewer feels for him makes his experiences all the more terrifying but his courage and growth through the film is commendable. Dr. Crowe's journey with Cole is multilayered but the complexity of their experiences does not deter from the trusting bond they forge.

Violence & Scariness

Several scary surprises, some quite grisly. Child is stalked by the dead who want something from him; he looks terrified most of the time. A child is poisoned. Image of three people hanging in a school. A shooting and a suicide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie has some thoughtful and meaningful views on life and death that some viewers may find comforting, and others may find sad or disturbing. The ghosts that Cole sees are of people who died violently and they are gruesome, even shocking, in appearance; you'll see a shooting, a suicide, a poisoning, people hanging, and more. Some of the dead are children, one killed by her own mother. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Community Reviews

  • Parents say (52)
  • Kids say (271)

Based on 52 parent reviews

This is a great movie, but maybe not for kids

Cool, very well made, what's the story.

Bruce Willis plays Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a gifted therapist who specializes in children. The night he receives an award for his work, a former patient breaks into his house and shoots Dr. Crowe and then himself. Months later, Dr. Crowe is still very shaken. He feels that he can't communicate with his wife. He is treating just one patient, a boy named Cole Sear ( Haley Joel Osment ), who reminds him of the patient he believes he failed. Malcolm gradually wins Cole's trust, and Cole confides that he sees "dead people." At first, Malcolm thinks this is a symptom of deep psychological disturbance, but then he comes to believe that Cole really does see the spirits of people who have died and he must find a way to make that experience less terrifying for him.

Is It Any Good?

This is one of the rarest of movie treats, a thinking person's thriller that is genuinely haunting. You're lucky if you see a movie that you are still thinking about it hours later. Its ultimate conclusion is stunning but, in retrospect, inevitable. Parents should not be misled by the PG-13 rating. This movie is in some ways far scarier than the R-rated The Blair Witch Project . Parents should be cautious about allowing children under high school age to watch it, and should be prepared to talk to kids about the movie, because even teens may find it upsetting.

Osment is truly sensational, one of the finest performances ever given by a child. Willis complements him perfectly, and the interaction between the two of them is deeply touching. This movie has some thoughtful and meaningful views on life and death that some viewers may find comforting, and others may find sad or disturbing.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about ghost stories. What makes this one particularly gripping? How does the director scare you without going for over-the-top violence?

Families could lead into a discussion on loss. Have you lost someone important to you? How does the thought about losing someone make you feel? Where do people go when they die?

Families could talk about the importance of communication.

Movie Details

  • In theaters : August 18, 1999
  • On DVD or streaming : March 28, 2000
  • Cast : Bruce Willis , Haley Joel Osment , Toni Collette
  • Director : M. Night Shyamalan
  • Inclusion Information : Female actors
  • Studio : Walt Disney Pictures
  • Genre : Thriller
  • Run time : 106 minutes
  • MPAA rating : PG-13
  • MPAA explanation : language, scariness, and some grossness
  • Last updated : April 25, 2024

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the sixth sense 1999 movie review

The Sixth Sense (1999): Film Review

  • Daniel Allen
  • February 10, 2023

the sixth sense 1999 movie review

Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment star in The Sixth Sense, a chilling and moving modern ghost story that marked the arrival of M. Night Shyamalan.

The Sixth Sense  was a phenomenon upon its release . A surprising one as well: even though it featured Bruce Willis, the film was made by a then-unknown named M. Night Shyamalan. Yet it became the second-biggest release of 1999, earning six Oscar nominations and launching its director to stardom. Shyamalan had previously made two films: Praying with Anger (which he wrote, directed, produced and starred in) and  Wide Awake , which was buried by Miramax after struggles over creative control. But in a way,  The Sixth Sense  is the first true Shyamalan feature. And what a feature it is. A brilliant psychological thriller that quickly turns into a moving supernatural thriller with one of the most iconic plot twists in movie history.

Malcolm Crowe (Willis) is a dedicated and decorated child psychologist living in South Philadelphia with his loving wife, Anna (Olivia Williams). One night, they find Vincent (Donnie Wahlberg), a former patient of Malcolm’s who has broken into their home. Believing the psychologist failed him as a kid, Vincent shoots Malcolm. The next fall, Malcolm has survived but has lost a part of himself, whilst Anna has become silent and withdrawn. It is as if she is still haunted by what happened. Meanwhile, Malcolm has started seeing Cole (Haley Joel Osment), a nine-year-old boy who lives with his single mother Lynn (Toni Collette).

Cole is a curious boy who collects Christian figurines and has a toy soldier who speaks Latin. However, as Malcolm says, he and Vincent are “both so similar. Same mannerisms, same expressions, same things hanging over their head.” Like Vincent, Cole is quiet, has divorced parents and may have a mood disorder. And something is clearly troubling or harming Cole – as evidenced by the fresh scars on his wrist. Yet, despite Malcolm wanting to help, the boy doesn’t think he can. Furthermore, he doesn’t want his mother to know anything. Eventually, he tells Malcolm his deep secret: “I see dead people.”

loud and clear reviews The Sixth Sense i see dead people

With those four famous words,  The Sixth Sense  unveils itself to be a 20th-century ghost story . This supernatural element is only revealed 50 minutes into the film. Before, it could easily be about Cole’s behaviour or any other logical explanation. Doctors wonder if he is being abused, possibly by his mother. But once Cole reveals to Malcolm that he can see the dead, the second half shows the ghosts and the scary visions he experiences. We also witness the strain it puts on his relationship with his mother, such as when she confronts him over a bumblebee pendant that has gone missing from her drawer.

Shyamalan would be criticised later in his career for his odd writing, but his script here is a perfect example of misdirection . The way he frames the story and the interactions characters have with each other are subtle enough on a first watch but clever and obvious on subsequent viewings. He also manages to get the best out of every actor. Bruce Willis would appear in two (technically three) more of Shyamalan’s films, and it is clear how compatible the pair were. Willis’ turn is soft and assuring, imparting sympathy onto Cole whilst expressing regret over how he handled Vincent’s case. Maybe if he can help Cole, he can right that wrong.

Years before  Hereditary , Toni Collette is superb as a mother increasingly worried about her child. And Olivia Williams is brilliant in her relatively small part as the detached and sombre Anna. She has alienated herself from her husband, not even making eye contact with Malcolm during a scene set at a restaurant. She has also started to take anti-depressants and rewatch her old wedding videos. Once Shyamalan reveals the reason for all this, her performance takes on a sense of poignancy. Anna and Malcolm’s lost love is a crucial facet of  The Sixth Sense,  and Williams’ performance demonstrates it flawlessly.

But the most important performer is Haley Joel Osment , since Cole is the film’s central viewpoint. Just ten years old during filming, Osment gives perhaps one of the best child performances of all time . He is so natural and sensitive, full of depth and a keen awareness of the rest of the cast (especially Willis and Collette). He can also be heartrending, such as when Cole is locked in a closet by bullies. Or the ‘I see dead people’ scene, with Osment teary-eyed in terror. Or the scene where Cole reveals his gift to his mother using secrets from her past, his well-written monologue matched by Collette’s stunning acting as Lynn goes from sceptical to emotional.

The camerawork by Tak Fujimoto ( The Silence of the Lambs ) is gorgeous and shadowy, making much use of Shyamalan’s expert framing and camera blocking. Plus, the music by James Newton Howard adds to the chilling, mysterious effect that the director wants to create. Then there is the doozy of a plot twist, so prevalent in pop culture that it is easy to find it out by accident. Without spoiling it, the twist is not just brilliant because it completely changes how to view the film we just saw. It is because it is attached to a powerful scene featuring Anna and Malcolm, their love and his need to help someone suffering.

It is fitting that Shyamalan – the man who revers Spielberg, who filmed homages of his films in the backyard – made a ghost story that feels almost Spielbergian . Its child perspective means  The Sixth Sense  contains a sense of wonder, particularly by the climax. Yet it is also a film about communicating with the living and the dead – about understanding and sympathising and helping people to cope (thanks to Malcolm, Cole goes from fearing these ghosts to helping them). The result is an exceptional film, a chilling and emotional psychological thriller with a patiently built story that has not lost its impact.

