History Film / Unbreakable

A sequel, ''Film/{{Glass|2019}}'', was released in 2019, with Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson returning as their respective characters. [[spoiler:Though before that, 2017's ''Film/{{Split}}'' turned out to be a StealthSequel to ''Unbreakable'' leading directly into ''Glass''.]]

''Unbreakable'' is a 2000 PsychologicalThriller {{Drama}} that is also a {{Deconstruction}} of the {{Superhero}} genre. Directed and written by Creator/MNightShyamalan, the film stars Creator/BruceWillis as security guard David Dunn and Creator/SamuelLJackson as comic book art gallery owner Elijah Price.

Elijah — now a respected owner of a comic book art gallery — contacts David with a letter asking a simple question: [[ArmorPiercingQuestion “How many days in your life have you been sick?”]] David is caught off guard and starts thinking back on his entire life, even consulting his wife Audrey, and he cannot remember taking one sick day, having a single headache, or getting bruised. David makes contact with Elijah in return, who offers a very dramatic possible answer. If he, Elijah, is on one end of the spectrum by being so frail and brittle, then the existence of someone who is on the other end of the spectrum, having superhuman durability, must balance the equation — and he believes David to be this person. He bases this conclusion on his love of comic books, and believing that ‘super’ humans exist but are dismissed because of the commercialization of superheroes.

David doubts he’s a RealLife superhero, but the possibility leads to some deep self-examination. In addition to being (allegedly) MadeOfIron, David also seems to have a subconscious ability to ‘read’ people and know the evil things they have done… or are about to do. He begins to wonder whether it’s possible that he’s never been hurt in his life or if it’s all coincidence and selective memory, and whether his alleged extrasensory powers are all just in his imagination. David starts considering how the theory, if true, could affect his purpose in life and his family’s failing happiness, especially after being the lone survivor of a train crash, both of which have already caused him deep depression. After all of that, David has to ask himself the most important question: is it worth the risk he’ll take to discover the truth?

''Unbreakable'' has ''[[TwistEnding one]]'' [[TwistEnding hell of an ending]], and it’s pretty much the only ending to a Shyamalan film that ''hasn’t'' become an ‘ItWasHisSled’ ending. If you haven't seen the movie yet, '''avert your eyes from the spoilers below''' and see it for yourself.

A sequel, ''Film/{{Glass|2019}}'', was released in 2019, with Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson returning as their respective characters. [[spoiler:Though before that, 2017's ''Film/{{Split|2017}}'' turned out to be a StealthSequel to ''Unbreakable'' leading directly into ''Glass''.]]

A sequel, ''Film/{{Glass|2019}}'', was released in 2019, with Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson returning as their respective characters.

* FromNobodyToNightmare: [[spoiler:Elijah was a perpetually [[IllGirl Ill Boy]] who wanted superheroes to be real so badly, he decided to become a supervillain.]]

* ArtisticLicenseMedicine: In real life, a person suffering from Osteogenesis imperfecta would almost never grow to be as tall as Elijah is.

* AdultFear:
** The scene when David’s son [[spoiler:finds and loads his gun]]. Dear ''God''.
** In a deleted scene, young Elijah has a disastrous ride on a carnival attraction. [[GoryDiscretionShot The audience doesn't see the injuries]] because the camera is positioned from a child-Elijah’s perspective, but we do get to see the face of his terrified mother as she looks down at his completely shattered body on the floor of a carnival ride.
*** We get to see this scene in Film/{{Glass}}.
** The opening scene has Elijah's mother having just recently given birth and beaming with her child, and just appears mildly confused over how long the baby has been crying. The doctor then reveals her baby's arms and legs were broken in the delivery. The entire room is in shock.

Please do not confuse this with ''Series/UnbreakableKimmySchmidt''. They are too different in tone.

* BaldOfAwesome: When Bruce Willis isn’t asked to don a hairpiece, you know you’re in for something good.

* VillainOpeningScene: [[spoiler:The film opens with the origin story and birth of the later supervillain and David’s TreacherousAdvisor Elijah, showing why his fragility devastated his mother and ultimately caused him to became a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds, which is further fleshed out in a later scene between the two.]]

