Editing Unbreakable (film)

{{Short description|2000 film by M. Night Shyamalan}}
{{for-multi|the series of which this is the first film|Unbreakable (film series){{!}}''Unbreakable'' (film series)|other films|Unbreakable (disambiguation)#Film and television{{!}}Unbreakable § Film and television}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Unbreakable
| image          = Unbreakableposterwillis.jpg
| alt            = Movie poster showing the head of a man on the top right looking to the left. At the center of the image is the same man wearing a raincoat, as the film's title overlaps him. At the bottom of the image is the head of another man looking to the right. Cracks are shown across the image. Text at the top and bottom of the image lists the starring roles, the credits, and the tagline.
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[M. Night Shyamalan]]
| producer       = {{Unbulleted list |[[Barry Mendel]]|[[Sam Mercer]]|M. Night Shyamalan}}
| writer         = M. Night Shyamalan
| based_on       = 
| starring       = {{Plainlist | 
* [[Bruce Willis]]
* [[Samuel L. Jackson]]
* [[Robin Wright]]
}}
| music          = [[James Newton Howard]]
| cinematography = [[Eduardo Serra]]
| editing        = [[Dylan Tichenor]]
| studio         = {{Unbulleted list |[[Touchstone Pictures]] |[[Blinding Edge Pictures]]|[[Barry Mendel Productions]]|Limited Edition Productions Inc.}}
| distributor    = [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
| released       = {{Film date|2000|11|03|[[New York City]]|2000|11|22|United States}}
| runtime        = 106 minutes<ref name="boxofficemojo_unbreakable">{{cite web | url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3195438593/ | title = Unbreakable | work = [[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date = December 18, 2008}}</ref>
| country        = United States 
| language       = English 
| budget         = $75 million<ref name="boxofficemojo_unbreakable"/>
| gross          = $248.1 million<ref name="boxofficemojo_unbreakable"/>
}}
'''''Unbreakable''''' is a 2000 American [[psychological thriller film]] written, produced, and directed by [[M. Night Shyamalan]], and starring [[Bruce Willis]], [[Samuel L. Jackson]], and [[Robin Wright]]. It is the first installment in the [[Unbreakable (film series)|''Unbreakable'' film series]]. In ''Unbreakable'', [[David Dunn (character)|David Dunn]] (Willis) survives a train crash with no injuries, leading to the realization that he harbors superhuman abilities. As he begins to grapple with this discovery, he comes to the attention of disabled comic book store owner Elijah Price (Jackson), who manipulates David to understand him.

Shyamalan organized the narrative of ''Unbreakable'' to parallel a comic book's traditional [[Three-act structure|three-part story structure]]. After settling on the [[origin story]], Shyamalan wrote the screenplay as a [[speculative screenplay]] with Willis already set to star in the film and Jackson in mind to portray Elijah Price. Filming began in April 2000 and was completed in July.

''Unbreakable'' was released on November 22, 2000. It received generally positive reviews,<ref name="metacritic" /> with praise for Shyamalan's direction, screenplay, its aesthetics, the performances, the emotional weight of the story, cinematography, and the score by [[James Newton Howard]]. The film has subsequently gained a strong [[cult following]].<ref>{{cite magazine | title = Unbreakable – An Oral History | url = https://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/10/unbreakable-oral-history | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = July 10, 2015 | access-date = October 14, 2015}}</ref> A realistic vision of the [[superhero]] genre,<ref name="hollywoodreporter"/> it is regarded by many as one of Shyamalan's best films and one of the best [[superhero film]]s. In 2011, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' listed it as one of the top ten superhero films of all time, ranking it number four.<ref name="time_top10">{{cite magazine|last=Cruz|first=Gilbert|title=Top 10 Superhero Movies: 4. Unbreakable (2000)|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2011/06/03/top-10-superhero-movies/slide/unbreakable-2000/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=August 17, 2011|date=June 3, 2011}}</ref> [[Quentin Tarantino]] also included it on his list of the top 20 films released from 1992 to 2009.<ref name="spike"/>

After years of development on a follow-up film, a thematic sequel, ''[[Split (2016 American film)|Split]]'', with Willis reprising his role as David Dunn in a cameo role, was released in January 2017. After the financial and critical success of ''Split'', Shyamalan immediately began working on a third film, titled ''[[Glass (2019 film)|Glass]]'', which was released January 18, 2019,<ref name="cinemablend.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1651749/the-unbreakable-and-split-crossover-movie-reveals-official-title-and-four-stars|title=The Unbreakable And Split Crossover Movie Reveals Official Title And Four Stars|date=April 26, 2017|website=CINEMABLEND|access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref> thus making ''Unbreakable'' the first installment in the ''Unbreakable'' film series.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cox|first=James|title=Details emerge about the sequel to Split, 'Glass'|website=Buzz.ie|url=https://www.buzz.ie/movies-tv/details-emerge-about-the-sequel-to-split-glass-283022|date=April 27, 2018|access-date=August 8, 2018|archive-date=April 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418191042/https://www.buzz.ie/movies-tv/details-emerge-about-the-sequel-to-split-glass-283022|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inverse.com/article/38577-glass-m-night-shyamalan-split-sequel-unbreakable-sameul-l-jackson|last=Busch|first=Caitlin|title=Samuel L. Jackson Has Finished the 'Split' Sequel, But It's Not Over Yet|website=Inverse.com|date=November 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/toni-collette-wont-popping-m-night-shyalamans-glass-movie-exclusive-105343772.html|title=Toni Collette wont be popping up in M Night Shyalamans Glass Movie Exclusive|website=[[Yahoo]] Movies UK|first=Hanna|last=Flint|date=June 12, 2018}}</ref>

