History YMMV / Unbreakable

** [[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-28/scientists-discover-genetic-mutation-that-blocks-pain/10950380 In 2019, a 60 year-old woman was discovered]] to have an exceedingly rare genetic mutation that allowed to heal faster than normal, unable to feel pain or anxiety, and she apparently ''never once questioned it or thought it was abnormal.''

* MisaimedMarketing: The film was poorly marketed as a psychological thriller rather than a superhero origin story.
** It functionally operates under [[GenreBusting either bracket]].

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Somewhat averted. While the "Realistic Superman" trope has become very prevalent in pop culture, this film gets a lot of praise for kick-starting it and is commonly viewed as being a good film released at the wrong time.

** [[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-28/scientists-discover-genetic-mutation-that-blocks-pain/10950380 A 60 year-old woman was recently discovered]] to have an exceedingly rare genetic mutation that allowed to heal faster than normal, unable to feel pain or anxiety, and she apparently ''never once questioned it or thought it was abnormal.''

** Elijah loves comics and desperately wants to be like the men he has spent his life collecting images of. Twelve years later, Creator/SamuelLJackson is playing Nick Fury, a badass Superhero who is [[Film/TheAvengers2012 head of a team of badass superheroes]]. Made better by the scene in the comic book store in which ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk and ComicBook/TheMightyThor are both visible. Both would later be on his team. Even better, during the art sale near the end, a copy of "Nick Fury's SHIELD" is seen over his head.
*** Continuing the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse jokes, this wouldn't be the last time that Creator/SpencerTreatClark played [[Series/AgentsOfSHIELD the son of a comic-book character...]]
*** Also, this film's distributer, Disney, will later own Marvel...

* VindicatedByHistory: While a moderate critical and financial success upon release, [[ToughActToFollow it had nowhere near the same]] cultural impact of ''TheSixthSense'' - at the time superhero/comic book movies were few and far between, so the subject matter was somewhat obscure to general audiences. But thanks to the modern-day [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy proliferation]] [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse of]] [[Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse superhero]] [[Film/XMenFilmSeries movies]], ''Unbreakable'' is seen as almost ''ahead'' of its time, preceding films like ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'' and ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'' as a {{Deconstruction}} of what it would be like to have actual superheroes in the real world. Not only is it considered one of Shyamalan's best films but perhaps his most underrated and unseen...''[[Film/{{Split}} until...]]''

** David uses almost drowning in a swimming pool as a child as a reason as to why he can't possibly be a superhero, saying "heroes don't get killed like that". [[spoiler: 19 years later, in ''Film/{{Glass}}'', David is killed by being drowned in a rain puddle.]]

* MagnificentBastard: [[spoiler:Elijah Price, aka "Mr. Glass", was born with a genetic disease that causes his bones to be exceptionally brittle. Seeking to become a supervillain to lure out a heroic counterpart, Elijah orchestrates a series of massive disasters until one leaves a SoleSurvivor in David Dunn. Revealing himself to David after David "accepts" his destiny as a superhero, Elijah reveals himself to be the mastermind behind hundreds of deaths while he himself managed to stay undetected. [[Film/{{Glass}} Nearly two decades later]], Elijah convinces the Horde/Kevin Wendell Crumb to escape an asylum they are being held in and the duo trick their way out of it. With a complex plot to reveal "specials" to the world, Elijah uses a planned attack on a skyscraper as a distraction, then has David and the Horde fight, them all dying because of Elijah's plot but ensuring that the entire event is uploaded online.]]

* NightmareFuel:
** Elijah falling down the stairs. Definitely one of the most disturbing depictions of breaking bones in movie history.
** The AxCrazy janitor in the climax. He breaks into a stranger's home, claims it as his own, murders the stranger, imprisons - and implicitly tortures - his family, then [[spoiler:almost drowns David when he comes to save them]]. And worst of all? [[NothingIsScarier We never learn why.]] [[spoiler:Even though the janitor is nowhere near Elijah's level of PersonOfMassDestruction, he actually manages to be even more disturbing; no AffablyEvil or WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds status for him.]]
** Hard to say which scene is more gut-wrenching: the moment when David's son is about to shoot him, or the flashback of young Elijah naively climbing into a freaking ''tilt-a-whirl'' with nothing but some plush toys to shield his fragile bones.

** Hard to say which AdultFear scene is more gut-wrenching: the moment when David's son is about to shoot him, or the flashback of young Elijah naively climbing into a freaking ''tilt-a-whirl'' with nothing but some plush toys to shield his fragile bones.

** Hard to say which is more gut-wrenching: the moment when David's son is about to shoot him, or the flashback of young Elijah naively climbing into a freaking ''tilt-a-whirl'' with nothing but some plush toys to shield his fragile bones.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Music/JamesNewtonHoward's score.

*** The man involved in the car wreck even mentioned to his doctor that he doesn't go in the water because he "sinks like a rock".

** Elijah loves comics and desperately wants to be like the men he has spent his life collecting images of. Twelve years later, Samuel L. Jackson is playing Nick Fury, a badass Superhero who is [[Film/TheAvengers2012 head of a team of badass superheroes]]. Made better by the scene in the comic book store in which ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk and ComicBook/TheMightyThor are both visible. Both would later be on his team. Even better, during the art sale near the end, a copy of "Nick Fury's SHIELD" is seen over his head.
*** Continuing the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse jokes, this wouldn't be the last time that Spencer Treat Clark played [[Series/AgentsOfSHIELD the son of a comic-book character...]]

*** The man involved in the car wreck even mentioned to his doctor that he doesn't go in the water because he “sinks like a rock.”

* NewbieBoom: ''Unbreakable'' enjoyed a great surge of interest since 2017, thanks to [[spoiler:the success of ''Film/{{Split}}'' and the subsequent release of ''Film/{{Glass|2019}}''.]]

* BellisariosMaxim: A panoramic close-up of David's head clearly shows Bruce Willis's acne scars and ear piercing. Since David is supposed to be physically impervious, just imagine those aren't there.

* SugarWiki/FunnyMoments:
** Around the beginning, when Elijah is selling a comic-art to a man. ...Only to find the customer wants to buy it for his 4-year-old son. Elijah's [[TranquilFury refusal]] to sell his 'art' as a birthday present for a ''child'' is funny in context.
--->'''Elijah:''' ''(calmly)'' [[RapidFireNo No. No, no, no, no, no.]] You need to go. Now.\\
'''Customer:''' What did I say?\\
'''Elijah:''' ''(still calmly)'' Do you see any Series/{{Teletubbies}} in here? Do you see a slender plastic tag clipped to my shirt with my name printed on it? Do you see a little Asian child with a blank expression on his face sitting outside on a mechanical helicopter that shakes when you put quarters in it? No? Well, that's what you see at a toy store. And you must think you're in a toy store, because you're here shopping for an infant named Jeb.
** When David tries to double-check his history of illnesses, he asks the stadium's personnel office to give back to him the number of times he ever called in sick. He's later approached by his boss who [[ComicallyMissingThePoint congratulates David thinking he was trying to get his employer to give him a pay raise]] for the lack of sick leave.
** Elijah has a DespairEventHorizon after David refuses to accept that he has superpowers, sulking in the back of a comic book store. The owner reminds him that it's closing time, and then unleashes this insult:
--->''"You better not be jacking off to the Japanese comics, I swear to god."''