Signs

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2:26

Signs

PG-13

2002

1h 46m

Mystery & Thriller

Sci-Fi

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

239 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Everything that farmer Graham Hess (Mel Gibson) assumed about the world is changed when he discovers a message - an intricate pattern of circles and lines - carved into his crops. As he investigates the unfolding mystery, what he finds will forever alter the lives of his brother (Joaquin Phoenix) and children (Rory Culkin), (Abigail Breslin). A unique story that explores the mysterious real-life phenomena of crop signs and the effects they have on one man and his family.

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Critics Consensus

With Signs, Shyamalan proves once again an expert at building suspense and giving audiences the chills.

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Joshua Rothkopf

In These Times

Signs is a tense experience; even the opening credits lunge at your throat with orchestral shrieks. It may one day reveal itself as a minor classic, a new Invasion of the Body Snatchers for the manufactured scare of its day.

Mar 16, 2020

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Namrata Joshi

Outlook

It's the content that's to blame. Signs works on a confused storyboard. What's Shyamalan trying to say anyways? Nothing, or rather a bit too much.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 3, 2019

Full Review

Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

Signs was the film that sparked the desire that led to the purchase of a camera, many short films, and a love of movies that hasn't left me to this day.

Rated: A+

Apr 17, 2015

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Jack Walters

Loud and Clear Reviews

"Shyamalan’s classic sci-fi drama Signs is both a thrilling celebration of the genre and a poignant exploration of the purpose behind life’s random tragedies."

Rated: 4.5/5

Jan 18, 2025

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The scares are expertly handled; there’s an undeniable cleverness to the idea that a potential alien invasion could re-instill religious ardor just as it terrorizes an unprepared community.

Rated: 8/10

Aug 25, 2024

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Akos Peterbencze

The Screen

Signs is a quiet contemplation on grief and faith that uses aliens as a means to an end. It’s the horror serving the drama and never the other way around.

Aug 6, 2024

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Alexander S

Signs is a masterclass in building tension and suspense, with a mystery that's both captivating and unsettling. The cast's portrayal of a tight-knit family adds an extra layer of emotional depth to the film. With its eerie atmosphere and pulse-pounding alien encounters, Signs is undoubtedly one of M. Night Shyamalan's most impressive works. Grading: B+

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/20/25

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Dave H

Just too slow. Somethings didn't make any sense. Good actors, but bad writing.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/13/25

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alan g

Waste of talent (not Gibson). Confused, unintelligible plot.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/05/25

Full Review

Edward W.

Great movie, great performances from Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix and also great story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/04/25

Full Review

Philip H

A classic thriller, it's tense and engaging throughout. Before the days of wall to wall CGI and flashy graphics the thrills were built up by good acting a decent story and some creative directing. This really does build you up and set off your imagination. When I first saw it I was on the edge of my seat throughout and that is the sort of experience that is more powerful than flashy CGI and wall to wall explosions. The whole cast is tiny but all are brilliant.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/03/25

Full Review

Ari V

Signiature use of subtle absurdist humor as well as extreme situations as means of character study. Very well executed on both fronts. The alien situation seems a little underdeveloped, but this doesn't ultimately much matter as they're largely a sounding-board/backdrop. 4.1/5

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/23/25

Full Review

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M. Night Shyamalan

Director

Mel Gibson

Graham Hess

Joaquin Phoenix

Merrill Hess

Cherry Jones

Officer Paski

Rory Culkin

Morgan Hess

Abigail Breslin

Bo Hess

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Signs: Trailer 1

2:26

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Synopsis

Everything that farmer Graham Hess (Mel Gibson) assumed about the world is changed when he discovers a message - an intricate pattern of circles and lines - carved into his crops. As he investigates the unfolding mystery, what he finds will forever alter the lives of his brother (Joaquin Phoenix) and children (Rory Culkin), (Abigail Breslin). A unique story that explores the mysterious real-life phenomena of crop signs and the effects they have on one man and his family.

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Producer: M. Night Shyamalan, Frank Marshall, Sam Mercer
Screenwriter: M. Night Shyamalan
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures, The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Blinding Edge Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Some Frightening Moments)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Sci-Fi, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 2, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 11, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $228.0M
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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