== Plot ==
In 1961 [[Philadelphia]], baby Elijah Price is born with Type I [[osteogenesis imperfecta]], a rare disease that renders his bones extremely fragile and prone to fracture.

In the present day, former star [[quarterback]] and security guard [[David Dunn (character)|David Dunn]] is returning home to Philadelphia after a job interview in New York when his train, Eastrail 177, suddenly speeds up. He wakes up in a hospital room, unscathed, and the doctors inform him he is the sole survivor of the derailment that killed all 131 other passengers. After attending a memorial service for the victims, David finds a note on his car asking how long it has been since he has been ill and inviting him to "Limited Edition", an art gallery operated by the now-adult Elijah Price. He goes with his son Joseph to meet Elijah. Elijah explains his theory of real-life superheroes, and if he represents extreme frailty, there must be someone "unbreakable" at the opposite extreme. David is unsettled and leaves, but later finds he can bench press {{convert|350|lb|kg}}, well above his expectations. Joseph idolizes his father, believing him to be a superhero, although David maintains that he is ordinary.

David challenges Elijah's theory with a childhood incident when he almost drowned and contracted [[pneumonia]]. Elijah suggests that this highlights the common convention where superheroes have a weakness, contending that David's is water. David recalls the car accident in which he was unharmed and ripped off the car door with his bare hands to rescue his girlfriend, Audrey. He feigned injury from the crash to quit football because Audrey hated the violence of the sport.

Under Elijah's influence, David realizes that his intuition for picking out dangerous people in his work as a security guard is actually [[extrasensory perception]]. Consciously honing this ability, David discovers that touch contact with people brings him visions of criminal acts they have committed. As people bump into him in a crowd, he senses the crimes they have perpetrated such as theft, assault, and rape. He finds one he can act on: a sadistic janitor who has invaded a family home, killed the father, and is now holding the mother and two children captive. David follows the janitor to the victims' house and frees the children. The janitor pushes him into a swimming pool from the balcony, where he nearly drowns as he cannot swim, but is rescued by the children. David strangles the janitor to death, but finds the janitor has killed the mother. The following day, David shows Joseph a newspaper article featuring a sketch of the anonymous hero, whom Joseph recognizes as his father, and tearfully promises to keep his secret.

David meets Elijah's elderly mother, who explains the difference between villains who fight heroes with physical strength and those who use their intelligence. Elijah asks David to shake his hand, which reveals that Elijah was responsible for numerous high-profile "accidents," including David's train crash, to find his superhero rival. Elijah tells David, "Now that we know who you are, I know who I am". He adopts his childhood nickname, "Mr. Glass," as his [[supervillain]] moniker. David reports Elijah's crimes to the police, and Elijah is confined to a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane.

== Cast ==
{{multiple image
| total_width = 500
| direction = horizontal
| align = right
| footer = (Left to right) [[Bruce Willis]] (pictured in 2018), [[Samuel L. Jackson]] (2014), and [[Robin Wright]] (2017)
| image1 = Bruce_Willis_by_Gage_Skidmore_3.jpg
| alt1 = A photograph of Bruce Willis
| image2 = Samuel_L._Jackson_SDCC_2014_(cropped_2).jpg
| alt2 = A photograph of Samuel L. Jackson
| image3 = Robin_Wright_Cannes_2017_(cropped).jpg
| alt3 = A photograph of Robin Wright
}}
* [[Bruce Willis]] as [[David Dunn (character)|David Dunn]], a former football player with superhuman strength and invulnerability who sees the crimes of those whom he touches 
** Davis Duffield as 20-year-old David
* [[Samuel L. Jackson]] as Elijah Price/Mr. Glass, a comic book theorist, and deranged domestic terrorist with [[Osteogenesis imperfecta#Subtypes|brittle bone disease]]
** Johnny Hiram Jamison as 13-year-old Elijah
* [[Robin Wright]] as Audrey Dunn, David's wife and a physical therapist 
** [[Laura Regan]] as 20-year-old Audrey
* [[Spencer Treat Clark]] as Joseph Dunn, David's son who believes his father is a [[superhero]] 
* [[Charlayne Woodard]] as Mrs. Price, Elijah's mother
* [[Eamonn Walker]] as Dr. Mathison
* [[Leslie Stefanson]] as Kelly
* [[Bostin Christopher]] as Comic Book Clerk
* [[Elizabeth Lawrence (actress)|Elizabeth Lawrence]] as School Nurse
* [[James Handy]] as Priest
* [[Chance Kelly]] as Orange Suit Man
* [[Michael Kelly (American actor)|Michael Kelly]] as Dr. Dubin
* Joey Hazinsky as Five-Year-Old Boy/[[Split (2016 American film)|Kevin Wendell Crumb]]
* Dianne Cotten Murphy as Woman Walking By/Penelope Crumb

