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M. Night Shyamalan On The Film That Got 5% On Rotten Tomatoes: "You Just Don't Get It"
“You can dislike the movie, but The Last Airbender was my creative interpretation, and I stand by it firmly.”
M. Night Shyamalan is back on set with Jake Gyllenhaal for his new romantic thriller, while one of his most maligned films is back in the spotlight on streaming platforms. The Last Airbender, his adaptation of the popular animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, scored only 5% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film grossed $319 million worldwide, just enough to justify its $150 million production budget. However, despite its decent earnings and stars like Dev Patel and Cliff Curtis, the film has been regarded as a low point in Shyamalan's career for years. In a 2013 interview with Demand Entertainment, the director reacted to the scathing reviews.
In the interview, Shyamalan expressed his frustration over the reception of The Last Airbender. According to him, critics have lost touch with his vision, which he believes has been happening for several years. He pointed to "changing tone" in his films, like his departure from typical American narrative structures, as a possible reason for the disconnect with audiences and the press.
The director defended his choices, despite the film having few similarities with the beloved animated series on which it was based. He explained that filming such a layered story within the confines of a single feature was nearly impossible, and that he purposefully chose a different approach.
Although the film was panned upon its release, The Last Airbender seems to be experiencing a second life through streaming platforms. The enduring popularity of the original animated series plays a significant role in this resurgence.
Shyamalan is now fully active in Hollywood again, with films like Old and Knock at the Cabin, and is currently working on a new film featuring his daughter Saleka as well.
Shyamalan's biggest success remains The Sixth Sense from 1999, which scored 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed $672 million worldwide. Still, the director is not discouraged by low scores.
The film grossed $319 million worldwide, just enough to justify its $150 million production budget. However, despite its decent earnings and stars like Dev Patel and Cliff Curtis, the film has been regarded as a low point in Shyamalan's career for years. In a 2013 interview with Demand Entertainment, the director reacted to the scathing reviews.
"Critics No Longer Understand Me"
In the interview, Shyamalan expressed his frustration over the reception of The Last Airbender. According to him, critics have lost touch with his vision, which he believes has been happening for several years. He pointed to "changing tone" in his films, like his departure from typical American narrative structures, as a possible reason for the disconnect with audiences and the press.
The director defended his choices, despite the film having few similarities with the beloved animated series on which it was based. He explained that filming such a layered story within the confines of a single feature was nearly impossible, and that he purposefully chose a different approach.
From 5% To Cult Status?
Although the film was panned upon its release, The Last Airbender seems to be experiencing a second life through streaming platforms. The enduring popularity of the original animated series plays a significant role in this resurgence.
Shyamalan is now fully active in Hollywood again, with films like Old and Knock at the Cabin, and is currently working on a new film featuring his daughter Saleka as well.
Impressive Filmography
Shyamalan's biggest success remains The Sixth Sense from 1999, which scored 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed $672 million worldwide. Still, the director is not discouraged by low scores.
