How M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense Ruled the Box Office in 1999

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Summary

  • 1999 marked a pivotal year for movies with game-changing releases like
    The Blair Witch Project
    and
    The Sixth Sense
    .
  • The Sixth Sense
    ‘s surprise twist ending became a must-see attraction, solidifying its place in pop culture history.
  • The film’s success was a turning point for star Bruce Willis and showcased the exceptional talent of young Haley Joel Osment.

As a cinephile who has witnessed countless films since the dawn of cinema, I must say that The Sixth Sense is undeniably one of the most captivating and influential movies to grace our screens. From its enigmatic plot twist to Haley Joel Osment’s heart-wrenching performance, this film truly resonated with audiences worldwide.

Numerous cinephiles consider 1999 as an exceptional year for movies due to several groundbreaking films that remain relevant today. These productions brought both creative and financial triumphs to the industry, catching Hollywood off guard. The summer of ’99 was particularly notable in the horror genre. By July’s end, The Blair Witch Project premiered, eventually earning a place among the most financially successful independent films ever made with a global gross of close to $250 million on an estimated budget of just $750,000.

In August, which is often seen as a time when remaining summer films are released, studios cross their fingers for good results. That’s when an unknown director named M. Night Shyamalan introduced a small movie titled “The Sixth Sense” on August 2, 1999. Once viewers caught sight of it, the movie became another triumph in the horror genre. Shyamalan wove a unique narrative about the afterlife, making it the talk-of-the-town at water coolers during the summer. It ruled the box office for several weeks and even managed to secure a spot at the Academy Awards – an achievement quite rare for a horror film in any year.

In the movie “The Sixth Sense,” directed by M. Night Shyamalan, we find a storyline that’s straightforward but captivating. The narrative revolves around Dr. Malcolm Crowe (played by Bruce Willis), a child psychologist who takes on an unusual patient named Cole Sear (portrayed by Haley Joel Osment). Cole claims to have the ability to see and interact with spirits of the deceased, which intrigues Malcolm, as he encounters reminders of another patient, Vincent Grey (Donnie Wahlberg), who had similar experiences. However, Vincent had once accused Malcolm of neglect and later broke into his home, shooting him before turning the gun on himself.

Malcolm is planning to reconcile with Vincent by aiding Cole, despite his belief that Cole suffers from schizophrenia and perceives the dead. Yet, it quickly becomes apparent that Cole may indeed be witnessing what he claims, which could also have been the cause of Vincent’s tragic downfall.

The Surprise Ending Made The Sixth Sense a Must-See

In 1999, as a captivated gamer immersed in the cinema world, I can confidently say that the main reason for “The Sixth Sense” movie’s box office triumph and enduring appeal among viewers was all about its shocking twist ending. The film sparked countless conversations at water coolers worldwide, with people eager to dissect and discuss the movie’s climax. Viewers often found themselves rewatching it multiple times, hoping to unravel the mystery and ensure that the twist truly held up. Now, a word of caution for those yet to experience “The Sixth Sense”: if you haven’t watched it yet, I suggest skipping ahead or beware of potential spoilers lurking in the text ahead.

Throughout most of the movie, I found myself grappling with reconciling with my wife, Anna (Olivia Williams), who I thought had distanced herself from me after the encounter with Vincent. Once I managed to help Cole and his mom Lynn (Toni Collette) understand and accept his extraordinary talents, I felt like I’d accomplished my mission, leaving me free to focus on rebuilding our relationship. Upon reaching home, I discovered Anna peacefully slumbering with our wedding video playing on the screen.

In a dream, Anna speaks out asking Malcolm about his departure from her life. This unexpected event leaves Malcolm stunned, as he recalls his past. When she lets his wedding ring fall to the floor, he notices it’s missing from his finger. As he examines himself, he recollects the gunshot wound inflicted by Vincent on that tragic night when he lost his life. It is because of this that Malcolm, who perished in the movie’s introductory scene, can now be seen by Cole as a spirit.

The twist of The Sixth Sense became a huge talking point, especially among moviegoers who seriously didn’t see it coming. The film gives the illusion throughout the entire runtime that nothing is amiss with Malcolm, thanks to Shyamalan’s writing and expert direction. He’s in scenes with Cole most of the time, but even his tangible interactions with Anna, most notably at a restaurant where she appears to be ignoring him because she’s upset, could be viewed as a wife angry with her spouse on the one hand, but once it’s revealed in the end that Malcolm is dead, it also works because he was never in the presence of Anna at all during that scene. There are even small moments with Cole’s mom that appear to show limited interaction, but they are then debunked by the film’s ending. It really is a stroke of cinematic genius on Shyamalan’s part and something that would define his career, for better or worse.