Writer, director, and producer [[M. Night Shyamalan]] makes an appearance as Stadium Drug Dealer. He reprises this role in the 2016 and 2019 films ''[[Split (2016 American film)|Split]]'', and ''[[Glass (2019 film)|Glass]]'', which both credit him as surveillance security guard Jai who in ''Glass'' jokingly says he used to do shady stuff in the stadium back in his youth.

In October 2018, Shyamalan confirmed a [[fan theory]] that "Five-Year-Old Boy" and "Woman Walking By", who bump into David Dunn outside a stadium, are younger versions of Kevin Wendell Crumb and Penelope Crumb from ''Split'', confirmed in the 2019 film ''Glass''.<ref>''[[Total Film]]'' — November 2018 — "Rule of Crumb" — JF</ref>

== Production ==
When [[M. Night Shyamalan]] conceived the idea for ''Unbreakable'', the outline had a comic book's traditional three-part structure (the [[superhero]]'s "birth", his struggles against general evil-doers, and the hero's ultimate battle against the "[[archenemy]]"). Finding the birth section most interesting, he decided to write ''Unbreakable'' as an [[origin story]]. During the filming of ''[[The Sixth Sense]]'', Shyamalan had already approached [[Bruce Willis]] for the lead role of David Dunn.<ref name="making">[[M. Night Shyamalan]], [[Bruce Willis]], [[Samuel L. Jackson]], [[Barry Mendel]], [[Sam Mercer]], [[Eduardo Serra]], [[James Newton Howard]], ''The Making of Unbreakable'', 2001, [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]]</ref> With Willis and [[Samuel L. Jackson]] specifically in mind for the two leading characters, Shyamalan began to write ''Unbreakable'' as a [[spec script]]<ref>{{cite magazine | author = Christopher John Farley | url = https://time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,998594,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101122101929/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,998594,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 22, 2010 | title = A New Day Dawns For Night | date = November 27, 2000 | magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]] | access-date = December 19, 2008}}</ref> during [[post-production]] on ''The Sixth Sense''.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = https://ew.com/article/2000/11/14/unbreakable/ | title = Movie Preview: Nov. 22 | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = August 11, 2000 | access-date = December 19, 2008 | archive-date = October 14, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081014031557/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,87399,00.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Jackson recalled meeting Willis in a casino in Casablanca while he was on vacation prior to ''Unbreakable''{{'}}s production; Willis told Jackson that he had just finished filming for Shyamalan's ''The Sixth Sense'' and told Jackson about the new script that was written for both of them.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/glass-cast-tells-conan-how-an-unlikely-superhero-trilogy-came-to-be | title = Glass Cast Tells Conan How An Unlikely Superhero Trilogy Came To Be | first = Nichalos | last = Stayton | date = July 23, 2018 | access-date = July 23, 2018 | work = [[Syfy Wire]] | archive-date = July 23, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180723032959/http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/glass-cast-tells-conan-how-an-unlikely-superhero-trilogy-came-to-be | url-status = dead }}</ref>

With the financial and critical success of ''The Sixth Sense'' in August 1999, Shyamalan gave [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]] a [[first-look deal]] for ''Unbreakable''. In return, Disney purchased Shyamalan's screenplay at a "spec script record" for $5&nbsp;million. He was also given another $5&nbsp;million to direct. Disney decided to release ''Unbreakable'' under their [[Touchstone Pictures]] banner. It also helped Shyamalan establish his own [[production company]], [[Blinding Edge Pictures]].<ref>{{cite news | first1 = Angelina |last1= Chen | first2= Michael |last2= Fleming | url = https://variety.com/1999/film/news/deal-makes-sense-1117760020/ | title = Deal makes 'Sense' | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = December 15, 1999 | access-date = December 19, 2008 }}</ref> [[Julianne Moore]]  was cast as Audrey, David's wife, in January 2000,<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/jan/14/3 | title = Moore signs up with Sixth Sense director | work = [[The Guardian]] | date = January 14, 2000 | access-date = September 24, 2021}}</ref> but dropped out in March 2000, to take on the role of [[Clarice Starling]] in ''[[Hannibal (2001 film)|Hannibal]]''. [[Robin Wright]] was cast in her place.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://variety.com/2000/biz/news/inside-moves-172-1117778962/ | title = Inside Moves | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = March 2, 2000 | access-date = December 19, 2008}}</ref> [[Principal photography]] began on April 25, 2000, and ended that July. The majority of filming took place in [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, the film's setting.<ref>{{cite news | author = Charles Lyons | url = https://variety.com/2000/film/news/moore-gets-break-1117760850/ | title = Moore gets 'Break' | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = January 14, 2000 | access-date = December 19, 2008}}</ref>

