* AudienceAlienatingEra: From ''Film/TheVillage2004'' to ''Film/AfterEarth'', he received very negative reviews and was widely considered to be a bad director, with ''Film/TheLastAirbender'' seen as the nadir of his career. This ended with ''Series/WaywardPines'', after which he directed the critically acclaimed ''Film/TheVisit'' and ''Film/{{Split}}''.
* FranchiseOriginalSin:
** At the time of ''Film/TheSixthSense'', Shyamalan didn't have his reputation, so nobody saw the film's TwistEnding coming. The problem came when Shyamalan started [[MandatoryTwistEnding relying on twist endings in his films]], a problem that first became apparent with ''Film/{{Signs}}'', generally considered the last film of his that's any good. By the time of ''Film/TheVillage2004'', viewers had learned to see it coming, and his reputation and the quality of his films suffered for it.
** Shyamalan's early films were characterized by slow pacing, restrained and unemotional acting, a greater emphasis on creating rarefied atmospheres, and dialogue that often felt unnatural. That worked since they were suspense and horror films. However when he was commissioned to direct ''Film/TheLastAirbender'', a fantasy and adventure film based on a series that stands out for its humor and spectacular fights, those features became serious defects.
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