The Sixth Sense (1999)

A boy who communicates with spirits seeks the help of a disheartened child psychologist.

Director:

M. Night Shyamalan

Writer:

M. Night Shyamalan

Stars:

Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette

Top Rated Movies #163 | Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 37 wins & 50 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bruce Willis	...	Malcolm Crowe
Haley Joel Osment	...	Cole Sear
Toni Collette	...	Lynn Sear
Olivia Williams	...	Anna Crowe
Trevor Morgan	...	Tommy Tammisimo
Donnie Wahlberg	...	Vincent Gray
Peter Anthony Tambakis	...	Darren (as Peter Tambakis)
Jeffrey Zubernis	...	Bobby
Bruce Norris	...	Stanley Cunningham
Glenn Fitzgerald	...	Sean
Greg Wood	...	Mr. Collins
Mischa Barton	...	Kyra Collins
Angelica Page	...	Mrs. Collins (as Angelica Torn)
Lisa Summerour	...	Bridesmaid
Firdous Bamji	...	Young Man Buying Ring

Storyline

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

surprise ending | single mother | able to see the dead | plot twist | ghost | 

---

Taglines:

Not every gift is a blessing.

---

Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense thematic material and violent images

Did You Know?

Trivia

M. Night Shyamalan pitched the film as a cross between The Exorcist (1973) and Ordinary People (1980).

---

Goofs

When Cole steps away from the chair because Malcolm can't guess his thoughts: in close-up he uses the other foot to step back.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Anna Crowe: It's getting cold.
Malcolm Crowe: That is one fine frame; one fine frame that is. How much...
[he sits down with a grunt]

---

Crazy Credits

The Spanish phrase "I don't want to die" that was played on the tape recorder in Malcolm's office is repeated after the credits.

---

Alternate Versions

DVD version features four cut scenes;

• Cole visits an old man that lost his wife a long time ago and is lonely. Cole finds some diaries that belonged to his wife and the old man is happy.
• After Malcom hears the voice on the tape recorder he goes back to the old man's house to see if he is doing better, which he is.
• Cole playing with his figurines: two are underneath a red cloth, Malcom asks Cole why and Cole gives him the men's name, rank, why they were there, and information about their wives.
• Extendend ending: after Malcom is gone, the camera pans from Anna to the television featuring Malcom on video expressing his love for her.

---

Connections

References The Sure Thing (1985)

---

Soundtracks

Space Cocktail
Written by Laurent Lombard and Syd Dale
Performed by Laurent Lombard
Courtesy of Opus I

User Reviews

You'll be knocked for six

This is an incredibly powerful film. Awash with emotion but never stooping to sentimentality this is the story of one frightened little boy you will never forget. All your worst childhood nightmares: the noises in the attic, the intruder in your house, that cold breath that makes your hair stand on end are here and then some.

Bruce Willis gives one of the best performances of his career as the child psychologist trying to get himself back on track after a violent encounter with a former patient and it would be a crime if Haley Joel Osment were overlooked at coming awards ceremonies for his powerful performance here. It has been a long time since a child actor displayed such maturity in a role. Cole's innocent little face hidden behind his absent father's large-framed spectacles betrays a child coming to terms with a terrifying secret in the only way he can.

You don't need to go and see this film again to realise why the end is such a surprise but you will rush out to watch it again purely because it's an almost perfect example of it's genre.

Laugh, cry, jump a mile out of your seat, sigh with relief - but not too early... We did!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Latin Spanish

Release Date:

6 August 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Sixth Sense

Filming Locations:

Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$26,681,262, 8 August 1999

Gross USA:

$293,506,292

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$672,806,292

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment, The Kennedy/Marshall Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1