Shyamalan and cinematographer [[Eduardo Serra]] chose several camera angles to simulate the look of a [[Panel (comics)|comic book panel]]. Various visual [[motif (narrative)|narrative motif]]s were also applied. Several scenes relating to the Mr. Glass character involve glass. As a newborn, he is primarily seen reflected in mirrors, and as a young child, he is seen reflected in a blank TV screen. When he leaves his calling card on the windshield of David Dunn's car, he is reflected in a glass frame in his art gallery. Jackson requested his walking stick be made of glass to make his character more menacing. Using purple as Mr. Glass's color to David Dunn's green was also Jackson's idea.<ref>Unrelated to this film, Jackson asked [[George Lucas]] for a purple [[lightsaber]] in ''[[Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones]]''. "Samuel L. Jackson". ''[[Inside the Actors Studio]]''. [[Bravo (American TV network)|Bravo]]. June 2, 2002.</ref> Mr. Glass's wig was modeled after [[African Americans|Afro-American]] statesman [[Frederick Douglass]].<ref name="making"/> As he does in his other films, Shyamalan makes a [[cameo appearance]]; he plays a man David suspects of dealing drugs inside the stadium.

Shyamalan said that he wanted to market ''Unbreakable'' as a [[comic book movie]], but Disney—which had not yet bought [[Marvel Comics]]—preferred to advertise it as a supernatural thriller like ''The Sixth Sense''.<ref name="hiatt20181220">{{Cite magazine |last=Hiatt |first=Brian |date=2018-12-20 |title=The Fall and Rise of M. Night Shyamalan |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/m-night-shyamalan-glass-interview-771063/ |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> More than 15 minutes of footage was deleted during post-production of ''Unbreakable''. These scenes are available on the DVD release.<ref>''Deleted Scenes With M. Night Shyamalan'', 2001, [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]]</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
[[James Newton Howard]] was approached by Shyamalan to work on ''Unbreakable'' immediately after scoring ''The Sixth Sense''. "He sat there and [[storyboard]]ed the whole movie for me", Howard said. "I've never had a director do that for me."<ref name= music/> Shyamalan wanted a "singularity" tone for the music. "He wanted something that was very different, very distinctive, that immediately evoked the movie when people heard it,"<ref name= music/> Howard explained. Howard and Shyamalan chose to simplify the score, and minimized the number of instruments (strings, trumpets and piano), with limited orchestrations. It was recorded at [[Air Lyndhurst|AIR Studios Lyndhurst Hall]], a converted church in London. "You could have recorded the same music in a studio in Los Angeles, and it would have been great, but there is something about the sound of that church studio," Howard remarked. "It's definitely more ''[[List of Italian musical terms used in English#Moods|misterioso]]''."<ref name=music>{{cite news | first = Rick |last= Lyman | title = At The Movies: A Full Plate For the Holidays | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = November 24, 2000 }}</ref>

{{Infobox album
| name         = Unbreakable (Original Motion Picture Score)
| type         = film
| artist       = [[James Newton Howard]]
| cover        = 
| alt          = 
| released     = November 18, 2000
| recorded     = 
| venue        = 
| studio       = [[Air Lyndhurst|AIR]] (London, UK)
| genre        = Soundtrack
| length       = 45:22
| label        = [[Hollywood Records|Hollywood]]
| producer     = 
| prev_title   = 
| prev_year    = 
| next_title   = 
| next_year    = 
}}

{{Track listing
| total_length = 45:22
| title1       = Visions
| length1      = 5:57
| title2       = Reflection of Elijah
| length2      = 4:08
| title3       = Weightlifting
| length3      = 3:43
| title4       = Hieroglyphics
| length4      = 2:01
| title5       = Falling Down
| length5      = 2:32
| title6       = Unbreakable
| length6      = 3:23
| title7       = Goodnight
| length7      = 2:25
| title8       = The Wreck
| length8      = 3:45
| title9       = Second Date
| length9      = 1:31
| title10      = School Nurse
| length10     = 1:22
| title11      = Blindsided
| length11     = 1:54
| title12      = The Orange Man
| length12     = 2:28
| title13      = Carrying Audrey
| length13     = 2:34
| title14      = Mr. Glass/End Titles
| length14     = 7:40
}}

== Comic book references ==
{| class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 2em; font-size: 95%; background:#c6dbf7; color:black; width:30em; max-width: 40%;" cellspacing="5"
| style="text-align: left;" | Good cannot exist without evil and evil cannot exist without good.
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | — M. Night Shyamalan describing the film's use of superhero [[archetype]]s<ref name="making"/>
|}
Filmmaker and comic book writer [[Kevin Smith]] felt ''Unbreakable'' was briefly similar to a comic book titled ''[[Mage (comics)|Mage: The Hero Discovered]]'', written and illustrated by [[Matt Wagner]].<ref name=comic>{{cite magazine | author = Scott Brown | title = Comic Belief | url = https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,90839,00.html | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = December 6, 2000 | access-date = December 19, 2008 | archive-date = April 27, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090427201626/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,90839,00.html | url-status = dead }}</ref>