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The Sixth Sense

The 100 best horror films, horror movies, the sixth sense

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  • Duration: 107 mins

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  • Director: M Night Shyamalan
  • Screenwriter: M Night Shyamalan
  • Bruce Willis
  • Toni Collette
  • Olivia Williams
  • Haley Joel Osment
  • Donnie Wahlberg
  • Glenn Fitzgerald
  • Mischa Barton
  • Trevor Morgan
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The Sixth Sense (1999)

A ubiquitous tagline and a mind-bending climactic twist made M. Night Shyamalan’s breakout hit The Sixth Sense a monster sensation — yet this deliberately paced, psychologically sensitive paranormal thriller is much more than a one-trick puzzle movie, and holds up well to multiple viewings.

Buy at Amazon.com

Artistic/Entertainment Value

Moral/spiritual value, age appropriateness, mpaa rating, caveat spectator.

Redemption, self-understanding, catharsis, and coming to terms with life and death are all deftly woven into a moving character study that makes confident use of cinematic conventions even as it turns them upside down.

Consider the bold prologue, which finds child psychiatrist Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis in an effectively muted performance) dramatically confronted with a tragic failure in his past practice. When the story resumes one year later and we see Crowe involved with a troubled young boy (10-year-old Haley Joel Osment in a star-making virtuoso turn) with familiar issues and symptoms, it’s clear from the prologue that Crowe has lost confidence in his ability to make a difference and hopes to redeem himself by helping Cole. It’s a familiar device, yet Shyamalan invests it with far more than the typical motivational significance.

Despite the unsettling ambiance and moments of real fright and horror, The Sixth Sense is fundamentally a story of three relationships. Cole’s single working mother (Toni Collette) is worried about her sensitive, unusual little boy, whose secretive unhappiness and odd behavior may be only the usual (bullies, adjustment issues) but may be something more. Crowe tries to earn Cole’s trust and understand his problems, while at the same time being sadly, ineffectually aware of what seems to be a growing rift between himself and his wife (Olivia Williams).

A few points are sketchier than they should have been. A couple of fleeting lines ("Even the scary ones"; "They only see what they want to see") gesture at ground rules that should have been more clearly established. Yet the film’s logic holds both emotionally and narratively, and Shyamalan brings satisfying closure to all of his characters and their sorrows.

Lady in the Water (2006)

Why, I haven’t come across a fairy-tale premise calling for such childlike wonder and acceptance since the taxation of trade routes was in dispute and the greedy Trade Federation set up a blockade around the planet Naboo.

The Village (2004)

With The Village, Shyamalan has gone to the well once too often. Whether or not you see the anti-climactic twists coming is almost beside the point. For the first time, Shyamalan has created a puzzle movie populated by characters we can’t identify with, living in a world we can’t relate to. The viewer has no stake in this story; he comes to the Village a stranger in a strange land, and remains so through the course of the film.

Signs (2002)

Signs has the heart that was lacking in Unbreakable , but stumbles badly in its treatment of the paranormal, in this case the world of "X-Files" / "Twilight Zone" sci-fi. Glaring practical problems increasingly sap the movie’s plausibility, until eventually suspension of disbelief becomes possible only by not thinking about it.

Unbreakable

Unbreakable (2000)

Such “hope” as Shyamalan has to offer is less persuasive and less memorable than the fears and horrors he conjures; the overall impression created by his film is an ultimately dehumanizing, depressing one.

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The Sixth Sense

Where to watch

The sixth sense.

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

Not every gift is a blessing.

Following an unexpected tragedy, child psychologist Malcolm Crowe meets a nine year old boy named Cole Sear, who is hiding a dark secret.

Bruce Willis Haley Joel Osment Toni Collette Olivia Williams Trevor Morgan Donnie Wahlberg Peter Anthony Tambakis Jeffrey Zubernis Bruce Norris Glenn Fitzgerald Greg Wood Mischa Barton Angelica Page Lisa Summerour Firdous Bamji Samia Shoaib Hayden Saunier Janis Dardaris Neill Hartley Sarah Ripard Heidi Fischer KaDee Strickland Michael J. Lyons Samantha Fitzpatrick Holly Cross Vagley Kate Kearney-Patch Marilyn Shanok M. Night Shyamalan Wes Heywood Show All… Nico Woulard Carol Nielson Keith Woulard Jodi Dawson Tony Michael Donnelly Ronnie Lea Carlos Xavier Lopez Gino Inverso Ellen Sheppard Tom McLaughlin Candy Aston-Dennis Patrick McDade Jose L. Rodriguez Gina Allegro Bob Bowersox Matt Casale Kym Cohen Colleen June McQuaide Jonathan Nation Sean Oliver Alison Robertson

Director Director

M. Night Shyamalan

Producers Producers

Barry Mendel Kathleen Kennedy Frank Marshall Lynn Andrews

Writer Writer

Casting casting.

Avy Kaufman Julie Lichter Beth Bowling

Editor Editor

Andrew Mondshein

Cinematography Cinematography

Tak Fujimoto

Assistant Directors Asst. Directors

John Rusk Scott Robertson

Additional Directing Add. Directing

Executive producer exec. producer, lighting lighting.

Scott H. Ramsey

Camera Operator Camera Operator

Kyle Rudolph

Additional Photography Add. Photography

David Golia

Production Design Production Design

Larry Fulton

Art Direction Art Direction

Philip Messina Charles E. McCarry

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Douglas A. Mowat Christine Wick

Visual Effects Visual Effects

David McCullough

Title Design Title Design

Stephen Lawes

Stunts Stunts

Mick O'Rourke Jeff Habberstad Terry Jackson

Composers Composers

James Newton Howard Michael Fey

Sound Sound

Allan Byer Michael Kirchberger David Franklin Bergad E. Larry Oatfield Grant Foerster Marnie Moore Ben Conrad

Costume Design Costume Design

Joanna Johnston

Makeup Makeup

Michal Bigger Gerald Quist Richard Alonzo

Hairstyling Hairstyling

Bunny Parker Francesca Paris

Spyglass Entertainment The Kennedy/Marshall Company Hollywood Pictures Barry Mendel Productions

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

Latin Spanish English

Releases by Date

02 aug 1999, 08 sep 1999, 23 sep 1999, 01 oct 1999, 13 dec 1999, 21 jan 2000.

  • Theatrical limited

27 Aug 1999

06 aug 1999, 09 sep 1999, 16 sep 1999, 18 sep 1999, 30 sep 1999, 07 oct 1999, 13 oct 1999, 15 oct 1999, 21 oct 1999, 22 oct 1999, 27 oct 1999, 29 oct 1999, 30 oct 1999, 04 nov 1999, 05 nov 1999, 10 nov 1999, 12 nov 1999, 17 nov 1999, 23 dec 1999, 29 dec 1999, 30 dec 1999, 05 jan 2000, 06 jan 2000, 07 jan 2000, 13 jan 2000, 14 jan 2000, 27 jan 2000, 04 feb 2000, 09 feb 2000, 25 feb 2000, 10 mar 2000, 31 mar 2000, 21 may 2019, 27 apr 2000, 11 aug 2011, 13 dec 2002, 06 mar 2005, 05 dec 2009, 20 jul 2016, releases by country.

  • Theatrical 13
  • Theatrical M

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

  • Theatrical 12
  • Premiere 15+ Febio Film Festival
  • Theatrical 15+
  • Theatrical 15
  • Theatrical K-16
  • Theatrical 16
  • Theatrical IIB
  • Theatrical VM14
  • Theatrical R-15
  • Theatrical 18SG
  • Theatrical C

Netherlands

  • TV 16 Yorin
  • Physical 16 Blu ray

New Zealand

Philippines.

  • Theatrical R-13 Manila
  • Theatrical Davao
  • Theatrical M/12
  • Theatrical 18

Russian Federation

  • Theatrical 12+
  • Physical 12+ DVD
  • Theatrical PG13

South Korea

  • Premiere 11 Lucia Movie Night
  • Theatrical 11

Switzerland

  • Premiere Taipei
  • Premiere Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Theatrical PG-13

United Arab Emirates

107 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

mulaney

Review by mulaney ★★★★½ 18

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

me: knows that malcolm is dead malcolm: is dead me: [white_guy_blinking.gif]

DirkH

Review by DirkH ★★★★½ 12

It's easy to make this film be about the twist. Or the fact that there are so many cleverly hidden clues.

