Lady in the Water

Find Movie Theaters & Showtimes

for
near
in

Videos & Photos

  • Trailer 1
  • Trailer for Lady in the Water
SEE ALL VIDEOS & PHOTOS

Movie Info & Cast

Director:

M. Night Shyamalan

Producer:

Sam Mercer, Jose L. Rodriguez, John Rusk

Writer:

M. Night Shyamalan

Release Date:

Jul 21, 2006

Runtime:

1hr 50m

Synopsis

Apartment building superintendent Cleveland Heep rescues what he thinks is a young woman from the pool he maintains. When he discovers that she is actually a character from a bedtime story who is trying to make the journey back to her home, he works with his tenants to protect his new friend from the creatures that are determined to keep her in our world.

Cast

  • Paul Giamatti
  • Bryce Dallas Howard
  • Jeffrey Wright
  • Bob Balaban
  • Sarita Choudhury
  • Cindy Cheung
  • M. Night Shyamalan
  • Freddy Rodríguez
  • Bill Irwin
  • Mary Beth Hurt

Letterboxd User Reviews

2.6
127.1K
27.4K
15.0K
RATINGS 249 FANS
2.6
  • Sep 7, 2015

    This corpse has been picked over plenty, and while I'll stipulate that it's a bit undercooked and pretty silly, on a rewatch I think it's one of those things you just have to deliberately slide into, which makes sense given that it's all of a piece with SIGNS and THE…

    847 Likes
    matt lynch
    matt lynch
    Aug 2, 2015

    "He's hearing the voice of God through a crossword puzzle." Acho que só o Apichatpong acredita tanto no poder sugestivo da história oral como o Shyamalan. E é uma crença no sentido de uma fé mística mesmo, fé em uma mitologia fantasiosa que foi perdida, uma mitologia…

    716 Likes
    Arthur Tuoto
    Arthur Tuoto
    Mar 14, 2021

    84 M. Night Shyamalan's penchant for isolated communities, totems of loss and tragedy, and eccentric, fantastical concepts is given its most inwardly emotional landscape in Lady in the Water. An apartment complex, 'The Cove', is situated as a battleground for Shyamalan's…

    676 Likes
    SilentDawn
    SilentDawn
  •
    Feb 29, 2016

    The ramblings of a lunatic, though beautifully shot. The only proper response to seeing this film is a quiet, surprised "Oh."

    506 Likes
    David Sims
    David Sims
    Apr 23, 2021

    self-evidently one of m. night's weakest, but if film critics weren't such whiny clueless babies they would have treated it as the unfortunate misfire it is rather than the colossal disaster it isn't. frankly i think he treats the profession too kindly here. having a…

    398 Likes
    esther
    esther
    Aug 25, 2025

    I admire this film. To say there’s nothing else like it is an understatement. It feels staunchly against all Hollywood norms of its era, and certainly those of today. It’s no wonder that studios at the time became antagonistic with Shyamalan’s attempts at bold and original…

    365 Likes
    ChrisStuckmann
    ChrisStuckmann
  •
    Nov 12, 2025

    you people are crazy for not understanding the beauty that is this movie. Phenomenally acted, beautifully shot, poignant and clear messaging. You people don’t deserve M. Knight for rating this so low.

    350 Likes
    Mia K.
    Mia K.
    Aug 7, 2016

    The first film made after Shyamalan was really, truly widely rejected, with one clear focus: a world of characters who cannot accept pure storytelling. His pain is at the center of this solar system.

    360 Likes
    Josiah Morgan
    Josiah Morgan
    Jul 15, 2021

    she lived, she died, she served scrunt

    274 Likes
    Merkin Muffley
    Merkin Muffley

Atom Users Reviews

No one has posted a user review yet.

Metacritic

36
metacritic
Based on 36 Critics
6.3

USER SCORE (451)

Generally favorable reviews based on 451 Reviews
60

Shyamalan does project genuine menace and suspense into this mundane location, especially in nighttime scenes. But the magic that would transport you from reality into fantasy is missing.

Metacritic review by Kirk Honeycutt
Kirk Honeycutt
The Hollywood Reporter
40

A ponderous, self-indulgent bedtime tale. Awkwardly positioned, this gloomy gothic fantasy falls well short of horror.

Metacritic review by Brian Lowry
Brian Lowry
Variety

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lady in the Water (2006) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as PG-13, meaning that some material may be considered inappropriate for children under 13.
How long is Lady in the Water (2006)?
The movie is 1hr 50min long.
What's Lady in the Water (2006) about?
Apartment building superintendent Cleveland Heep rescues what he thinks is a young woman from the pool he maintains. When he discovers that she is actually a character from a bedtime story who is trying to make the journey back to her home, he works with his tenants to protect his new friend from the creatures that are determined to keep her in our world.
Who's the cast of Lady in the Water (2006)?
  • Paul Giamatti as Cleveland Heep
  • Bryce Dallas Howard as Story
  • Jeffrey Wright as Mr. Dury
  • Bob Balaban as Harry Farber
  • Sarita Choudhury as Anna Ran
  • Cindy Cheung as Young-Soon Choi
  • M. Night Shyamalan as Vick Ran
  • Freddy Rodríguez as Reggie
  • Bill Irwin as Mr. Leeds
  • Mary Beth Hurt as Mrs. Bell
Who's the director behind Lady in the Water (2006)?
M. Night Shyamalan directed Lady in the Water (2006).
Who produced Lady in the Water (2006)?
Sam Mercer, Jose L. Rodriguez and John Rusk produced Lady in the Water (2006).
Back to Showtimes