As in comic books, the main characters have their identified color schemes and aliases. David's are green and "Security" or "Hero", while Elijah's are purple and "Mr. Glass". The colors show up in their clothes, the wallpaper and bed sheets in their houses, Elijah's note to David, and various personal items.<ref name="making"/> The people whose bad deeds are sensed by David are identified by an article of clothing in a single bright color (red, orange), to contrast them with the dark and dreary color scheme typical of the rest of the movie (but not of most comic books). Several scenes also depict characters through reflections or doorways, as if framing them in a picture similar to comic books.<ref name="making"/>

== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
''Unbreakable'' was released in the United States on November 22, 2000, in 2,708 theaters and grossed $30.3 million in its opening weekend, finishing second at the box office behind ''[[How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 film)|How the Grinch Stole Christmas]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=112829&page=1|title=Box Office: How The Grinch Stole Thanksgiving}}</ref> The film ended up earning $95 million domestically and $153.1 million internationally for a total of $248.1 million, against its $75 million production budget.<ref name="boxofficemojo_unbreakable" />

=== Critical response {{anchor|Critics}} ===
''Unbreakable'' received generally positive reviews from critics. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critical consensus states, "With a weaker ending, ''Unbreakable'' is not as good as ''The Sixth Sense''. However, it is a quietly suspenseful film that intrigues and engages, taking the audience through unpredictable twists and turns along the way."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/unbreakable|title=Unbreakable (2000)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a score of 62 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/unbreakable |title=Unbreakable Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=July 17, 2020 }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "C" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name="CinemaScore">{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/ |title=Unbreakable |publisher=[[CinemaScore]] |access-date=July 17, 2018}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] of [[Chicago Sun-Times]], gave ''Unbreakable'' 3 out of 4 stars and had largely enjoyed the film, but was disappointed with the ending. Ebert believed that Willis's "subtle acting" was positively different from the actor's usual work in "brainless action movies".<ref>{{cite news | date = November 22, 2000 | author = Roger Ebert | author-link = Roger Ebert | title = Unbreakable | url =https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/unbreakable-2000 | work = [[Chicago Sun-Times]] | access-date = January 1, 2022 }}</ref> [[Richard Corliss]] of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' opined that ''Unbreakable'' continued Shyamalan's previous approach of "balancing sophistication and horror in all of his movies".<ref>{{cite magazine | author = Richard Corliss | title = Scary And Smart | url =https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,994783,00.html | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080408155013/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,994783,00.html | url-status =live | archive-date =April 8, 2008 | magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date = August 2, 2004 | access-date = December 1, 2020 | author-link = Richard Corliss }}</ref> [[Desson Thomson]] from ''[[The Washington Post]]'' wrote that "just as he did in ''The Sixth Sense'', writer-director M. Night Shyamalan leads you into a fascinating [[labyrinth]], an [[Parallel universes in fiction|alternative universe]] that lurks right under our noses. In this case, it's the mythological world and, in these modern times, the secret design to that labyrinth, the key to the path, is contained in comic books."<ref>{{cite news | author = Desson Thomson | title = 'Unbreakable': Unrelentingly Gripping | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | date = November 24, 2000 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/entertainment/movies/reviews/unbreakablehowe.htm | access-date = December 20, 2008 | author-link = Desson Thomson}}</ref>

[[Kenneth Turan]], writing for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', gave a negative review, arguing that ''Unbreakable'' had no originality. "Whether it means to or not, the shadow of ''The Sixth Sense'' hangs over ''Unbreakable''," Turan reasoned. "If ''The Sixth Sense'' hadn't been as big a success as it was, this story might have been assigned to oblivion, or at least to rewrite."<ref>{{cite news|author=Kenneth Turan |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-movie001121-3,0,4110177.story |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |title=An 'Unbreakable' Sense of Déjà Vu |date=November 21, 2000 |access-date=December 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622010752/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-movie001121-3%2C0%2C4110177.story |archive-date=June 22, 2008 |author-link=Kenneth Turan |url-status=dead }}</ref> Todd McCarthy of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' mostly criticized Shyamalan's writing and the performances given by the actors. He did praise [[Dylan Tichenor]]'s editing and [[James Newton Howard]]'s music composition.<ref>{{cite news | author = Todd McCarthy | url = https://variety.com/2000/film/reviews/unbreakable-1200465268/ | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | title = Unbreakable | date = November 20, 2000 | access-date = March 2, 2022 | archive-date = March 21, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220321020426/https://variety.com/2000/film/reviews/unbreakable-1200465268/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>