Let's not talk about that.

Let's talk about the fact that this is one of the most beautifully constructed and deftly told ghost stories ever made.

I am convinced that Shyamalan is more a storyteller than a director. With this film, which basically put him on the map, he shows that he knows, loves and understands storytelling. It is a shame that along the way, with his later efforts, he seems to have convinced himself that he is a great director as well. It seems that the bigger the budget, the more apparent his flaws become.

This is absolutely…

✡︎

Review by ✡︎ ★★★★½ 9

Toni Collette has some fucked up kids

Erik 🎼

Review by Erik 🎼 ★★★★½ 1

love the twist ending where they reveal bruce willis had two foreheads the entire movie

liam f

Review by liam f ★★★½ 7

imagine my disappointment to discover that M. Night Shyamalan's first name is actually Manoj and not just the letter M

aliyah

Review by aliyah ★★★★½ 7

figuring out the plot twist twenty minutes before the end of the film felt more like a betrayal than an achievement. seventeen years of living and i couldn’t wait fifteen more minutes to let myself be surprised?

Madison 🎭

Review by Madison 🎭 ★★★★ 1

first i screamed seeing miss collette was in this but then i REALLY screamed seeing her in that look like yes... 1999 toni collette call me

Vinny Simms

Review by Vinny Simms ★★★½ 1

I feel if I had seen the first five Sense movies then I would've been able to appreciate this more but it was still pretty decent

Ella Kemp

Review by Ella Kemp ★★★★ 1

toni collette

SilentDawn

Review by SilentDawn ★★★★★ 6

Within The Sixth Sense , desperate prayers and horrific cries are contrasted with numerous explosions of the color red, as if the hue propels an individual's fear into a solitary state of agony and sorrow. Toy soldiers play war in the confines of a cathedral, and even when surrounded by images of God and his influence, the past continues to creep in and take shape. Manifestations aren't only rooted in the past. In essence, they're beckoning specters birthed in tangible anguish. Darkness upon darkness, bathed in infinite nothing. Seeking God is associated with a sense of comfort, but what about those who seek the haunted?

Running to the red doors won't help. They've already been there.

esther

Review by esther ★★★★½ 2

i do like some later shyamalan better but this is truly brilliant. when i first saw this as a teen i didn’t really appreciate how he uses the audience’s understanding of the language of editing against them, imitating Malcolm’s experience of suddenly appearing and disappearing in time all the while assuming he’s experiencing things continuously. it’s just so fucking smart. ppl in my circle don’t tend to talk about this one so much bc we’re all so eager to defend his later work but the guy has been a genius from the jump.

Sydney🚀

Review by Sydney🚀 ★★★★★ 6

“ I think I can go now ”

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the sixth sense 1999 movie review

The Sixth Sense (1999) [REVIEW]

the sixth sense movie poster 1999

Are there people out there who still don’t know the ending to The Sixth Sense ? I’d be willing to be that if you just walked up to people on the street, more of them would be familiar with what the twist ending of The Sixth Sense was than could tell you what the significance of “Rosebud” was from Citizen Kane . Even knowing what the ending of the movie will be, is The Sixth Sense still enjoyable? With M. Night Shyamalan’s After Earth  being released, and apparently being not all that good, there’s been a lot of shit being talked about the filmmaker all over the internet. Even though his most recent few films have been stinkers, I still remember a time when people actually anticipated Shyamalan movies, and dare I say, even ENJOYED watching his movies. With all the hate, I figured I’d revisit the movie that really jumpstarted his career to see if it still holds up, and for the most part, it does.

the sixth sense haley joel osment bike ghost

See, kids? Helmets are dorky AND don’t even save your life.

The night that Dr. Malcolm Crowe ( Bruce Willis ) wins an award for his work in child psychology, a former patient breaks into his house and shoots, then commits suicide. The next fall, feeling as though he had failed that child, Malcolm finds another young boy who seems to share similar issues as the boy who had shot him. Cole Sear ( Haley Joel Osment ) is picked on boy most of the boys his age, despite keeping to himself and being relatively quiet, while also having a mom, played by Toni Collette , who loves him endlessly. Malcolm thinks he is figuring out what is causing Cole so much stress, possibly caused by abandonment issues with Cole’s father, only to have Cole admit the real reason why he’s always so afraid, which is that he sees ghosts all around him. Uh oh, that can’t be good. Malcolm believes Cole and wants to help him, so he encourages Cole to try to talk to the ghosts, no matter how scary they are, to try to find out why they are communicating with Cole. Cole attempts to resolve the disturbing death of one ghost, and succeeds, causing him to feel much more at peace with all the restless spirits. Oh yeah, then there’s also a giant twist at the end of the movie that became a huge staple of pop culture for the next 15 years.

the sixth sense movie bruce willis

Remember the cuddly, cute Joseph Gordon Levitt?

Can  The Sixth Sense  be an enjoyable movie, despite knowing what the twist of the movie is? I think one of the biggest strengths of the movie is the fact that it came out at a time when CGI effects were becoming more commonplace in horror films, but all of the scares were done practically. Whether it be makeup effects or just the way a shot was constructed, almost all of the scares of the movie were achieved either practically or through editing as opposed to using computers or just trying to gross out the audience. One of the most effective scares is a scene where Cole’s mom leaves him in the kitchen to get breakfast, she walks out to the laundry room for a few moments and the camera follows her, and when she goes back to the kitchen, all of the cabinets and cupboards are open. We don’t need to see how these doors were all opened, it’s far creepier to see them mysteriously open, which was very reminiscent of the chair stacking scenes in Poltergeist . I know that Shyamalan gets a lot of shit for a lot of reasons, but back when this movie was fresh, his Spielberg/Hitchcock worship was relatively effective filmmaking. Even though a BIG part of the movie is the twist ending, it’s interesting to go back and see all the “clues” left in the movie that make it seem incredibly obvious what’s  going on. Again, in hopes of not spoiling a 15 year old movie that everyone knows the ending of, I still want to be vague about what those clues are, but they’re definitely there. Yes, I know, there are maybe a few contradictions or rules that are set up by the film, only to have the film “break” them, but I’d say that, at least upon initial viewing, those minor flaws are okay to overlook for the sake of telling the story.

the sixth sense haley joel osment blanket i see dead people

I just wish that somebody would parody this scene more! Come on, guys! It would be so funny!

Just as iconic as the twist ending in this film would be Osment’s delivery of the line, “I see dead people.” The line was famous, sure, but just as famous was the idea of child actor Haley Joel Osment and his performance. There’s a reason this performance got him an Academy Award nomination, as his performance still holds up. He’s  funny when he needs to be, terrified when he needs to be, and acts the way a little kid does when he needs to be. Bruce Willis’s performance is fine, I guess, but nothing compared to Osment’s. In fact, I’d say that Willis’s performance isn’t as good as Collette’s performance as Cole’s mom. The amount of love felt between these two characters oozes out of every scene, whether it be Cole’s mom reassuring him that he’s not strange, Cole getting pushed around in a shopping cart, or a confrontation over a family heirloom. One of the more powerful scenes towards the end of the movie involves Cole finally confront his mom about the things he sees, in addition to providing his mom with information that helps her finally feel like a family member is truly at rest. Yes, the concept of the movie is kind of silly, which I guess is what happens when you rip off Are You Afraid of the Dark? , but initial viewings are very effective, and years later, there are still a lot of good things in there, even if you know that Snape kills Dumbledore.

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6 responses to “ the sixth sense (1999) [review] ”.

Snape WHAT?!!

Haley Joel Osmont was fantastic in his role but Bruce Willis was the weak link…he just can’t cut it in a serious role. Unfortunately he’s been stereotyped in too many action movies to play believable dramatic roles..

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Bang on review, i’m watching the Sixth Sense at the moment on Channel 4 in the UK and the young lad’s really good,i wonder what happens in the end ? proberly the same as the last time !

AY UP ! he’s at the wake and everyone’s watching a video,the little girl was sick for a long time before she died,what does her mom mean ‘Don’t say it tastes funny’, OH !

