The Happening

Play trailer

The Happening

R

Released Jun 13, 2008

1h 31m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

17%

Tomatometer

185 Reviews

24%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

An apocalyptic threat to humanity arrives out of the clear blue sky with a series of violent, inexplicable deaths spreading across the country. The cause of the terrifying phenomenon remains unknown, prompting science teacher Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg), his wife Alma (Zooey Deschanel) and his colleague Julian (John Leguizamo) to try to elude the invisible killer in Pennsylvania's farmland. Soon it becomes clear that no one is safe.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

The Happening begins with promise, but unfortunately descends into an incoherent and unconvincing trifle.

Read Critics Reviews

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

For reasons still unknown, Shyamalan wrote the dialogue this stiffly, and instructed his performers to act like they'd never said words or interacted with each other before.

Jan 30, 2017

Full Review

Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

The Happening is his first hilariously awful film.

Rated: C

Apr 17, 2015

Full Review

Nigel Floyd

Time Out

At first, a great deal happens, then nothing much happens for quite some time, then something so underwhelming happens that one is left wondering, 'Did that really just happen?'

Rated: 2/5

Nov 16, 2011

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

The handful of visually unsettling sequences fail to make up for the complete absurdity of the premise and performances.

Rated: 1/5

Sep 20, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The result is a promising idea realized with a laughable amount of hokum.

Rated: 1.5/4

Sep 6, 2023

Full Review

Sean Price

The Spool

But suppose you squint your eyes and pretend it’s a satirical comedy. In that case, it turns from an all-time debacle to one of the most unintentionally funny (and prescient) horror comedies of the 21st century.

Feb 24, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Andrew P

In every possible way this movie was terrible. From the most ridiculously poor script to the wooden performances to the crazily daft plot - this film will leave you open mouthed...at just how truly bad it is!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/26/25

Full Review

Everett G

The happening is a awful film with terrible writing terrible dialogue terrible characters terrible acting terrible direction everything please don’t watch this crap

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/20/25

Full Review

Taylor M

I get that they were trying to make it mysterious and a crazy ending but it was actually really disappointing and a waste of time. I don't usually not like movies, this is the first in a while where i thought the plot and delivery were just not adequate. Great actors but oddly very bad acting. The timing of the entire movie was just off.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/08/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Sh*t happens. Made in the middle of M. Night Shyamalan’s fall from grace as a promising, young director, “The Happening” deserves its infamous reputation as a mess of a movie. However, the ridiculous premise and painfully awkward acting performances make it a contemporary classic so-bad-it’s-good film. Mark Wahlberg’s bargain-bin Matt Damon shtick falls flat in this film, as he’s terribly miscast as a science teacher who displays symptoms of the Happening, constantly appearing confused and disoriented even when he hasn’t been affected by it. It’s a good thing Zooey Deschanel found success with her quirky persona, because without it, her performance makes the viewer envious of the characters who offed themselves. Shyamalan’s willingness to take swings like this is admirable and entertaining, even when he misses.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/24/25

Full Review

Me A

It's original, but devolves into horrific acting and strange scenarios ..it's watchable on a rainy weekend afternoon if you are looking for something different, and somewhat entertaining, good effects for the time, and the story line has promise, but it's just not very well put together.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/14/25

Full Review

Lloyd S

Now I know where birdbox comes from. Crappy story though, running away from an invisible virus.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/07/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

M. Night Shyamalan

Director

Mark Wahlberg

Elliot Moore

Zooey Deschanel

Alma Moore

John Leguizamo

Julian

Betty Buckley

Mrs. Jones

Ashlyn Sanchez

Jess

Moon

90%

89%

Moon

Watchlist

Dante 01

38%

19%

Dante 01

Watchlist

Children of Men

92%

85%

Children of Men

Watchlist

Monsters

74%

53%

Monsters

Watchlist

The Jacket

44%

73%

The Jacket

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Jacket

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Razzies Name 2008’s Worst Movie Nominees

Box Office Guru Wrapup: Hancock shows some attitude at the box office

Box Office Guru Preview: Get Smart Spies Top Spot

View more photos

Synopsis

An apocalyptic threat to humanity arrives out of the clear blue sky with a series of violent, inexplicable deaths spreading across the country. The cause of the terrifying phenomenon remains unknown, prompting science teacher Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg), his wife Alma (Zooey Deschanel) and his colleague Julian (John Leguizamo) to try to elude the invisible killer in Pennsylvania's farmland. Soon it becomes clear that no one is safe.

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Producer: M. Night Shyamalan, Sam Mercer, Barry Mendel
Screenwriter: M. Night Shyamalan
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Blinding Edge Pictures
Rating: R (Violent and Disturbing Images)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 13, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $64.5M
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now