The Sixth Sense

film by Shyamalan [1999]

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 19, 2026

Quick Summary

The Sixth Sense is a 1999 supernatural thriller film directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The movie centers on Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist, and Cole Sear, a young boy who claims he can see and speak with the dead. The film is renowned for its suspenseful atmosphere and a significant plot twist at the end.12

The term "sixth sense" itself refers to a supposed power of perceiving things beyond the normal five senses, such as clairvoyance or extrasensory perception. Shyamalan is known for incorporating such supernatural elements and unexpected endings into his psychological thrillers. The Sixth Sense was a critical and commercial success, earning six Academy Award nominations.312

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Toni Collette
Her performance in The Sixth Sense (1999)—in which she evinced the distress of a mother whose son can see ghosts—brought her an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress. She received a Tony Award nomination for The Wild Party (2000), her Broadway debut. Though occasionally relegated to one-dimensional…
Read More
Her performance in The Sixth Sense (1999)—in which she evinced the distress of a mother whose son can see ghosts—brought her an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress. She received a Tony Award nomination for The Wild Party (2000), her Broadway debut. Though occasionally relegated to one-dimensional…
Read More

M. Night Shyamalan
Breakthrough with The Sixth Sense and beyond
The Sixth Sense, about a boy who reveals to his psychologist that he can speak with the dead, was Shyamalan’s breakout film, and it was the first of several movies in which he created a twist ending. He penned the story in 1995, and he…
Read More
The Sixth Sense, about a boy who reveals to his psychologist that he can speak with the dead, was Shyamalan’s breakout film, and it was the first of several movies in which he created a twist ending. He penned the story in 1995, and he…
Read More

Bruce Willis
In 1999 he starred in The Sixth Sense as a psychologist who counsels a child who claims to see dead people. The drama, which was written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, was a critical and commercial success. Willis reteamed with Shyamalan on the supernatural thriller Unbreakable (2000).
Read More
In 1999 he starred in The Sixth Sense as a psychologist who counsels a child who claims to see dead people. The drama, which was written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, was a critical and commercial success. Willis reteamed with Shyamalan on the supernatural thriller Unbreakable (2000).
Read More