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The Sixth Sense (1999)

A boy who communicates with spirits that don't know they're dead seeks the help of a disheartened child psychologist.

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Popularity
570 ( 74)
Top Rated Movies #161 | Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 32 wins & 47 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Darren (as Peter Tambakis)
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Bruce Norris ...
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Sean
Greg Wood ...
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Mrs. Collins (as Angelica Torn)
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Bridesmaid
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Young Man Buying Ring
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Storyline

Malcom Crowe (Bruce Willis)is a child psychologist who receives an award on the same night that he is visited by a very unhappy ex-patient. After this encounter, Crowe takes on the task of curing a young boy with the same ills as the ex-patient (Donnie Wahlberg) . This boy "sees dead people". Crowe spends a lot of time with the boy much to the dismay of his wife (Olivia Williams). Cole's mom (Toni Collette) is at her wit's end with what to do about her son's increasing problems. Crowe is the boy's only hope. Written by Jeff Mellinger <[email protected]>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Now you believe in ghosts See more »


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense thematic material and violent images | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

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Release Date:

7 October 1999 (Israel)  »

Also Known As:

El sexto sentido  »

Filming Locations:

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Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$26,681,262, 8 August 1999, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$293,506,292

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$672,806,292
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

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Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

To call the film a sleeper hit is to underestimate how low under the radar it flew before its release. In Entertainment Weekly's 134 film Summer Movie Preview of 1999, The Sixth Sense (1999) was not even mentioned on the list. See more »

Goofs

When Cole steps away from the chair because Malcolm can't guess his thoughts: in close-up he uses the other foot to step back. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Anna Crowe: It's getting cold.
Malcolm Crowe: That is one fine frame; one fine frame that is. How much...
[he sits down with a grunt]
See more »

Crazy Credits

The Spanish phrase "I don't want to die" that was played on the tape recorder in Malcolm's office is repeated after the credits. See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Nostalgia Critic: The Wicker Man (2014) See more »

Soundtracks

Space Cocktail
Written by Laurent Lombard and Syd Dale
Performed by Laurent Lombard
Courtesy of Opus I
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

The most careful attention to detail
25 October 2000 | by – See all my reviews

What makes this film so wonderful to watch is not simply the acting, or the terror it instills, or even the plot itself. It is the way in which the writer/director M. Night Shyamalan takes his vision from the page, and carefully crafts a tale that completely absorbs the viewer. As a result, we are treated to a wealth of emotion: fear, sadness, joy, confusion, and humor, each one a compliment to the other.

Haley Joel Osment delivers, plain and simple. By now, so much has been said about the young actor that any more would be repetition. Needless to say, his portrayal of Cole Sear is remarkable. His ability to communicate, through a simple look or gesture, the depths to which his character's soul has been thrust is what truly carries the film. He succeeds at this task beautifully, convincing us while never going over the top; indeed, by the time Cole utters his now-famous line, you not only believe him, you are chilled by the fact that Osment the actor may actually believe it himself.

Bruce Willis turns in a stellar performance, complimenting his young co-star while never overshadowing him. It is a tribute to his respect of the material in so much as he fine tunes his delivery to seem reserved, yet not too toned down.

The Sixth Sense is more than simply a wondrous two hours. It has, in effect, created a new genre of filmmaking... the film is neither drama, nor horror, nor action. Rather, it is a seamless blending of all three, a film that encompasses the best aspects of each genre, without being limited by the worst. Hollywood has taken notice of this, and one can only expect a series of poor imitations to follow. But at least they'll always have The Sixth Sense to guide the way.


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