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Sixth Sense, The (United States, 1999)

With his third feature effort, writer/director M. Night Shyamalan has taken a huge step in the wrong direction. After showing great strides of maturity between his ineffective debut, Praying with Anger , and 1998's appealing Wide Awake , Shyamalan has backslided alarmingly with The Sixth Sense . While this picture shares many qualities with Wide Awake (a child protagonist, a central spiritual theme, and being set in Shyamalan's home city of Philadelphia), it's an inferior product. It is not well written, well acted, or well directed.

Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) is a revered psychologist who has just earned an award from the mayor for his efforts with children. On the night that Crowe and his wife, Anna (Olivia Williams), are celebrating his triumph, they arrive home to find an intruder in their bathroom. He is Vincent Gray (Donnie Wahlberg), one of Crowe's few failures. After rambling about Crowe's faults as a psychiatrist and asking "Do you know why you're afraid when you're alone?", he brandishes a gun, then shoots himself and his doctor.

Cut to "Next Fall." Crowe has recovered from his wounds physically but not emotionally. A gulf has developed between him and his wife. The once-loving couple hardly talks and he suspects that she's having an affair. As a means to assuage his guilt, Crowe begins to work with 9-year old Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), a boy who shows similar problems to those displayed by Vincent Gray at that age. Crowe is determined to accomplish for Cole what he could not do for his former patient. But the task he has set for himself is not an easy one. Cole sees and hears things that others cannot, and he is afraid to open up to his mother, Lynn (Toni Collette), for fear that she will think he's a freak.

Some interesting things happen during the final half-hour of The Sixth Sense , including a clever (albeit entirely predictable) twist at the very end. Unfortunately, to get to that point, it's necessary to endure 75 minutes of some of the most dull, turgidly paced film making this side of Meet Joe Black . This movie plods along, daring viewers to remain awake. I had to employ all of my usual tricks to keep from falling asleep. Alas, one critic at the screening wasn't as lucky; her snores could be heard throughout the theater.

This is not a strong or effectively executed screenplay. There's no sense of subtlety. The dialogue is stilted. The characters say and do things only because the plot makes certain demands of them. With the exception of Cole, no character has more dimensions than a sheet of paper. And there's a lack of internal consistency and logic; the movie doesn't even play by its own rules. Perhaps another draft (or a complete re-write) of the script would have attenuated the amplitude of the flaws. There are some interesting ideas in The Sixth Sense - especially the way in which Cole's acceptance of his abilities brings about an awakening - but the good things are deeply buried.

The Sixth Sense is obviously an attempt by Bruce Willis to broaden his range. The actor, best known for action roles in films like Die Hard , has effectively explored a few dramatic parts in the past (most notably in In Country ), but this may be the first time he has consciously attempted to essay a low-key persona. It doesn't work. Only in the first scene does Willis exhibit any life; after that, he has a tendency to fade into the background. Part of the problem is undoubtedly that his character is badly written, but there's also a distinct lack of energy in the performance.

Willis' co-star is young Haley Joel Osment, a child thespian who has shown promise in films like Forrest Gump (as Forrest Jr.) and Bogus . Unfortunately, Osment's work here is merely adequate, emphasizing the need that child actors have for strong directors (a point that should be remembered when condemning Jake Lloyd's turn in The Phantom Menace ). Osment is occasionally effective, but, based on his past work, I expected a more captivating performance. Shyamalan fails to cull the most he can from the young actor.

Toni Collette ( Muriel's Wedding ) deserves recognition for doing something with an underwritten role. Nevertheless, Lynn's relationship with Cole, which could have been an emotional cornerstone of The Sixth Sense , feels muted. There's only one scene between these two that possesses any depth (and that happens near the end). Meanwhile, Olivia Williams ( Rushmore ) is criminally underused. It's a shame, because much of the film's impact depends on our understanding a few things about Anna, but she's not on screen enough for us to recognize her as anything more significant than a footnote to the main story.

There are undoubtedly those who will enjoy The Sixth Sense simply because of the spiritual angle, which tries to say something about the connection between this world and the next one. Today's society has an undeniable fascination with supernatural/pseudo-religious issues. (Is there any other way to explain the success of pabulum like TV's "Touched by an Angel"?) But, unlike in movies such as What Dreams May Come , this motion picture is saddled with a murky, unimaginative vision. At its best, it's merely competent; at its worst, it has a movie making-by-the-numbers feel. The Sixth Sense joins Arlington Road in proving that a forceful or clever conclusion is not enough to redeem an otherwise uneven and tepid production.

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The Sixth Sense Review

Sixth Sense, The

05 Nov 1999

Sixth Sense, The

The pre-millennial obsession with life beyond the grave and the worse things that might be waiting there continues in The Sixth Sense, which exists in its own generic twilight zone, somewhere between horror movie and soap opera.

After Color Of Night (1994) and Mercury Rising (1998), expectations for anything with Bruce Willis as a therapist or helping a kid are dismal, but this is one of the rare films that actually engages him as an actor and shows how subtle and affecting he can be if he cans the smirk and plays it straight. Operating at the other end of the budget spectrum from The Blair Witch Project, this nevertheless also goes for creepiness and suggestion rather than blowing it all on CGI ghosts a la The Haunting, and reaps a fine harvest of chills, along with a few jump-out-of-your-seat shocks.

The plot is a cross between Little Man Tate and Jacob's Ladder: in grey and gloomy but history-drenched Philadelphia, child psychologist Malcolm Crowe (Willis), shaken out of his complacency after a violent home invasion by an ex-patient, tries desperately to help school misfit, Cole Sear (Osment), who has disconcerting psychic and telekinetic flashes. Cole, who is desperately trying to keep his strangeness secret from his struggling single mom (Collette), eventually confesses up to Malcolm that his real special ability is that he can see the spirits of the dead. In trying to get his attention, the ghosts leave scratches on the child's body, which naturally means the authorities suspect someone in his life of child abuse. At the heart of the film is a truly terrifying idea, and director-writer Shyamalan - abetted by a brilliant performance from kid actor Haley Joel Osment, fully deserving of one of those special child-sized Oscars they don't give anymore - manages to visualise it perfectly.

You wouldn't think it, but after decades of eyeball-skewering zombies and acid-blooded aliens, you can still be scared by a pale girl under a bed, a fading sweaty hand-print, a sudden frosty breath or a couple of childish admissions (crucial scare line: all . . . the . . . time.). This ghost stuff works on a deeper level than the gross-out, and it's nice that Hollywood has rediscovered the art of the soul-freezing scare. Like the underrated Paperhouse, this knows when to stow the horror and domesticate its terrors, eventually revealing that the ghosts don't just want to say, Boo! and that Cole's gift actually has a purpose.

Then there's the ending, which pays off with one of those revelations that make you mentally unpick everything you've seen (remember The Usual Suspects or No Way Out?). And even if you see through it, this is still an extraordinarily creepy and thoughtful spook show.

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the sixth sense 1999 movie review

Ranking The Highest-Grossing Horror Movies Of All Time.

Quick links, hannibal (2001), the nun (2018), prometheus (2012), signs (2002), the exorcist (1973), it chapter two (2019), world war z (2013), i am legend (2007), the sixth sense (1999).

  • Horror movies have favorable returns on investment despite lower budgets than mainstream blockbusters.
  • The genre attracts audiences with diverse preferences, making it financially viable and appealing.
  • Horror movies have a long-standing presence in Hollywood, evolving to reflect societal fears and maintain audience engagement.

Horror movies might not consistently top box office charts, but over the years, they have proven to be a reliable investment in the industry.

Horror films generally operate on smaller budgets, compared to Superhero blockbusters and action thrillers.

However, their return on investment is usually considerably positive, making them one of the most financially viable genres for studios.

The genre has maintained a presence in Hollywood, often serving as a mirror to societal fears and anxieties, evolving with technological advancement and changing audience tastes.

The genre's resilience is evident in its ability to continually reinvent itself, from the psychological thrillers of the early 20th century to the visceral slasher films of the 1980s and the sophisticated, story-driven creepers of the modern era.

Critically, horror films have traversed from an underappreciated genre to mainstream acclaim, engaging not only genre enthusiasts but also a broader audience that appreciates the thrill of fear.

