Old (film)
{{Short description|2021 film by M. Night Shyamalan}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Old (film) poster.jpg
| alt = "Theatrical release poster": A young woman at the beach, sitting close to the shore, touches her wrinkly left leg, peeling off the skin to reveal a decomposing skeleton. Underneath her is the tagline: "It's only a matter of time".
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = M. Night Shyamalan
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- M. Night Shyamalan
- Marc Bienstock
- Ashwin Rajan
}}
| screenplay = M. Night Shyamalan
| based_on = {{Based on|Sandcastle|{{ill|Pierre Oscar Lévy|fr}}|Frederik Peeters}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Gael García Bernal
- Vicky Krieps
- Rufus Sewell
- Alex Wolff
- Thomasin McKenzie
- Abbey Lee
- Nikki Amuka-Bird
- Ken Leung
- Eliza Scanlen
- Aaron Pierre
- Embeth Davidtz
- Emun Elliott
}}
| music = Trevor Gureckis
| cinematography = Michael Gioulakis
| editing = Brett M. Reed
| studio = {{Plainlist|
}}
| distributor = Universal Pictures
| released = {{Film date|2021|7|19|Jazz at Lincoln Center|2021|7|23|United States}}
| runtime = 109 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $18 million
| gross = $90.2 million
}}
Old is a 2021 American body horror thriller film written, directed, and produced by M. Night Shyamalan. It is based on the French-language Swiss graphic novel Sandcastle by {{ill|Pierre Oscar Lévy|fr}} and Frederik Peeters. The film features an ensemble cast consisting of Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Alex Wolff, Thomasin McKenzie, Abbey Lee, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Ken Leung, Eliza Scanlen, Aaron Pierre, Embeth Davidtz, and Emun Elliott. The plot follows a group of people who find themselves rapidly aging on a secluded beach.
Shyamalan decided to adapt Sandcastle into a film after receiving it as a Father's Day gift in 2017. The untitled project was announced in September 2019, with the filmmaker revealing a partnership with Universal Pictures. The following year, filming took place in the Dominican Republic for three months, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with cinematographer Michael Gioulakis.
Old premiered at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on July 19, 2021, and was theatrically released in the United States on July 23. The film grossed $90 million worldwide against an $18 million budget and received mixed reviews from critics.
Plot
Guy and Prisca Cappa are going through a separation. The couple take their young children, Maddox and Trent, to a tropical resort as a final family vacation. At their hotel, Guy and Prisca are given complimentary drinks, and the children befriend Idlib, the resort manager's nephew. At night, Maddox and Trent overhear their parents arguing and play a message decoding game with Idlib. During the argument, it is revealed that Prisca has a benign slow-growing ovarian tumor.
The next morning, the manager invites the family to a secluded beach where three additional parties are present: rapper Brendan "Mid-Sized Sedan" and his female companion; surgeon Charles, his elderly mother Agnes, his wife Chrystal, and their young daughter Kara; as well as Jarin and Patricia Carmichael, a close-knit husband and wife.
Trent discovers the corpse of Brendan's companion. Charles grows suspicious of Brendan, who reveals that he has been experiencing nosebleeds because of his hemophilia. After the children rapidly turn into teenagers and Agnes suddenly dies, the families conclude that the beach is aging them, with the occupants undergoing the equivalent of one year of aging every 30 minutes. At least one member of each family has an underlying medical condition. They discover that trying to leave will result in them blacking out and waking up back where they left.
In a fit of rage, Charles cuts Brendan with a pocketknife. The group watches as his injury quickly heals. Prisca's supposedly slow-growing ovarian tumor rapidly grows in size at a life-threatening rate. Charles successfully removes it surgically. Brendan discovers that his companion's body has fully decomposed in mere hours. Kara and Trent continue to age into their late teens, and after having sex with each other, Kara gets pregnant at a rapid pace. She gives birth, but the baby starves to death as the time rapidly passes.