* TragicVillain: [[spoiler:Elijah is {{desperately looking for a purpose in life}}. He thinks that being a super-villain is better than not knowing who one really is, so he so he engineers several disasters to find his antithesis, a real-life superhero. He seems to express remorse for the sacrifices necessary to complete his life’s work, but believes it was worth it to finally know who he is.]]

* ShowerOfAngst: A DeletedScene had David taking a shower after returning home from the train crash and collapsing into tears. Shyamalan said said it was taken out because it was too much too soon.

** Arguably the film is more of a {{Reconstruction}} than a {{Deconstruction}} considering David fits the trope of the TheCape very well and it isn't portrayed as a bad thing that he is the way he is rather it shows that him becoming TheCape and the tropes associated with it are for the betterment of him, his family, and the community.

* CheapCostume: A humble poncho. David still manages to make it look good, though, especially in the newspaper artist"s recreation.

* AbusiveParents: David brushes against a woman in the stadium, walking with her son. He hears screams of "No, Mommy, please no!", and is tempted to act, but decides he has more pressing matters at hand. [[spoiler: This had '''[[Film/{{Split}} DISASTROUS]]''' [[Film/{{Split}} consequences]] [[Film/{{Glass}} down the line.]]]]

A second sequel, ''Film/{{Glass|2019}}'', was released in 2019, with Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson returning as their respective characters.

A second sequel, ''Film/{{Glass|2019}}'', was released in 2019, with Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson returning as their respective characters, but to say anything about it on this page will give away the TwistEnding, and the ending of [[spoiler: ''Film/{{Split}}''.]]

* InfantImmortality:

* GenreDeconstruction: This movie Deconstructs the {{Superhero}} genre before superhero films even became popular (With Film/XMen1 coming out only a few months ealier and Film/SpiderMan1 two years later) and becoming the first of a sub-genre of 'Real-world Superhero' films.

* GoodAdulteryBadAdultery: David’s awkward flirtation with a girl on his doomed train trip is portayed as not only inept, but sleezy. Audrey later asks him, with no strings attached, if he has cheated since they've been having problems, and he tells her no. Her emotional reaction to that (and a DeletedScene) suggests ''she'' has been unfaithful.

* GenreDeconstruction: This MOvie Deconstructs the {{Superhero}} genre before superhero films even became popular (With Film/XMen1 coming out the same year and Film/SpiderMan1 being the first mainstream {{Superhero}} movie after Unbreakable was released) and becoming the first of a sub-genre of 'Real-world Superhero' films.

* GenreDeconstruction: Deconstructed the SuperHero genre before superhero films became popular (With Film/XMen1, and Film/SpiderMan1 being the first two Mainstream Superhero movies after Unbreakable was released) and
becoming the first of a sub-genre of 'Real-world Superhero' films.

* GenreDeconstruction: Deconstructed the SuperHero genre before superhero films became popular, becoming the first of a sub-genre of 'Real-world Superhero' films.

* GenreBusting: It's one part {{psychological thriller}}, one part {{Family Drama}} and one part ((Superhero)) {{Origin Story}}.

''Unbreakable'' is a 2000 PsychologicalThriller that is also a {{Deconstruction}} of the SuperHero genre. Directed and written by Creator/MNightShyamalan, the film stars Creator/BruceWillis as security guard David Dunn and Creator/SamuelLJackson as comic book art gallery owner Elijah Price.

* GenreBusting: It's a {{psychological thriller}} meets family melodrama meets SuperHeroOrigin.

* YourCheatingHeart: David’s awkward flirtation with a girl on his doomed train trip. Audrey later asks him, with no strings attached, if he has cheated since they've been having problems, and he tells her no. Her emotional reaction to that (and a DeletedScene) suggests she ''has'' been unfaithful.
** MyGodWhatHaveIDone: What's worse is that the girl changed seats after David hit on her. As David was the SoleSurvivor, the implication (before he finds out he's NighInvulnerable) is that she might have survived as well if David hadn't caused her to move.