This evolution is highlighted by horror's impressive engagement metrics, which show that even with modest budget allocations, films like Beetlejuice 2, A Quiet Place: Day One, and MaXXXine have generated extensive buzz.

Furthermore, the upcoming releases of these titles highlight the industry's confidence in horror's ability to draw crowds and generate substantial box office revenue.

Now, let's look at the highest-grossing horror movies, as of 2024, based on box office receipts.

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Global box office, hannibal - $351,692,268.

Ascending from the chilling whispers of its predecessor, The Silence Of The Lambs, the 2001 sequel Hannibal magnificently captures the sinister elegance of its titular character, Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

Directed by Ridley Scott , this film distills a richer concoction of horror and psychological intrigue, pushing the boundaries into what some might describe as a lavish slasher spectacle.

The story resumes a decade after Lecter's escape, and Hannibal is not for the faint of heart. It revels in the grotesque, pushing the boundaries of violence and suspense.

The infamous brain-eating scene, a testament to the film's audacity, is etched into horror history.

Although Hannibal received mixed reactions, with praise for the performances and visuals and criticism for its violence, its box office performance speaks volumes of its allure.

Hannibal tore through the box office, scoring $58 million in its opening weekend in the United States alone. It eventually earned $351 million globally against a production budget of $87 million.

Global Box Office, The Nun - $366,082,797

The Conjuring Universe expanded with a spine-chilling prequel in 2018, The Nun .

This gothic horror follows the origins of the demonic entity Valak, a sinister presence introduced in The Conjuring 2.

The Nun draws inspiration from classic horror tropes while adding its own unique flavor. The atmosphere is thick with religious imagery and jump scares.

The Nun is a financial outlier within The Conjuring Universe, which consists of eight films that have collectively amassed $2.1 billion against a total budget of $208 million.

Remarkably, it is the only film in the series to break into the top ten list of highest-grossing horror movies. The film was praised for its performances and atmosphere, but criticized for its weak narrative and inconsistent logic.

The Nun grossed $117.4 million in the United States and Canada and $248.6 million in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $366 million , against a production budget of $22 million.

Deadline Hollywood calculated the net profit of The Nun at $155 million after accounting for all expenses and revenues.

These Are The Highest-Grossing Ridley Scott Movies

Global box office, prometheus - $403,354,469.

Ridley Scott reignited the Alien franchise with Prometheus , a prequel that probes into the origins of humanity and the mysteries of the cosmos.

A team of scientists and explorers embark on a perilous journey to a distant moon, guided by ancient star maps that hint at the existence of our creators. However, what they find is far more terrifying than they could have imagined.

The film is a visually stunning odyssey filled with breathtaking landscapes, otherworldly creatures, and a creeping sense of dread.

Though met with mixed reviews due to its unresolved plot points, Prometheus ignited passionate discussions and sparked curiosity about the mysteries it left unanswered.

Prometheus earned $126.4 million in North America and $276.9 million elsewhere, for a worldwide total of $403.4 million against a production budget of $130 million.

Global Box Office, Signs - $408,247,917

M. Night Shyamalan 's Signs is a profound exploration of faith, family, and the eerie unknown that lies beyond our world.

The film stars Mel Gibson as Graham Hess, a former Episcopal priest who encounters mysterious crop circles in his cornfield, signaling the imminent arrival of extraterrestrial beings.

This discovery sets off a suspenseful narrative that cleverly intertwines elements of science fiction with deep psychological horror, all while examining themes of faith and redemption.

Signs was lauded for its tight pacing and effective use of suspense. Signs masterfully blends suspense, humor, and familial drama, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats while exploring themes of faith, loss, and the bonds that hold us together.

The film's expertly crafted atmosphere, punctuated by Shyamalan's signature twists, made it a critical and commercial success. It debuted to a strong $60 million opening weekend in North America.

Signs went on to gross $228 million in North America and $180 million in other territories, for a total of $408 million worldwide on a $72 million budget.

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Global box office, the exorcist - $441,306,145.

The Exorcist is based on the novel by William Peter Blatty, which in turn was inspired by an actual exorcism in Maryland.

Known for being one of the most terrifying movies ever made, The Exorcist tells the harrowing tale of young Regan MacNeil, portrayed by Linda Blair , who is possessed by a malevolent entity, and Father Damien Karras's desperate efforts to exorcise the demon Pazuzu from her.

The production of The Exorcist was notoriously fraught with challenges, including injuries to cast members, a set fire, and mysterious accidents, contributing to rumors that the film itself was cursed .

Combined with the content, these incidents created an aura of intrigue and terror that significantly drew audiences.

Some viewers reportedly suffered adverse physical reactions, fainting or vomiting during shocking scenes such as a realistic cerebral angiography.

The film's initial budget ballooned as shooting extended well beyond schedule, yet it paid off spectacularly at the box office.

The Exorcist grossed $233 million in North America and $208 million in other regions, bringing its global total to $441 million .

This figure does not even account for inflation, which would push The Exorcist's earnings well beyond the billion-dollar mark.

Global Box Office, It Chapter Two - $473,123,154

It Chapter Two rekindles the memories of Derry and its demonic clown, Pennywise, plunging audiences back into Stephen King 's eerie universe .

Set 27 years after the Losers Club first defeated Pennywise, the characters return as adults to their hometown under less than joyful circumstances.

While maintaining the thematic depth of its predecessor, this sequel expands the scope and scale of terror, using a mixture of psychological horror and outright grotesque manifestations to unsettle its audience.

Given the first film's tremendous success, it was inevitable that audiences would eagerly anticipate the sequel.

It Chapter Two grossed $211.6 million in the United States and Canada and an additional $261.5 million across other territories, for a worldwide total of $473.1 million .

Produced on a budget of $79 million, the film's profitability was significant, with Deadline Hollywood reporting a net profit of $169 million , considering all costs and revenues.

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Global box office, world war z - $540,455,876.

In World War Z, star Brad Pitt takes on the zombie apocalypse with a globe-trotting adventure that blends tense action with a race against time.

Loosely based on Max Brooks ' acclaimed novel, the film follows Gerry Lane, a former United Nations investigator tasked with finding the source of a devastating pandemic that turns humans into ravenous undead hordes.

The film delivers explosive action sequences, hordes of terrifyingly fast zombies, and a high-stakes plot that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

While the film diverges significantly from the source material, focusing more on action than the intricate social commentary of the book, it still manages to capture the scale and desperation of a global zombie outbreak.

World War Z grossed $202.41 million in the US and Canada and $337.6 million internationally, accumulating a global total of $540.46 million against a production budget of $190 million, making it the highest-grossing zombie film of all time.

Global Box Office, I Am Legend - $585,410,052

In a desolate, virus-ravaged New York City, Will Smith delivers a tour-de-force performance as Robert Neville, the last man standing against hordes of nocturnal, mutated creatures.

I Am Legend, the third adaptation of Richard Matheson's eerie novel, paints a hauntingly beautiful portrait of isolation and survival.

The film received generally positive reviews, with Smith's performance being singled out for praise, while criticism focused on its divergences from the novel, particularly the ending.

According to Box Office Mojo, I Am Legend opened to $77.2 million in its first weekend, ultimately collecting $256 million domestically and $329 million internationally.

This brought its total global gross to $585.4 million , against a production budget of $150 million.

In 2022, it was announced that a sequel to I Am Legend is in the works, with Will Smith returning to both star as Neville, and co-produce the film alongside Michael B. Jordan , who will also have a starring role .

Bruce Almighty: These Are The Highest-Grossing Bruce Willis Movies

Global box office, the sixth sense - $672,806,432.

The Sixth Sense signified a seminal milestone in horror cinema, highlighting M. Night Shyamalan's unparalleled knack for suspense and revelatory twist endings.

The film tells the story of young Cole Sear, played by Haley Joel Osment , who is burdened with the ability to see and communicate with the dead.

This peculiar gift sets the stage for a series of spine-chilling encounters that culminate in one of cinema's most celebrated revelations.

Bruce Willis stars as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who tries to help Cole manage and understand his frightening abilities.

