M. Night Shyamalan’s “Colossal Miscalculation” Is Officially Getting a Second Chance on Streaming
M. Night Shyamalan's 2004 mystery-thriller *The Village* is being made available to stream on Peacock this month, giving audiences a chance to revisit—or discover—one of the director's most divisive films. Coming after the acclaimed *The Sixth Sense*, *Unbreakable* and *Signs*, the film marked the first time Shyamalan's work drew notably negative reviews, though it still performed strongly at the box office, helping cement a cult following that has grown over the following two decades.
The film follows a blind woman living in an isolated 19th-century community surrounded by a forest said to be home to monsters, and starred Bryce Dallas Howard alongside Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Brendan Gleeson and Jesse Eisenberg. It grossed over $250 million worldwide against a $60 million budget, but currently holds just 43% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the late critic Roger Ebert famously awarding it one star and branding it "a colossal miscalculation" over its twist ending. Shyamalan went on to make several poorly received films—including *Lady in the Water*, *The Happening*, *The Last Airbender* and *After Earth*—before later rebuilding his critical reputation.
- *The Village* (2004) is streaming on Peacock this month
- Divisive Shyamalan film had mixed reviews but strong box office
- Roger Ebert famously panned it, calling it "a colossal miscalculation"
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M. Night Shyamalan is a writer and director known for suspense films that often hinge on a late reveal. After the success of The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs, The Village brought together a large cast led by Bryce Dallas Howard and Joaquin Phoenix.
The 2004 film is set in an isolated community whose residents fear creatures in the surrounding forest. It earned more than $250 million worldwide, despite sharply divided reviews, with some critics objecting to its ending. Its mixed reception became part of Shyamalan’s career story as he later made several poorly reviewed films before regaining critical praise.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The Village merits another look because its deliberately restrained atmosphere, strong ensemble cast and unsettling premise offer more than the twist that divided viewers. Its box-office success and enduring cult following suggest that some audiences value its themes and mood, and streaming gives viewers a convenient chance to judge the film on its own terms.
The case against
The film’s mystery depends heavily on a revelation that many critics and viewers found unconvincing, making the build-up feel less rewarding in retrospect. Coming after Shyamalan’s acclaimed early films, it also invited expectations that its execution did not meet; a new streaming window may bring renewed attention, but it does not resolve those weaknesses.