The Timing of The Sixth Sense Was Perfect

In a fortunate turn of events for “The Sixth Sense”, releasing the film in August turned out to be something of a surprise attack. The distribution company, Buena Vista Pictures, gave no indication that they had high expectations for the movie, which allowed it to stand on its own merits. With horror’s monthly scare-fest, “The Blair Witch Project”, having already filled the quota for the summer, one might have thought that the audience’s appetite for horror was fully satisfied.

Additionally, a sense of rivalry was present, with only “The Blair Witch Project” serving as its main contender. When “The Sixth Sense” premiered at the top spot during its opening weekend, it squared off against the second wide-release weekend of the indie sensation, splitting the horror fan base evenly. As interest in “Blair Witch” started to wane, “The Sixth Sense” held its ground with minimal drops. Movies like “Bowfinger” and “The Thomas Crown Affair” had decent openings opposite it, but there wasn’t enough competition to disrupt its box office supremacy. Ultimately, the decision to release it in August turned out to be a wise one.

Although not initially perceived as such, The Sixth Sense served as a significant career resurgence for Bruce Willis. Prior to its release, he had been involved in several box office flops and films that critics didn’t particularly favor. Movies like Mercury Rising and The Jackal didn’t measure up to some of his more successful projects, while Armageddon, which was released the summer before, garnered impressive box office numbers but received harsh criticism from most critics. Essentially, The Sixth Sense marked a turning point in Willis’ career. His understated performance and the crafting of a complex character made him a key element of the film, particularly his interactions with Cole that provided the emotional core of the story.

A significant portion of the movie’s acclaim can be credited to Willis, whose portrayal offered viewers an unexpected perspective on him. On reevaluation, it’s clear that much of the film’s effectiveness hinges on the actor’s contributions as Malcolm. For his performance, Willis starred in a critically and financially successful film, marking a new milestone in his career.

In the movie, Willis’s performance wasn’t the only one generating buzz, and it might not even be the most discussed. Instead, that title belongs to Haley Joel Osment, who played Cole Sear at 11 years old. Unlike some child actors who can come off as overly confident, Osment delivered a remarkable performance that captured vulnerability and deep-seated fear.

The power of his on-screen interactions, especially those with the deceased and an intensely emotional scene between him and his mother where he shares memories of visits from his grandmother, is what makes the film’s intense scenes impactful. This outstanding acting earned Osment an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, making him one of the youngest individuals to receive this recognition. It’s a well-deserved award for such a moving and authentic performance.

The Sixth Sense Broke Into the Pop Culture Lexicon

In its premiere, the movie titled “The Sixth Sense” left a lasting impact on popular culture. The phrase “I see dead people,” uttered by Osment’s character, swiftly turned into a common saying and an unexpected slogan for the film among viewers. Iconic scenes like the breath of cold air when characters are near deceased individuals, and Mischa Barton, later known for her role in “The O.C.,” vomiting pea soup, helped solidify its position in pop culture during its box office run. Today, 25 years after its release, “I see dead people” remains a well-known line closely tied to “The Sixth Sense“. Over time, this memorable moment has been imitated in various other media.

In the late ’90s, the trend of teen slasher movies was starting to feel stale, with 1996’s “Scream” being one of the last significant contributions. This paved the way for unique offerings like “The Blair Witch Project” and “The Sixth Sense” to thrive, as they presented something fresh and distinct from what horror fans had grown accustomed to. As audiences yearned for novelty, these films filled that gap perfectly. What made their success even more noteworthy was the fact that they weren’t sequels or adaptations of existing properties, but original ideas. This success underscores the enduring appeal of fresh concepts at the box office.

The achievement of “The Sixth Sense” marked a memorable milestone when you examine its pathway to fame. Upon its initial release, it debuted at the top spot with earnings of $26.6 million, and it held onto this position for an impressive five consecutive weeks. This made it only the second film in history, after “Titanic,” to surpass $20 million in box office receipts during each of those five weekends.

To underscore August’s usual bleakness, the film managed an unprecedented opening of $26.6 million in August, surpassing the $23.7 million August debut of The Fugitive from 1993. By the end of its run, it grossed a staggering $293.5 million domestically and $672.8 million globally on a budget of $40 million. Remarkably, it became the second-highest-grossing film of 1999, just shy of Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace’s earnings.

In an unusual turn of events for a horror movie, M. Night Shyamalan’s film, “The Sixth Sense,” made waves during awards season as well. It received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director (Shyamalan), Best Original Screenplay (Shyamalan), Best Editing, Best Supporting Actor (Osment), and Best Supporting Actress (Collette). Despite not winning any awards, it gained entry into an exclusive club of genre films appreciated by The Academy, joining the likes of “The Exorcist” and “The Silence of the Lambs.”

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2024-08-04 04:04