M. Night Shyamalan’s penchant for one-word titles is well-known among his fans. Over his illustrious career, he’s given us cinematic gems such as “The Sixth Sense” and “Unbreakable.” But there’s an intriguing backstory behind one of his most iconic films from 2002, “Signs.” As Shyamalan gears up for the release of his latest project “Trap,” he took a moment to reflect with Indiewire on a significant behind-the-scenes battle that almost led to “Signs” having a different name.

“Signs,” which revolves around eerie crop circles and the impending threat of alien invasion, was a title Shyamalan fought hard to retain. Reflecting on the challenge, Shyamalan said, “I was telling Warner Bros. that when we release my movies, there’s an effort to take a common word and create a new meaning from it. ‘Signs’ had to mean something about the alien signals and crop circles, but Disney wasn’t sure it would resonate.” Despite initial concerns about the title’s simplicity and potential for memorability, Shyamalan believed its minimalism was its strength.

Disney executives expressed their apprehensions, fearing the title wouldn’t stick with audiences. Shyamalan recalls the challenges: “They kept saying, ‘We might have a title issue. It’s just not sticking.’ Trying to own a common word and redefining it was tough. In its blandness, there’s a minimalist beauty that spoke to me.”

Yet, these worries proved unfounded. When “Signs” hit theaters in August 2002, it became an instant sensation, drawing audiences away from other major releases like “Austin Powers In Goldmember.” In its opening weekend, “Signs” raked in an impressive $60.1 million domestically and went on to earn a staggering $408.3 million worldwide. Clearly, the compelling narrative and Shyamalan’s vision prevailed.

For those wanting to revisit this sci-fi classic, “Signs” is currently available for streaming on Max. And with Shyamalan’s latest venture, “Trap” starring Josh Hartnett, hitting theaters soon, fans are buzzing with anticipation. Will it capture the audience’s heart as “Signs” did? Only time will tell!

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Did you find “Signs” captivating? What are your expectations for “Trap”? Share in the comments below and get the conversation started!

Source: Eric Eisenberg