Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Signs (film)

Signs is a 2002 American science fiction horror thriller film written and directed by M.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Signs is a 2002 science fiction horror thriller written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It follows a Pennsylvania farm family as they confront crop circles and a possible extraterrestrial threat.

What it is

Signs is a sci-fi horror thriller released in 2002, written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It stars Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin, and Cherry Jones. The film blends alien-invasion tension with a story about a former priest and his family.

Key details

The film had a runtime of 106 minutes and a budget of $72 million. It grossed about $408 million worldwide, making it a commercial success. Produced by Touchstone Pictures, Blinding Edge Pictures, and The Kennedy/Marshall Company, it was released in theatres on August 2, 2002.

Why it matters

Signs is often discussed for its themes of faith, family, and fear. It uses the alien premise to explore belief and meaning. In Canada, the film was released as a mainstream Hollywood title and is documented in English and French-language reference sources, including Quebec coverage.

In short

  • Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
  • Stars Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix
  • Grossed $408 million worldwide on a $72 million budget
  • Explores themes of faith and family under crisis
Canadian angle

Signs was released in Canada as an English-language Hollywood film and is also documented in Canadian and French-language reference sources, including coverage of its Quebec release.

Quick questions

What is Signs about?
It follows a former priest and his family after mysterious crop circles appear on their farm, leading them to confront signs of extraterrestrial activity.
Who directed Signs?
M. Night Shyamalan directed and wrote the film.
Was Signs a box-office success?
Yes. It grossed about $408 million worldwide against a $72 million budget.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signs_(film)
    Supports: Release year, director, cast, plot premise, production companies, and box office gross.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/signs
    Supports: Genre, release date, runtime, director, producers, screenwriter, and synopsis.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286106/
    Supports: Director, cast, music, cinematography, and film credits.
  4. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/signs
    Supports: Release date, director, studio, runtime, rating, and basic plot.
  5. TV Guide — https://www.tvguide.com/movies/signs/2030047206/
    Supports: Runtime, genres, rating, and synopsis.
  6. French Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signes_(film)
    Supports: French-language reference for title, production country, cast, runtime, genre, and Quebec/Canada release context.