The last Shyamalan film to hit around $40 million on opening weekend was 2010’s The Last Airbender, though you’d have to look back all the way to 2004’s The Village to find the last time the director claimed the number one spot.
Night Shyamalan’s career has been an interesting one for cinephiles; a director who managed to so quickly topple from absolute acclaim, to borderline degradation.
Meanwhile, Vin Diesel’s xXx: Return of Xander Cage came in at number two with a lukewarm $20 million, though it topped the chart overseas with $50.5 million.
From The Last Airbender to The Happening to After Earth, fans have been quietly waiting for the one film that could be officially declared a comeback; and it looks as if his latest, Split, may finally fit the bill.