In 2002, Audrey Colombe described the movie's plot as an example of what "[[Toni Morrison]] calls a 'dehistoricizing allegory,'" with the Elijah Price character as yet another example of "White Hollywood"'s "[[Magical Negro|magical African American male character]]" helping the [[White savior narrative in film|white hero]] do the right thing, though Elijah is described as a rare exception to the rule that this character is "never 'bad'".<ref name="ejumpcut01a">{{cite journal | url= https://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc45.2002/colombe/ |title= White Hollywood's new Black boogeyman |first= Audrey | last = Colombe | issue = 45 | journal = Jump Cut: A Review of Contemporary Media |date=October 2002 |quote=Unbreakable's plot is what Toni Morrison calls a "dehistoricizing allegory," story telling that leaves difficult and inconvenient history aside ... What's remarkable about the recent magical figure ... Unbreakable presents Elijah (Samuel L. Jackson), a disturbed and fragile man who is compelled to help David (Bruce Willis), the "unbreakable" White man, realize his ability to conquer evil with good. ... The Black male figure is never "bad" in the final evaluation; the exception here is Elijah Price in Unbreakable who is, bizarrely enough, trying to convince the main White character to help curb his (Price's) own evil actions. |access-date =December 3, 2006 }}</ref>

Shyamalan admitted he was disappointed by the reaction ''Unbreakable'' received from the public and critics.<ref name=sequel2002>{{cite magazine | author = Daniel Fierman | title = Night of the Living Dread | url = https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,333419,00.html | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = August 2, 2002 | access-date = December 19, 2008 | archive-date = May 16, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070516184431/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,333419,00.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> Shyamalan also disliked [[Touchstone Pictures]]' marketing campaign. He wanted to promote ''Unbreakable'' as a comic book movie, but Touchstone insisted on portraying it as a [[psychological thriller]], similar to ''The Sixth Sense''.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/business/media/02night.html |title= Shyamalan's Hollywood Horror Story |work= The New York Times |access-date= January 23, 2009 |last= Weiner |first= Allison Hope |date= June 2, 2008}}</ref>

=== Later reviews ===
In 2009, filmmaker [[Quentin Tarantino]] praised ''Unbreakable'', and included it on his list of the top 20 films released since 1992, the year he became a director. Tarantino praised the film as a "brilliant retelling of the Superman mythology", and said it contains what he considers to be Bruce Willis' best performance. He also criticized the way the film was marketed upon release, stating he felt that it would have been far more effective if the film's advertising simply posed the question of "what if Superman was here on earth, and didn't know he was Superman?"<ref name="spike">{{cite web|url=http://www.spike.com/video/tarantinos-top-20/3228451|title=Tarantino's Top 20 Movies Since 1992|access-date=August 17, 2009|work=[[Spike (TV channel)]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820231204/http://www.spike.com/video/tarantinos-top-20/3228451|archive-date=August 20, 2009}}</ref>

In 2011, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' ranked the film at No. 4 in its list of top ten [[Superhero film|superhero movies]] of all time, describing it as one of the best superhero origin stories and as a "relatively quiet, subtle and realistic look at the pressures that come with being a superhero."<ref name="time_top10"/> In 2018, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' called it a "deconstruction of the American superhero/villain complex" that is "more prescient than ever."<ref name="hollywoodreporter">{{cite news |title='Glass' Looks Like M. Night Shyamalan's Most Complex Film Yet |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/how-glass-trailer-hints-at-m-night-shyamalan-s-best-twist-1128976 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=July 21, 2018}}</ref>

=== Home media ===
''Unbreakable'' was released on [[DVD]] and [[VHS]] on June 26, 2001.<ref>{{cite web |last= |date=March 1, 2001 |title=Unbreakable |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/01/unbreakable-3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003191657/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/01/unbreakable-3 |archive-date=October 3, 2024 |access-date=October 3, 2024 |website=IGN |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The DVD version is a [[THX]] certified two-disc set that features a [[DTS, Inc.|DTS]] audio track, behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes and other bonus material.<ref>{{cite web|last=Nunziata
|first=Nick|title=Unbreakable|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/26/unbreakable|publisher=IGN|access-date=October 3, 2024|date=June 26, 2001}}</ref> This release sold 2.3 million units in the United States, and was the top DVD [[video rental]] of 2001. It grossed a total of {{US$|123.11 million|long=no}} from DVD sales and DVD/VHS rentals in the United States. The film thus had a combined global box office and U.S. [[home video]] revenue of $371,028,653, with a 495% [[return on investment]].

In 2008, the movie was released on [[Blu-ray]] which had all the bonus features of the Special Edition on DVD "Vista Series".<ref>{{cite web|last=McCutcheon|first=David|title=Disney's Happy Blu Year|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/25/disneys-happy-blu-year|publisher=IGN|access-date=May 15, 2023|date=March 25, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Unbreakable (2000) |url=https://www.jpbox-office.com/fichfilm.php?id=2404&view=31 |website=JP's Box Office |access-date=November 24, 2018}}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, the film was watched by {{Nowrap|8.7 million}} viewers on television in 2004, making it the year's third most-watched film on television.<ref>{{Cite news |title=UK Film Council Statistical Yearbook: Annual Review 2004/05 |pages=73 |publisher=[[UK Film Council]] |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/uk-film-council-statistical-yearbook-annual-review-2004-2005.pdf |access-date=21 April 2022 |via=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref>

[[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]] released the film on [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] on September 21, 2021.

