Unbreakable (2000)
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A man who survives a catastrophic train crash realizes he possesses superhuman abilities and must confront the reality of his existence.
The story
After surviving a devastating train derailment as the sole survivor, David Dunn, a security guard, begins to realize he possesses extraordinary physical capabilities. His discovery brings him into contact with Elijah Price, a comic book store owner who believes in the existence of real-life superheroes. As David grapples with his burgeoning abilities and the implications of his condition, he is drawn into Elijah's world of theories regarding the 'unbreakable' and the 'frail.' The two men begin a complex interaction as David tries to understand the nature of his existence while Elijah seeks to identify the true extent of David's powers.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the present day, David Dunn, a security guard, is the sole survivor of a train crash in which 131 others died. He is contacted by Elijah Price, a man with a fragile bone disease who believes in real-life superheroes. Elijah identifies David as 'unbreakable' and helps him realize that his ability to sense danger is actually extrasensory perception. David begins to hone this ability, eventually sensing the crimes of those he touches. He intervenes in a crime involving a sadistic janitor, rescuing a family but ultimately failing to save the mother. Following this, David reconciles with his wife, Audrey. Meanwhile, Elijah reveals his own identity as 'Mr. Glass,' a villain who has orchestrated various 'accidents' to find a hero. The film concludes with David reporting Elijah to the police, where Elijah is confined to a psychiatric hospital.
- First release year
- 2000
- Runtime (minutes)
- 107
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- M. Night Shyamalan
- Writers
- M. Night Shyamalan · writer
- Cast and characters
- Bruce Willis · David Dunn; Samuel L. Jackson · Elijah Price/Mr. Glass; Robin Wright · Audrey Dunn; Davis Duffield · 20-year-old David; Johnny Hiram Jamison · 13-year-old Elijah; Spencer Treat Clark · Joseph Dunn; Charlayne Woodard · Mrs. Price; Eamonn Walker · Dr. Mathison
- Genres
- superhero thriller; psychological thriller; mystery thriller; science fiction thriller
- Themes
- superhero identity; hidden abilities; fragility vs. strength
- Tone and mood
- suspenseful; serious
- Premise and plot tags
- origin story; superhero; mystery
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews, praised for its direction, screenplay, aesthetics, performances, and emotional weight. It has gained a strong cult following and is regarded by many as one of the best superhero films.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 62 · scale: 100 · review count: 31
- Production trivia
- The film's structure follows a comic book's three-part story.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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