Manoj Nelliyattu Shyamalan, known professionally as M. Night Shyamalan, is an Indian American writer-director of major studio films, known for making movies with contemporary supernatural plots that usually climax with a twist ending. He is also known for filming his movies (and staging his plots) in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Shyamalan released his first film, Praying with Anger, in 1992 while he was a New York University student. His second movie, the major feature film Wide Awake, made in 1995 but not released until 3 years later, failed to find financial success. Shyamalan gained international recognition when he wrote and directed 1999's The Sixth Sense, which was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
Subsequent films include Unbreakable, Signs, The Village, Lady in the Water, The Happening, The Visit, Split, Glass, Old, Knock at the Cabin, and Trap.
Shyamalan co-wrote a book with Nicholas Sparks in 2025.