The dynamic between the characters, coupled with Shyamalan's mastery of building suspense, crafts a hauntingly atmospheric film that engages viewers on multiple levels, emotionally, intellectually, and viscerally.

The Sixth Sense is a psychological exploration of grief and denial, neatly cloaked in the suspenseful guise of a horror film.

The Sixth Sense received praise for its cast performances, atmosphere, direction, and surprise ending, which helped earn it six Academy Award nominations.

The Sixth Sense was a smash hit at the box office, grossing over $672 million worldwide , with $293 million from domestic audiences and $379 million from the foreign market.

Global Box Office, It - $704,242,888

Many people harbor a deep-seated fear of clowns, yet it was not until 2017 that a truly horrific and commercially successful film featuring an evil clown came to fruition.

It follows a malevolent entity, taking the form of a sinister clown, terrorizing the small town of Derry, Maine. As it preys upon the town's children, a group of outcast children must confront their deepest fears to vanquish the ancient evil.

The film is a masterful blend of coming-of-age drama and visceral horror which shattered box office records, and affirmed Pennywise the Dancing Clown's place in the pantheon of horror villains.

Lauded for its terrifying scares, immersive atmosphere, stunning cinematography, and stellar cast, many hailed It as a modern horror masterpiece.

It grossed $328.8 million in the United States and Canada and $373 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $701.8 million , against a production budget of $35 million.

According to Deadline Hollywood, when accounting for production budgets against box office grosses, It made over $294 million in net profit.

Ranking The Highest-Grossing Horror Movies Of All Time.

THEORY: Is Trap Another Surprise Sequel to One of M. Night Shyamalan's Biggest Movies?

Like so many other Shyamalan films, the biggest twist of Trap might be yet to come if it serves as a sequel to his biggest film.

  • The trailer for M. Night Shyamalan's movie Trap hints at a major plot twist, leaving audiences puzzled about its true direction.
  • Speculation suggests that Trap may actually be a secret sequel to The Sixth Sense , adding a new layer to Shyamalan's cinematic universe.
  • Much like the surprise reveal of Split 's connection to Unbreakable , Trap is expected to unveil a bigger twist that changes everything.

M. Night Shyamalan has always been known for his plot twists . It’s arguably the most defining feature of all his movies. Because of this, the amount of information revealed in the trailer for his upcoming film, Trap , has people wondering whether it’s simply a red herring for something else. Per the trailer, Cooper (Josh Hartnett) takes his daughter, Riley (Ariel Donoghue), to a massive pop star’s stadium concert. However, upon their arrival, Cooper becomes keenly aware of the heavier-than-normal police presence. When he asks a seemingly random employee working at the merch stand what’s happening, the employee immediately divulges a slew of information. In an effort to catch the infamous serial killer known as “The Butcher,” police have set a trap for him at the concert. It’s then made clear that Cooper is the Butcher, or at least that’s what the trailer leads viewers to believe.

Given the nature of most M. Night Shyamalan movies, it doesn’t seem plausible that such a massive reveal would be given away in the trailer unless the film is about something else entirely. Furthermore, the apparent plot indicated in the trailer doesn’t make sense on its surface, which could mean there’s more to the film than its marketing wants viewers to believe. As the trailer indicates, audiences should “ get ready for a new experience in the world of M. Night Shyamalan ,” which suggests the upcoming story in Trap is part of “a world” the director has already established. Rather than something completely new, the film’s narrative may serve as a sequel to one of Shyamalan’s biggest movies.

Trap Could Be a Secret Sequel to The Sixth Sense

The sixth sense.

Thanks to CinemaBlend , the most prominent theory gaining traction about the film is that Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), the young boy who sees dead people from The Sixth Sense , is now grown and using his ability to aid police in their search for The Butcher. Much like he did with the young girl whose mother was poisoning her, Cole could be communicating with The Butcher’s victims to prevent future murders. Given the number of murders the killer seemingly has under his belt, they could be speaking with Cole, who is then informing police officers of The Butcher’s whereabouts.

The Sixth Sense was a film that hid its reveal in plain sight. In hindsight, it was clear Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), Cole’s psychologist, didn’t survive his gunshot wound at the beginning of the film, but audiences believed it, nonetheless. The reveal stared viewers in the face the entire time, but it didn’t fully materialize until the end. The same could be the case for Trap . Given the extent of what is disclosed in the film’s latest trailer, the big reveal may have already been shown, but viewers don’t realize it yet. The biggest twist most likely has nothing to do with knowing Cooper is The Butcher .

Every M. Night Shyamalan Movie, Ranked by Letterboxd

However, the details of the aforementioned theory don’t explain the extravagant manner in which the police undertake to bring in The Butcher. The entire concert is meant to be a trap designed to capture one serial killer they somehow know will be attending the show. Granted, this could still be a part of The Sixth Sense world, but maybe not in the way viewers initially think. That being said, there’s clearly something happening that audiences simply can’t see just yet. True to form, Shyamalan most likely has a larger reveal hidden under his sleeve.

Shyamalan Has Done This Before With Split

Somehow, the Trap trailer gives viewers so much and yet so little, which is clearly by design. It’s no accident that such a major aspect of the film made its way into the previews. However, such an important detail is probably a red herring, so audiences don’t immediately catch on to how the film fits into a larger world Shyamalan has already established. Given the director has done something similar with his other films, it would make sense for him to do it once more. Much to the surprise of moviegoers, Split was, in fact, part of the world Shyamalan created with Unbreakable , which means the same is possible for The Sixth Sense and Trap .

How Knock at the Cabin and Signs Are About Nearly the Same Thing

Before Split hit theaters, there was no indication the film was anything more than another Shyamalan movie. The film’s marketing never alluded to anything other than an original thriller about a man with multiple personalities who kidnaps a group of young girls. Only at the very end of the movie did audiences learn it takes place within the Unbreakable universe and actually served as a sequel of sorts, which was then followed by Glass . This same situation could easily be the case for Trap . In the same way that Split was a secret sequel to Unbreakable , Trap could be a secret sequel to The Sixth Sense . Whether or not such a theory comes to fruition, it’s clear the film is hiding something deeper that won’t be revealed until it hits theaters later this year. Trap is slated to hit theaters on August 9, 2024.

