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Signs

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for Signs PG-13 2002 1h 46m Mystery & Thriller Sci-Fi Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
76% 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 Mar 16, 2020
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. Go to Full Review
Namrata Joshi Outlook Jan 3, 2019
2/4
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. Go to Full Review
Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com Apr 17, 2015
A+
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. Go to Full Review
Brian Bisesi Horror Movie Club Podcast Dec 10, 2025
4.5/5
Signs succeeds not only as a suspenseful alien invasion film, but as a deeply moving family drama. Great dialogue and characters pull the viewer into the emotional core of the story, and make the tension all the more poignant. Go to Full Review
Jack Walters Loud and Clear Reviews Jan 18, 2025
4.5/5
"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." Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Aug 25, 2024
8/10
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Harrison B @clinthoward 1 day ago I remember very little of this movie but am marking it so I remember that I did see it! Kinda scary. See more love H @horrorfan123 3 days ago Beside a bit of a pacing drag in ACT 1 it’s amazing and tense film. See more Bret M @BretM-3 Sep 3, 2026 As of writing this review, Signs is my favorite movie from M. Night Shyamalan. I absolutely adore this movie. For starters, Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix are fantastic here. They really sell the fear their characters are feeling in the face of everything going on, but you can also tell they’re trying to hide it for the children’s sake. Great performances from them. But the absolute best part of this movie is the twist at the end. But what I really love about it is that it’s less of a twist and more of revelation. A realization that there are no coincidences, everything happens for a reason, and that realization helps them inevitably defeat the alien in their house. And I think that is a great ending to this story. So overall, I love this movie. All the alien and sci-fi stuff is great, the 2 leading performances in the film are incredible, and the underlying themes of faith and miracles add a lot to an already great story. I cannot recommend this movie enough! See more Abiel G @Abiel2009 Sep 1, 2026 Shyamalan’s Signs shows a great disconnection and connection with staring actor Mel Gibson playing Graham and his faith. The character development was impeccable from Grahams hatred towards God to his faith rebuilt even stronger. From Merrill’s annoyance in always swinging full force to him facing an alien head on. Seeing grahams connection being severed then rebuilt was amazing. It went from his Wife dying in an accident and him living in anger and sadness, to him seeing the bigger picture in why all of that was done even saving his family in the process. The ambiance and the setting gave such a good eerie feeling throughout the whole movie. This movie is an amazing seat clenched, brain twisting thriller and I highly recommend this to be in you list of movies this Halloween. See more Lisbet V @LisbetVentura Sep 1, 2026 Signs is an absorbing sci-fi thriller that shows genuine suspense throughout the movie. The movie does a good job building tension and an eerie atmosphere. What I enjoyed the most was the story isn’t only about aliens in aiding earth but also a deep personal story. From questioning faith to the loss of Mel Gibson wife. Mel Gibson gives a strong performance in the movie as a father that was struggling with his beliefs. Overall signs is not a typical alien invasion movie but a heart felt kind of thriller where its a mix of so many emotions. See more Anthony D @AnthonyDiaz Sep 1, 2026 Signs is a Sci-fi/Thriller film starring Joaquin phoenix and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. I thought the movie signs was an amazing and spectacular movie. I would personally call it a 5 out of 5 star movie. It was full of suspense and excitement, full of humor and emotion. The movie itself had a really great theme about keeping your faith especially in hard times. See more Read all reviews
Signs

My Rating

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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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