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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Film

Split

*Split* is a 2016 American psychological thriller film written, directed, and co-produced by M.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Split is a 2016 American psychological thriller film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It stars James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Betty Buckley, and follows a man with dissociative identity disorder who kidnaps three teenage girls.

What it is

Split is a psychological thriller (sometimes classified as horror) about Kevin, a man with dissociative identity disorder, who abducts three teenage girls and holds them in an underground facility. The story focuses on the girls' attempts to escape and the emergence of a dangerous new persona.

Why it matters

The film is a stealth sequel to Shyamalan's *Unbreakable* (2000) and forms the second part of the *Unbreakable* trilogy. It re-established Shyamalan's reputation in the thriller genre and was praised for McAvoy's performance across multiple distinct identities.

Key details

Shyamalan wrote, directed, and co-produced the film. The principal cast includes James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Betty Buckley. *Split* premiered in 2016 and was released in U.S. cinemas in 2017. It is widely categorized as a psychological thriller or psychological horror.

In short

  • Stealth sequel to *Unbreakable* (2000).
  • James McAvoy plays a character with multiple identities.
  • Plot centres on three teenage girls held captive in an underground facility.
  • Second installment in the *Unbreakable* trilogy.

Quick questions

What is *Split* about?
It follows a man with dissociative identity disorder who abducts three teenage girls and holds them in an underground facility.
Who directed *Split*?
M. Night Shyamalan directed, wrote, and co-produced the film.
Is *Split* connected to another film?
Yes. It is a stealth sequel to *Unbreakable* (2000) and the second installment in the *Unbreakable* trilogy.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_(2016_American_film)
    Supports: Director, cast, premise, and connection to Unbreakable trilogy
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Split-2016-American-film
    Supports: Film identification and basic classification
  3. Wikipedia — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_(pel%C3%ADcula)
    Supports: Release timing, cast, and trilogy context