If Disney Had Gotten Its Way, M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs Would Never Have Landed Its Memorable Title

by

More M. Night Shyamalan

As a seasoned gamer with over three decades of movie-watching under my belt, I must say that M. Night Shyamalan has always been a captivating director who knows how to weave intricate stories. His preference for simple yet impactful titles is an interesting quirk that adds to the mystique of his films.

All Of M. Night Shyamalan’s Movies, Ranked

—

4 Reasons Why Lady In The Water Is Secretly M. Night Shyamalan’s Hidden Gem

In terms of his original films, M. Night Shyamalan has consistently opted for straightforward titles. His early work encompasses movies like “Praying With Anger,” “Wide Awake,” and “The Sixth Sense.” However, over half of his subsequent works have been single-word titles (disregarding the articles “The” in “The Village,” “The Happening,” and “The Visit”). This has turned into a distinctive aspect of his filmography, but in 2002, he had to argue for his fifth directorial project to be titled “Signs.”

As a devoted fan, I’m eagerly awaiting the release of M. Night Shyamalan’s new film, simply titled “Trap,” hitting theaters this very Friday. In a recent conversation with Indiewire, Shyamalan shared insights about the behind-the-scenes drama that unfolded 22 years ago during the making of “Signs.” Reflecting on his creative approach, he expressed his philosophy, stating…

In my journey as a storyteller, I’ve come to appreciate the intriguing challenge that lies within repurposing familiar words for fresh narratives. It’s like walking a tightrope – simple yet complex, effortless but demanding. Each time I collaborate with Warner Bros., I find myself crafting new meanings from commonplace language, which adds depth and originality to my work while simultaneously testing the boundaries of creativity. The process is both exhilarating and frustrating, but it’s this very tension that keeps me growing as an artist.

In the movie “Signs,” M. Night Shyamalan aimed to get viewers pondering over indications of an alien intrusion, with crop circles being a significant aspect – a detail that was heavily emphasized in the film’s promotional materials before its premiere. However, it seems that Disney executives had reservations about this straightforward strategy, fearing it wasn’t effective enough to boost ticket sales.

Discussing the battle and how Signs as a title “speaks to him,” Shyamalan said,

When people hear the term ‘signs’, they might have different interpretations. However, in this context, the crucial sign is the crop circle. I remember when Disney faced trouble with a title because it didn’t resonate well with the audience. They kept saying that it wasn’t memorable and difficult to recall. In a sense, trying to claim ownership of an ordinary word and altering its meaning can evoke minimalism. This simplicity, in turn, appeals to me for some reason.

It was initially thought that the title might not resonate well with audiences, but any doubts were quickly dispelled when the movie premiered in theaters on August 2, 2002. The film, titled Signs, actually outshone the spectacular debut of Austin Powers In Goldmember (which raked in $73.1 million) during its second week of release. Despite being released alongside it, Signs managed to grab everyone’s attention and became an immediate success, earning a whopping $60.1 million within its first three days in North American theaters alone. By the end of its run at cinemas, this blockbuster sci-fi horror film had grossed an impressive $228 million in the US and Canada, and a staggering $408.3 million worldwide.

The title was clearly not a problem.

If you’re eager to rewatch an alien invasion movie, you’ll be glad to know that ‘Signs’, one of M. Night Shyamalan’s movies, is currently streaming and can be watched with a Max subscription. Meanwhile, the filmmaker crosses his fingers in anticipation that ‘Trap’, featuring Josh Hartnett, will achieve similar box office success during its debut this weekend.

Read More

2024-07-31 16:39