Toni Collette reveals she didn’t realize The Sixth Sense was a horror film until a key scene. When The Sixth Sense hit theaters in 1999, it became a cultural phenomenon. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the psychological thriller stars Bruce Willis as a child psychologist whose patient (Haley Joel Osment) claims he can see and talk with ᴅᴇᴀᴅ people.

The Sixth Sense received critical acclaim and was a major box office success, grossing over $670 million worldwide. It earned six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Osment, and established Shyamalan as a preeminent filmmaker of thrillers. Toni Collette stars as the mother of Osment’s character, and was also nominated as Best Supporting Actress.

Now, via the Q with Tom Power podcast, Toni Collette reveals she was shocked to find out The Sixth Sense was actually a horror story. Laughing, she states, “I just thought it was a beautiful, spiritual story.” Speaking of her experience, Collette notes it wasn’t until she was on-set that she realized it was a horror. Check out her explanation below:

“I remember walking past, they had like a makeshift edit suite on set. […] And they were cutting the scene together where Haley is at that girl’s house, played by Mischa Barton. […] And he walks past the bed, I think, and she reaches out and grabs him. And the way it was sH๏τ, I was like, “Oh, holy sh–, I think this is a horror movie.”

What This Means For The Sixth Sense

Collette’s revelation only adds to the intrigue surrounding The Sixth Sense‘s ability to defy expectations. The film is celebrated not only for its supernatural elements but for its deep emotional resonance. Collette’s honest reaction serves as a testament to the film’s strength in balancing genre conventions and emotional storytelling, drawing in audiences who might not typically seek out horror films.

The fact that Collette didn’t initially recognize the horror elements of the story shows just how skillfully Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense merges different genres, showcasing the film’s ability to subtly evoke fear while staying grounded in human emotion. This unique approach ultimately helped elevate The Sixth Sense to classic status and continues to inspire discussions about its genre-blending brilliance.

Our Take On Toni Collette’s Surprising Realization

Toni Collette’s admission about being surprised that The Sixth Sense was a horror film despite already filming the movie speaks volumes about the subtlety of M. Night Shyamalan’s storytelling. The film’s ability to blend suspense, psychological drama, and horror without overtly labeling itself as a thriller makes The Sixth Sense such a staple it’s still talked about 26 years on.

While it’s quite a funny confession from Collette, especially considering how famous the film is now, it does highlight The Sixth Sense’s core: it’s a movie that was made to linger, challenging audiences to reconsider their expectations of what consтιтutes a “horror” film. Therefore, I’m sure we can forgive Collette’s early mistake in thinking it was more spiritual than scary.