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Signs

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for Signs PG-13 Released Aug 2, 2002 1h 46m Mystery & Thriller Sci-Fi Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 240 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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Signs

Signs

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Manages to capture the inherent unease of an alien invasion in frightening ways, while also injecting plenty of heart into the story. Rated: 4/5 Sep 20, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ralph R Rewatching M. Night Shyamalan's Signs brought back the same feelings I had the first time I saw it. The script is solid, the plot is engaging, and the acting, especially from Mel Gibson, is strong. Joaquin Phoenix adds a lot to the movie too, balancing emotional moments with some light humor. But even with all these positives, the movie still feels like it’s missing something—a spark that could’ve made it truly great. The story is told entirely from the family’s perspective, which creates a lot of suspense and intimacy. However, it also leaves the aliens feeling underdeveloped. We never learn much about their intentions, behavior, or even why they’re invading Earth. That final scene with the alien and the child is particularly intriguing. Some theories suggest it wasn’t attacking but might actually have been saving the boy. The alien didn’t defend itself when Joaquin Phoenix’s character hit it, which raises questions about its true motives. This ambiguity adds an interesting layer but also feels like a missed opportunity for the story to dig deeper. Overall, Signs is a well-made movie with strong themes of faith, family, and survival. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/23/24 Full Review Chris F Signs is a lot of fun - a Sci-Fi movie that would be enjoyable for just about anyone. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/15/24 Full Review Wendel L Direção: Bom Atuação: Bom Roteiro: Bom Caracterização: Ok Soundtrack: Ok Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/08/24 Full Review Spike D To date, one of the only films to successfully marry Christian theodicy with an alien invasion. Scary as all hell, too. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/25/24 Full Review Audience Member Does signs have a few plot holes, yes. But still, I can't get over the excellent tension and drama that this movie provides and I think out of every horror movie I've seen, this one spooked me the most. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/03/24 Full Review Audience Member Growing up in the early 2000s, watching Signs was a thrilling yet surprisingly comforting experience. For a kid raised on a mix of family-friendly films and the occasional adventure thriller, Signs was a gateway into the world of suspense without being outright terrifying. It had the eerie atmosphere of a sci-fi horror, but it felt more like a puzzle to be solved rather than a nightmare to escape. What made Signs great for kids of that era was its balance of mystery and human connection. While the premise involved aliens and crop circles—ideas that might seem terrifying to a child—it was never about jump scares or grotesque imagery. Instead, it focused on family, faith, and how ordinary people dealt with extraordinary situations. The scariest moments, like hearing strange sounds on the baby monitor or seeing a silhouette in the cornfields, were more about building tension than terrorizing the audience. For a kid, it felt like you were in on a grand mystery, following along as the family pieced together clues, rather than watching helplessly from behind the sofa. One of the most striking aspects of Signs is how the seemingly bad fortunes or ailments of the family are ultimately used for their survival. As a child, it might not be immediately obvious, but looking back, it’s a powerful lesson about fate and purpose. Take Bo’s obsession with leaving half-full glasses of water around the house—what seems like a quirky, annoying habit turns into a lifesaving act when the water becomes a weapon against the aliens. Morgan’s asthma, which initially feels like a tragic weakness, prevents him from inhaling toxic gases, saving his life in a critical moment.When the alien invades their home during the climax of the film, Merrill’s ability to swing for the fences becomes their key to defeating it. Graham, after regaining his faith, remembers his wife’s dying words: “Tell Merrill to swing away.” It’s as if all of Merrill’s life—his triumphs and failures—led to this moment. The bat he used during his baseball days, combined with Bo’s water-filled glasses, becomes the weapon that saves the family. And then there’s Graham, a former preacher who lost his faith after his wife’s death. His journey back to belief is not just about religion but about learning to trust in the interconnectedness of their lives—that even the worst moments serve a greater purpose. In the end, Signs wasn’t just a movie about alien invasion; it was a story of resilience, family, and the small miracles hiding in everyday life. This film was a perfect blend of adventure and heart. It taught us that even in the scariest of times, love and faith could pull us through, and sometimes the very things we think are burdens might just be the keys to our survival. Looking back, Signs was a brilliant introduction to suspense, offering mystery without overwhelming fear, and a heartwarming tale wrapped in the guise of an alien thriller. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/19/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Signs

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

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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