=== Accolades ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|-
! scope="col"| Award
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Recipient(s)
! scope="col"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Ref heading}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Saturn Award]]
|colspan="2"|[[Saturn Award for Best Action or Adventure Film|Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film]]
|{{Nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web| title =Sci-fi Noms | work = [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] | date = February 1, 2002| url = https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=107244&page=1 | access-date = November 6, 2017 }}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Black Reel Award]]
|colspan="2"|[[Black Reel Award for Best Film Poster|Best Film Poster]]
|{{Nom}}
|<ref name=imdb-awards>{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0217869/awards |title = Unbreakable |website = [[IMDb]] }}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Golden Trailer Award]]
|colspan="2"|Best Horror/Thriller Film
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{cite web | title = GTA2 NOMINEES (2001) | publisher = [[Golden Trailer Awards]] | date = n.d. | url = https://goldentrailer.com/gta2-nominees/ | access-date = November 6, 2017 | archive-date = November 7, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171107022059/http://www.goldentrailer.com/gta2-nominees/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Blockbuster Entertainment Awards]]
|rowspan="2"|Favorite Actor – Suspense
|[[Bruce Willis]]
|{{Nom}}
|rowspan="4"|{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}
|-
|[[Samuel L. Jackson]]
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Favorite Supporting Actor – Suspense
|[[Spencer Treat Clark]]
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Favorite Supporting Actress – Suspense
|[[Robin Wright|Robin Wright Penn]]
|{{Nom}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Bram Stoker Award]]
|Best Screenplay
|rowspan="2"|[[M. Night Shayamalan]]
|{{Nom}}
|{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America|Nebula Award]]
|Best Script
|{{Nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web| title=Nebula Awards Nominees and Winners: Best Script | publisher = [[Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America]] | date = n.d.| url = https://nebulas.sfwa.org/award/best-script/ | access-date = November 6, 2017 }}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[International Horror Guild Award]]
|colspan="2"|Best Film
|{{Nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web| title=IHG Award Recipients | publisher = [[International Horror Guild]] | date = n.d.| url =https://horroraward.org/prevrec.html | access-date = November 6, 2017 }}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="1"|Bogey Awards
|colspan="2"|Bogey Award in Silver
|{{Won}}
|<ref name=imdb-awards/>
|}

== Sequels ==
{{see also|Unbreakable (film series)}}
After the film's release, rumors of possible sequels began circulating in different interviews and in film [[fansite]]s. In 2000, Bruce Willis was quoted as hoping for an ''Unbreakable'' trilogy.<ref name="Shya">{{cite news | author = Brian Linder | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/05/willis-unbreakable-trilogy-hopes-shattered | title = Willis' Unbreakable Trilogy Hopes Shattered | work = [[IGN]] | date = December 5, 2000 | access-date = December 20, 2008}}</ref> In December 2000, Shyamalan denied rumors he wrote ''Unbreakable'' as the first installment of a trilogy, saying he was not even thinking about it.<ref name="Shya"/> In August 2001, Shyamalan stated that, because of successful DVD sales, he had approached Touchstone Pictures about an ''Unbreakable'' sequel, an idea Shyamalan said the studio originally turned down because of the film's disappointing box office performance.<ref>{{cite news | author = Olly Richards | url = https://www.empireonline.com/News/story.asp?nid=13123 | title = An Unbreakable Sequel? | work = [[Empire (magazine)|Empire (film magazine)]] | date = August 1, 2001 | access-date = December 20, 2008 | archive-date = March 23, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120323151651/http://www.empireonline.com/News/story.asp?nid=13123 | url-status = dead }}</ref> In a September 2008 article, Shyamalan and Samuel L. Jackson said there was some discussion of a sequel when the film was being made, but that it mostly died with the disappointing box office. Jackson said he was still interested in a sequel but Shyamalan was non-committal.<ref name="seijas">{{cite news | author = Casey Seijas | url = https://www.mtv.com/news/movies//2008/09/18/samuel-l-jackson-m-night-shyamalan-on-the-unbreakable-sequel-that-never-was-but-might-be/ | title = Samuel L. Jackson, M. Night Shyamalan On The 'Unbreakable' Sequel That Never Was, But Might Be | publisher = [[MTV News]] | date = September 18, 2008 | access-date = December 20, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090115075126/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/09/18/samuel-l-jackson-m-night-shyamalan-on-the-unbreakable-sequel-that-never-was-but-might-be/ | archive-date = January 15, 2009 }}</ref> In February 2010, Willis said that Shyamalan was "still thinking about doing the fight movie between me and Sam that we were going to do", and stated that as long as Jackson was able to participate he would be "up for it".<ref>{{cite web |title=Bruce Willis Says M. Night Shyamalan 'Still Thinking' About 'Unbreakable 2' |first=Rick |last=Marshall |publisher=[[MTV News]] |date=February 22, 2010 |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/movies//2010/02/22/bruce-willis-says-m-night-shyamalan-still-thinking-about-unbreakable-2/ |access-date=June 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425235248/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/02/22/bruce-willis-says-m-night-shyamalan-still-thinking-about-unbreakable-2/ |archive-date=April 25, 2010 }}<br/>{{cite web |title='Unbreakable 2' on the Horizon? |first=Bill |last=Gibron |work=[[PopMatters]] |date=February 24, 2010 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/121312-unbreakable-2-on-the-horizon/ |access-date=June 12, 2010 }}</ref>

=== ''Split'' ===
{{Main|Split (2016 American film)}}

In September 2010, Shyamalan revealed that an additional villain had been omitted from ''Unbreakable'' in anticipation of their inclusion in a sequel, but that the character had instead been used for [[Devil (2010 film)#Sequels|a forthcoming film]] he was writing for and producing.