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The Sixth Sense

The Sixth Sense

  • Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist, starts treating a young boy, Cole, who encounters dead people and convinces him to help them. In turn, Cole helps Malcolm reconcile with his estranged wife.
  • Malcom Crowe ( Bruce Willis ) is a child psychologist who receives an award on the same night that he is visited by a very unhappy ex-patient. After this encounter, Crowe takes on the task of curing a young boy with the same ills as the ex-patient ( Donnie Wahlberg ) . This boy "sees dead people". Crowe spends a lot of time with the boy much to the dismay of his wife ( Olivia Williams ). Cole's mom ( Toni Collette ) is at her wit's end with what to do about her son's increasing problems. Crowe is the boy's only hope. — Jeff Mellinger <[email protected]>
  • To wipe the slate clean and get a chance to redeem himself after that soul-scarring incident one year ago, the Philadelphia child psychologist, Dr Malcolm Crowe, decides to take on his first new case--the profoundly troubled eight-year-old boy, Cole Sear. Exhibiting the same symptoms like one of his former patients, Cole goes one step further by solemnly claiming he has the gift, or curse, of a rare and unwelcome sixth sense; the mysterious ability to see the dreadful and unquiet spectres of the deceased who linger in this earth. However, can a slowly-recovering sceptic believe, let alone, heal, a desperate soul crying for help? And, what if Cole's disturbingly recurring apparitions are not figments of an injured fantasy, but an irrefutable reality? — Nick Riganas
  • Child psychologist Malcom Crowe ( Bruce Willis )is one night visited by an ex-patient named Vincent Grey ( Donnie Wahlberg ) who is not just angry, but enraged. He wounds Crowe, then kills himself. A few months later Crowe is visited by a 9-year old boy named Cole ( Haley Joel Osment ). He sees dead people who do not know they are dead. Because of this, he is called a freak in school. Crowe, at first thinks he is seeing things, but after spending a lot of time with Cole (much to his wife's ( Olivia Williams ) dismay), he discovers Cole may be seeing dead people after all. — neo101
  • Child psychiatrist Malcolm Crowe ( Bruce Willis ) is confronted one night by his former patient Vincent Gray ( Donnie Wahlberg ) who he failed to help. After Vincent shoots Crowe in the stomach and kills himself, Crowe can't stop thinking about it. A few months later he is hired to help a troubled boy named Cole Sear ( Haley Joel Osment ), who has many of the same problems Vincent had. Crowe sees a chance to redeem himself, but doubts his ability to reach the boy, particularly when Cole claims to see ghosts who don't know they're dead. — rmlohner
  • Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), a prominent child psychologist, returns home one night with his wife, Anna Crowe (Olivia Williams), from an event in which he was honored for his work. His wife tells him that everything in the world is second to his job including her. The two discover they are not alone; a young man (Donnie Wahlberg) appears brandishing a gun. He says that he doesn't want to be afraid anymore and accuses Crowe of failing him. Crowe recognizes him as Vincent Grey, a former patient whom he treated as a child for hallucinations. Grey shoots Crowe in the lower abdomen, and seconds later turns the gun on himself. The next fall, Crowe begins working with another boy, nine year-old Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), who has a condition similar to Vincent's. Crowe becomes dedicated to this patient, though he is haunted by doubts over his ability to help him after his failure with Vincent. Meanwhile, his relationship with his wife begins to fall apart due to his focus on work. Once Crowe earns his trust, Cole eventually confides in him that he "sees dead people that walk around like regular people." Though Crowe at first thinks Cole is delusional, he eventually comes to believe that Cole is telling the truth and that Vincent may have had the same ability. He suggests to Cole that he try to find a purpose for his gift by communicating with the ghosts, perhaps to aid them in their unfinished business on Earth. Cole at first does not want to, because the ghosts terrify him, but he soon decides to try it. One is an overworked wife abused by her husband who slit her wrists; another that tries to hurt Cole is only heard as a voice who starts calmly pleading to Cole to let him out of the dark cupboard because he's suffocating, then yells at Cole that he didn't steal "the Master's horse" and threatens to attack Cole if he doesn't obey. The third ghost appears very briefly; a boy a bit older than Cole asks him to come into the room, to find the boy's father's gun. The boy turns around to show that he has a large gunshot exit wound on the back of his head. Cole finally talks to one of the ghosts, a very sick girl who appears in his bedroom. He finds out where the girl, Kyra Collins (Mischa Barton), lived and goes to her house during her funeral reception. Kyra died after a prolonged illness and funeral guests note that Kyra's younger sister is starting to get sick, too. Kyra's ghost appears and gives Cole a box, which is opened to reveal a videotape. When Cole gives it to Kyra's father, the videotape shows Kyra's mother putting floor cleaner fluid in Kyra's food while she cared for Kyra during her illness. The continual illness may point to a slow poisoning in a case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy.[2] Cole confesses his secret to his mother, Lynn (Toni Collette). Although his mother at first does not believe him, Cole soon tells Lynn that her own mother once went to see her perform in a dance recital one night when she was a child, and that Lynn was not aware of this because her mother stayed in the back of the audience where she could not be seen. He also tells her the answer to a question she asked when alone at her mother's grave. Lynn tearfully accepts this as the truth. Cole also counsels Crowe on his marriage, suggesting he try talking to his wife while she is asleep. Crowe returns to his home, where he finds his wife asleep on the couch with the couple's wedding video on in the background, not for the first time. As she sleeps, Anna's hand releases Malcolm's wedding ring (which he suddenly discovers he has not been wearing), revealing the twist ending of the film: Crowe himself was actually killed by Vincent and was unknowingly dead the entire time he was working with Cole. Due to Cole's efforts, Crowe's unfinished business rectifying his failure to understand Vincent is finally complete. Recalling Cole's advice, Crowe speaks to his sleeping wife and fulfills the second reason he returned, saying she was "never second," and that he loves her. Releasing her to move on with her own life, he is free to leave behind the world of the living.

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Kyle Larson finally gets a chance to run in traffic at Indy. Has plenty to learn ahead of Indy 500

Kyle Larson waits for the start of practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Kyle Larson waits for the start of practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Kyle Larson climbs into his car before the start of practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Kyle Larson, left, talks with 2013 Indy 500 champion Tony Kanaan as he met with his team during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Kyle Larson, left, talks with his team during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kyle Larson’s parents took a swing by the Arrow McLaren merchandise truck at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and quickly alerted their superstar son to a potential problem.

“They were like, ‘Man, if I was your teammates I’d be pretty pissed because it’s basically all you,’” Larson said Wednesday as he waited out a second day of rain at the speedway.

Larson is the star of the upcoming Indianapolis 500 as he becomes the fifth driver in history to attempt both “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and NASCAR’s crown jewel Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch have attempted “The Double,” with Stewart in 2001 the only one to complete 1,100 miles (1,770 kilometers).

“If Tony can do it, I can do it,” Larson said, smiling when talking about the physical demands of the two grueling races. Stewart did “The Double” twice but only completed all the laps in his second attempt; he was ninth, but four laps down, at Indy in 1999 but completed the entire Coke 600 and finished fourth.

He worked with a personal trainer to better prepare himself for his 2001 effort.

Marcus Ericsson, of Sweden, climbs out of his car following a practice session for the IndyCar Grand Prix auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Larson has not talked to Stewart about his attempts, but he had one conversation with Busch, who was the last driver to attempt “The Double,” in 2014. Busch finished sixth at Indy but his engine failed at Charlotte with roughly 200 miles to go.

Larson doesn’t really want to pick the brains of those who have tried this stunt before him. NASCAR’s 2021 season champion races so many different styles of cars so many nights of the week that he prefers to figure out what he’s doing on his own.

“I really like to try and learn things, as much as I can, on my own,” Larson said. “I’ve never been that type of driver to get info from other drivers. I just try to figure it out, and then as I’m doing it, and I have questions, then I ask.

“But when I don’t know what to expect, I don’t know what to ask. So I haven’t talked to too many people.”

The problem for Larson is the rain that soaked the speedway both Tuesday and Wednesday. He got in only two laps on opening day before all of Tuesday was washed out. The Wednesday schedule was revised to add two hours of track time for a total of eight hours, but it was still raining long after lunch.

IndyCar said it hoped to have cars on the track from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m., but the session was consistently disrupted by rain. Larson got in 47 laps and hit a top speed of 225.245 mph as he struggled with learning the nuances of running in traffic around Indy.

“I feel like I know what I need to feel in traffic, but then it’s like if you miss that a little bit, now you are weirdly loose,” said Larson, who was eager to debrief with McLaren “to find out what’s normal. It would be nice to hear what the guys thought who were also out in traffic.”

Scott McLaughlin paced the first session of Indy prep at 229.493 mph for Team Penske and Tom Blomqvist of Meyer Shank Racing made a driver-high 105 laps.

Arrow McLaren has given Larson seat time over the past year, but he’s yet to get two consecutive days in the car and was limited to 47 laps over two hours during last month’s open test at Indy. His practice was abbreviated by rain that time, too.

Larson was growing anxious to get on the track, but at the same time he was weirdly at ease with the idea of running his first Indy 500 with very little track time. Asked if the Indy 500 was today could he run it, Larson laughed and noted only if he’d qualified for the 33-car field.

But then he added he wouldn’t back down from the challenge.

“I would,” Larson said. “But I don’t think that I would do very good. There’s still a lot of things I want to get done over the course of this week to prepare myself.”

Which brings Larson to the betting odds.

Alex Palou is the favorite at 4-1, according to BetMGM Sportsbook , and Larson was the second betting choice at 13-2. Just like the amount of merchandise McLaren is selling on his behalf could be considered a slight to his teammates, his standing among the bookmakers outright shocked Larson.

He couldn’t believe he was listed ahead of six-time series champion Scott Dixon, who has one Indy 500 win. Larson urged gamblers to avoid the temptation to spend money on him, even though many believe he’s got a shot to win the race.

“That’s crazy, that doesn’t make any sense to me,” Larson said. “I think people are wasting their money. But, maybe not? I guess I hope to add people wasting their money on me.”

