Lady in the Water

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Lady in the Water

PG-13

2006

1h 50m

Fantasy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

25%

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212 Reviews

49%

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250,000+ Ratings

When Cleveland Heep (Paul Giamatti) rescues an enigmatic young woman (Bryce Dallas Howard) from danger, little does he know that she is a character from a bedtime story, who is trying to return to her world. As he falls deeply in love with her, he begins to realize that he and fellow tenants are also characters in the fable, and they must work together to protect her from those who would prevent her from returning home.

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Critics Consensus

A far-fetched story with little suspense and unconvincing scenarios, Lady In The Water feels contrived, pretentious, and rather silly.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

02/06/2018

Still, the multicultural cast is fun, the images have a painterly beauty and there are some beguiling comic touches before the story sinks into a swamp of solemn metaphysical glop.

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Brian Tallerico

UGO

03/24/2007

It's a fairy tale that never flies the way it should.

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Roger Ebert

RogerEbert.com

09/13/2006

1.5/4

[Perhaps it's] improvised and protracted, nonsensically and unnecessarily, just for the sake of stringing us along. And, maybe, putting us to sleep.

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Rory Doherty

InSession Film

06/17/2024

If you watch Lady in the Water, I don’t think you’ll get the feeling that Shyamalan loves his craft. He just loves that he made it.

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Jonathan Weber

Out Magazine

05/25/2022

Nothing works in this film; it’s boring and incomprehensible, laughable when it should be inspiring.

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Sergio Benítez

Espinof

04/16/2020

Shyamalan proves once again to be a filmmaker who knows how to take advantage of some highly ridiculous scenarios and situations. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Paige B.

@Palan4 Jun 12

HOW!!!! How are the ratings for this movie so low? I'm shocked. It's a modern fable filled with symbolism, archetypes, and larger-than-life characters who all play specific roles in the story. The story itself is unique and imaginative. It's fun, occasionally scary, and surprisingly sweet. Please give it a chance despite the ratings, maybe it was just ahead of its time!

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LightflowFox T

@RT14631131 Jun 1

This movie asks you to listen to a bedtime story and believe it. A book accompanied the movie, and that adds an interesting depth as well. If you like Unbreakable, you also need to consider that these are people with 'super powers' which also connects to other movies he has made. I like the strange connections that these movies have to one another, and this movie in particular draws out a story that you have to watch and read a couple of times to begin to understand it all. Yes, it's pretentious. I suppose I like pretentious. I like seeing puzzles go together, it's satisfying. But most of the critics seem to be like the critic in the story, irritated that there are no original stories anymore, and unable to understand when one is original that they may not even like it because of the originality.

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Ace R

@dragoneca2 May 13

Some people do seem to like this film. I don't know why. True, it has some faults, in that there are times when it can be confusing. But it is worth watching.

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Cfunk D

@Cfunk2085 Mar 21

It's a little slow and drawn out. Not a bad watch to watch one time. The ending and music is great. Paul Giamatti is amazing.

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Angela A

@RT90657274 Mar 17

So superbly cast, each character brings a piece of a puzzle that when gathers together equals all the parts of a beautiful story.

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Glory K

@Ms.Glory Feb 25

Y'all missed the point. This flick was DESIGNED to be a bed-time fairytale for kiddos. When you watch through that lens, it's funny and charming. When you try to ground it in any kind of reality, it's as ridiculous as Hans and Gretel happening upon a house made of candy in which a cannibalistic witch resides.

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M. Night Shyamalan

Director

Paul Giamatti

Cleveland Heep

Bryce Dallas Howard

Story

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Synopsis

When Cleveland Heep (Paul Giamatti) rescues an enigmatic young woman (Bryce Dallas Howard) from danger, little does he know that she is a character from a bedtime story, who is trying to return to her world. As he falls deeply in love with her, he begins to realize that he and fellow tenants are also characters in the fable, and they must work together to protect her from those who would prevent her from returning home.

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Producer: Sam Mercer
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Bros., Legendary Pictures, Blinding Edge Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Some Frightening Sequences)
Genre: Fantasy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 21, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 4, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $42.3M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)