Shyamalan's horror thriller film ''[[Split (2016 American film)|Split]]'' has been described as a thematic sequel to ''Unbreakable'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://screencrush.com/split-review-m-night-shyamalans-best-film-in-years-is-a-surprisingly-poignant-thriller/ |title='Split' Review: M. Night Shyamalan's Best Film in Years Is a Surprisingly Poignant Thriller |author=Britt Hayes |date=September 26, 2016 |access-date=October 27, 2016}}</ref> and was released on January 20, 2017. Although it was filmed substantially as a standalone film, an uncredited cameo by Bruce Willis as David Dunn indeed establishes ''Split'' as a story within the same world.

Additionally, Shyamalan has stated the orange-suited villain portrayed by [[Chance Kelly]] in ''Unbreakable'' was initially going to be the character "The Horde".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/m-night-shyamalan-split/ |title=M. Night Shyamalan Talks Split, Casting James McAvoy... And That Twist |website=Empire |date=January 24, 2017 }}</ref> However, features of The Horde were dropped to make the character simpler in order to keep the focus on David. The original character, Kevin Wendell Crumb, would later be fully realized in ''Split''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2017/05/04/how-m-night-shyamalans-glass-takes-the-right-lessons-from-the-avengers/ |title=How M. Night Shyamalan's 'Glass' Takes The Right Lessons From 'The Avengers' |first=Scott |last=Mendelson |author-link=Scott Mendelson |website=Forbes }}</ref><ref name="hwr">{{Cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/split-movie-ending-explained-unbreakable-2-bruce-willis-planned-966669 | title = 'Split': M. Night Shyamalan Explains an Ending Years in the Making | first = Aaron | last = Couch | date = January 22, 2017 | access-date = January 22, 2017 | work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] }}</ref>

=== ''Glass'' ===
{{Main|Glass (2019 film)}}

Shyamalan expressed hope for a third installment following ''Split'', saying, "I hope [a third ''Unbreakable'' film happens]. The answer is yes. I'm just such a wimp sometimes. I don't know what's going to happen when I go off in my room, a week after this film opens, to write the script. But I'm going to start writing. [I have] a really robust outline, which is pretty intricate. But now the standards for my outlines are higher. I need to know I've won already. I'm almost there but I'm not quite there."<ref name=sequel>{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/01/20/split-m-night-shyamalan-ending-interview/ |title=Split spoiler: M. Night Shyamalan breaks down film's shock ending |author= Joe McGovern |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=January 20, 2017 |access-date=January 20, 2020 }}</ref> In April 2017, Shyamalan announced the official title, release date, and returning actors for the third movie. The film, titled ''[[Glass (2019 film)|Glass]]'', was released on January 18, 2019, and features [[Bruce Willis]], [[Samuel L. Jackson]], [[Anya Taylor-Joy]], and [[James McAvoy]] returning to their respective roles in the series.<ref name="cinemablend.com"/>

== See also ==
* [[List of films featuring home invasions]]
* [[List of sole survivors of aviation accidents and incidents]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0217869|Unbreakable}}

{{Unbreakable (film series)}}
{{M. Night Shyamalan}}
{{Blinding Edge Pictures}}
{{Portal bar|Film|Philadelphia|Speculative fiction}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Unbreakable (Film)}}
[[Category:2000 films]]
[[Category:2000 psychological thriller films]]
[[Category:2000 science fiction films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s mystery thriller films]]
[[Category:2000s science fiction thriller films]]
[[Category:2000s superhero films]]
[[Category:American mystery thriller films]]
[[Category:American psychological thriller films]]
[[Category:American science fiction thriller films]]
[[Category:American superhero films]]
[[Category:Blinding Edge Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films about disability in the United States]]
[[Category:Films about home invasion]]
[[Category:Films about mass murder]]
[[Category:Films about osteogenesis imperfecta]]
[[Category:Films about railway accidents and incidents]]
[[Category:Films about sole survivors]]
[[Category:Films directed by M. Night Shyamalan]]
[[Category:Films produced by Barry Mendel]]
[[Category:Films produced by M. Night Shyamalan]]
[[Category:Films scored by James Newton Howard]]
[[Category:Films set in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Films shot in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by M. Night Shyamalan]]
[[Category:Superhero drama films]]
[[Category:Superhero thriller films]]
[[Category:Touchstone Pictures films]]
[[Category:Unbreakable (film series)]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction thriller films]]
[[Category:English-language action drama films]]
[[Category:English-language mystery thriller films]]