AP Motorsports: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

the sixth sense 1999 movie review

COMMENTS

  1. The Sixth Sense movie review & film summary (1999)

    "The Sixth Sense" isn't a thriller in the modern sense, but more of a ghost story of the sort that flourished years ago, when ordinary people glimpsed hidden dimensions. It has long been believed that children are better than adults at seeing ghosts; the barriers of skepticism and disbelief are not yet in place. In this film, a small boy solemnly tells his psychologist, "I see dead people ...

  2. The Sixth Sense

    M Night Shayamalan's The Sixth Sense is a twisty ghost story with all the style of a classical Hollywood picture, but all the chills of a modern horror flick. Young Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment ...

  3. The Sixth Sense (1999)

    Permalink. The Sixth Sense is the most overrated film is years - it is a rehash of every horror movie prior. Opened drawers all of a sudden (= poltergeist switching chairs with drawers), dead people walking around (=zombie movies - anything!). The kid is good but Bruce Willis doesnt show any emotions at all.

  4. FILM REVIEW; A Boy Who Sees the Dead, and a Psychologist Determined Not

    The Willis name should insure that ''The Sixth Sense'' stays around a little bit longer. ''The Sixth Sense'' is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). It includes images of dead bodies and a ...

  5. 'The Sixth Sense': A Boy Who Sees the Dead, and a Psychologist

    August 6, 1999 FILM REVIEW 'The Sixth Sense': A Boy Who Sees the Dead, and a Psychologist Determined Not to Fail Him. Related Articles; The New York Times on the Web: Current Film. ... For Willis, the movie continues the unpromising track he took with "Mercury Rising," in which his character goes through hell to save the life of an autistic child.

  6. The Sixth Sense (1999)

    The Sixth Sense: Directed by M. Night Shyamalan. With Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist, starts treating a young boy, Cole, who encounters dead people and convinces him to help them. In turn, Cole helps Malcolm reconcile with his estranged wife.

  7. 'Sixth Sense' Review: Movie (1999)

    On Aug. 6, 1999, Buena Vista unveiled M. Night Shyamalan's breakout hit The Sixth Sense in theaters. The film went on to be nominated for six Oscars at the 72nd Academy Awards, including best ...

  8. The Sixth Sense

    In Theaters: Aug 6, 1999 Streaming: Jul 8, 2016 Hollywood Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment ... will never be disappointed with The Sixth Sense. Full Review ...

  9. The Sixth Sense

    In this chilling, psychological thriller, 8-year-old Cole Sear (Osment) is haunted by a dark secret: he is visited by ghosts. Confused by his paranormal powers, Cole is too young to understand his purpose and too afraid to tell anyone about his anguish, except child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Willis). As Dr. Crowe tries to uncover the ominous truth about Cole's supernatural abilities, the ...

  10. The Sixth Sense (1999)

    35 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com. Writer-director M. Night Shyamalan lets the tension rise slowly, leads you everywhere you don't expect, doesn't rip you off and totally freaks you out -- all without stale effects or gore. Chalk this film up as an unusually intelligent thriller about that which scares us the most: accepting our ...

  11. The Sixth Sense Movie Review

    Our review: Parents say ( 52 ): Kids say ( 271 ): This is one of the rarest of movie treats, a thinking person's thriller that is genuinely haunting. You're lucky if you see a movie that you are still thinking about it hours later. Its ultimate conclusion is stunning but, in retrospect, inevitable.

  12. The Sixth Sense (1999): Film Review

    The Sixth Sense was a phenomenon upon its release. A surprising one as well: even though it featured Bruce Willis, the film was made by a then-unknown named M. Night Shyamalan. Yet it became the second-biggest release of 1999, earning six Oscar nominations and launching its director to stardom.

  13. The Sixth Sense 1999, directed by M Night Shyamalan

    Osment's extraordinary, moving portrayal of the brave but bewildered Cole might have unbalanced the film had not Willis, as the obsessive shrink, given his most subtle, sympathetic performance to ...

  14. The Sixth Sense (1999)

    The Sixth Sense (1999) A- SDG Original source: National Catholic Register A ubiquitous tagline and a mind-bending climactic twist made M. Night Shyamalan's breakout hit The Sixth Sense a monster sensation — yet this deliberately paced, psychologically sensitive paranormal thriller is much more than a one-trick puzzle movie, and holds up well to multiple viewings.

  15. ‎The Sixth Sense (1999) directed by M. Night Shyamalan • Reviews, film

    93/100. Within The Sixth Sense, desperate prayers and horrific cries are contrasted with numerous explosions of the color red, as if the hue propels an individual's fear into a solitary state of agony and sorrow.Toy soldiers play war in the confines of a cathedral, and even when surrounded by images of God and his influence, the past continues to creep in and take shape.

  16. The Sixth Sense

    This is a conventional horror movie with all the trimmings: a kind of stadium act, compared with the unplugged, acoustic set offered by The Blair Witch Project. Willis is Dr Malcolm Crowe, a child ...

  17. The Sixth Sense (1999) [REVIEW]

    The night that Dr. Malcolm Crowe ( Bruce Willis) wins an award for his work in child psychology, a former patient breaks into his house and shoots, then commits suicide. The next fall, feeling as though he had failed that child, Malcolm finds another young boy who seems to share similar issues as the boy who had shot him.

  18. The Sixth Sense [Reviews]

    All Reviews Editor's Choice Game Reviews Movie Reviews TV Show Reviews Tech Reviews. Discover. ... 1999. Platforms ... 2002 - M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense gets double-dipped, ...

  19. Classic Review: The Sixth Sense (1999)

    The Sixth Sense the best ghost story to come by in a very long time with a masterful narrative that works on so many levels. The Sixth Sense follows Malcolm Crowe (Willis), a child psychologist happily married to a woman named Anna (Olivia Williams). One night after a few drinks their house is broken in by Vincent (Donnie Wahlberg), a former ...

  20. The Sixth Sense

    The Sixth Sense is a 1999 American psychological thriller film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan.It stars Bruce Willis as a child psychologist whose patient (Haley Joel Osment) claims he can see and talk to the dead.. Released by Buena Vista Pictures through its Hollywood Pictures label on August 6, 1999, The Sixth Sense received critical acclaim, with praise for the cast performances ...

  21. Sixth Sense, The

    Sixth Sense, The (United States, 1999) A movie review by James Berardinelli. With his third feature effort, writer/director M. Night Shyamalan has taken a huge step in the wrong direction. ... The Sixth Sense joins Arlington Road in proving that a forceful or clever conclusion is not enough to redeem an otherwise uneven and tepid production ...

  22. The Sixth Sense Review

    Release Date: 04 Nov 1999. Running Time: 84 minutes. Certificate: 15. Original Title: Sixth Sense, The. The pre-millennial obsession with life beyond the grave and the worse things that might be ...

  23. Ranking The Highest-Grossing Horror Movies Of All Time.

    The Exorcist (1973) It Chapter Two (2019) World War Z (2013) I Am Legend (2007) The Sixth Sense (1999) It (2017) Horror movies have favorable returns on investment despite lower budgets than ...

  24. Is Trap Another Surprise M. Night Shyamalan Sequel?

    The Sixth Sense was a film that hid its reveal in plain sight. In hindsight, it was clear Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), Cole's psychologist, didn't survive his gunshot wound at the beginning ...

  25. The Sixth Sense (1999)

    Child psychologist Malcom Crowe ( Bruce Willis )is one night visited by an ex-patient named Vincent Grey ( Donnie Wahlberg) who is not just angry, but enraged. He wounds Crowe, then kills himself. A few months later Crowe is visited by a 9-year old boy named Cole ( Haley Joel Osment ). He sees dead people who do not know they are dead.

  26. How Extremist Settlers Took Over Israel

    Judith Karp led a 1982 internal government investigation that found Israeli authorities unwilling or unable to confront settler crimes. "We were very naïve," she now recalls. Peter van ...

  27. Kyle Larson finally gets a chance to run in traffic at Indy. Has plenty

    Movie reviews Book reviews Celebrity Television Music Business. Inflation ... he was ninth, but four laps down, at Indy in 1999 but completed the entire Coke 600 and finished fourth. He worked with a personal trainer to better prepare himself for his 2001 effort. ... Busch finished sixth at Indy but his engine failed at Charlotte with roughly ...