M. Night's Box Office History
I was just taking a look at M. Night's budgets and box office numbers. A few things became quite clear:
1. His first four studio films did astounding returns in relation to their budgets. It's no wonder the studios loved him at that time.
2. He's a master at making low-to-mid-budget films that make back many multiples of their budget at the box office.
3. He's not good at making big-budget blockbusters.
4. He falters when adapting other people's work and should stick with writing his own original scripts.
Consider the following:
The Sixth Sense
Budget: $40 million
Box Office: $673 million
Unbreakable
Budget: $75 million
Box Office: $248 million
Signs
Budget: $72 million
Box Office: $408 million
The Village
Budget: $60 million
Box Office: $257 million
Lady in the Water
Budget: $70 million
Box Office: $73 million
The Happening
Budget: $48 million
Box Office: $163 million
The Last Airbender
Budget: $150 million
Box Office: $320 million
After Earth
Budget: $130 million
Box Office: $243 million
The Visit
Budget: $5 million
Box Office: $98 million
Split
Budget: $9 million
Box Office: $278 million
Glass
Budget: $20 million
Box Office: $247 million
Old
Budget: $18 million
Box Office: $90 million
Knock at the Cabin
Budget: $20 million
Box Office: $55 million