The attempts to leave grow increasingly tense as Charles's worsening schizophrenia causes him to kill Brendan. As the day progresses, Jarin drowns while trying to swim for help, Kara falls to her death while trying to climb over the mountain, and Patricia suffers a fatal epileptic seizure. Guy's eyesight blurs, and Prisca suffers hearing loss. Trent and Maddox discover the notebook of a previous traveler filled with names of many people who died on the beach, along with indications of their being watched. At night, Charles attacks Guy and Prisca in a schizophrenic episode; Prisca runs as Charles continues to attack Guy.
Chrystal's hypocalcemia results in her bones repeatedly rupturing and improperly healing, gruesomely contorting her body and eventually killing her. Prisca returns and slashes Charles with a rusted knife, instigating a fatal blood infection that kills him. An elderly Guy and Prisca make amends before dying peacefully of natural causes, moments apart from each other.
With only the now-middle-aged Maddox and Trent remaining by the next morning, the pair construct a sandcastle. They revisit a secret message given to them by Idlib, which Trent deduces is connected to an underwater coral passage. Believing that the passage will allow them to leave the beach without losing consciousness, he and his sister start swimming through the coral. After they seemingly fail to emerge from the water when she gets her swimsuit caught on a coral reef, a resort employee who is monitoring them reports that the entire group has died. He gives the news to the manager, who warns of a previous incident where a guest almost escaped from the beach. The manager then announces that trial 73 has concluded.
It is revealed that the resort is a front for a research team from the pharmaceutical company Warren & Warren that was conducting underground clinical trials of new medical drugs, which are administered to guests with medical conditions by spiking their drinks. Because the beach naturally accelerates the lives of the guests, the researchers have been able to complete the lifelong drug trials within a day.
The researchers lure a new group to the beach, but are interrupted by Trent and Maddox, who survived their underwater swim, using the notebook as evidence that they give to vacationing police officer Greg Mitchel. Discovering everyone listed in the notebook is a missing person, he informs his boss of the researchers' crimes. The researchers are mentioned to have been arrested, with subpoenas sent to the rest of Warren & Warren, as Greg plans to reunite Trent and Maddox with their aunt.
Cast
{{Multiple image|total_width=300
| image1 = Gael Garcia Bernal (8283386573).jpg
| alt1 = Gael García Bernal in 2012
| image2 = 2019-01-31-Vicky Krieps-DFP 2019-4204.jpg
| alt2 = Vicky Krieps in 2019
| footer = Gael García Bernal (left) and Vicky Krieps star as married couple Guy and Prisca Cappa
}}
- Gael García Bernal as Guy Cappa, an actuary married to Prisca
- Vicky Krieps as Prisca Cappa, a museum curator and Guy's wife, who has an ovarian tumor
- Rufus Sewell as Charles, a schizophrenic cardiac surgeon married to Chrystal
- Abbey Lee as Chrystal, Charles's trophy wife with hypocalcemia
- Alex Wolff as Trent Cappa, Guy and Prisca's son (age 15)
- Emun Elliott as adult Trent Cappa
- Luca Faustino Rodriguez as Trent Cappa (age 11)
- Nolan River as Trent Cappa (age 6)
- Thomasin McKenzie as Maddox Cappa, Guy and Prisca's daughter (age 16)
- Embeth Davidtz as adult Maddox Cappa
- Alexa Swinton as Maddox Cappa (age 11)
- Nikki Amuka-Bird as Patricia Carmichael, an epileptic psychologist married to Jarin
- Ken Leung as Jarin Carmichael, a nurse and Patricia's husband
- Eliza Scanlen as Kara, Charles and Chrystal's daughter (age 15)
- Mikaya Fisher as Kara (age 11)
- Kylie Begley as Kara (age 6)
- Aaron Pierre as Mid-Sized Sedan/Brendan, a rapper with hemophilia
Additional cast members include Kathleen Chalfant as Agnes, Charles' mother; Gustaf Hammarsten as the resort manager who heads the secret research team for the pharmaceutical company Warren & Warren; Francesca Eastwood and Matthew Shear as resort employees; Kailen Jude as the manager's nephew Idlib; Daniel Ison as vacationing police officer Greg Mitchel; and M. Night Shyamalan as the resort employee who drives the guests to the beach and monitors them.
Themes
When NME{{'s}} Beth Webb asked about the different themes tackled in Old, Shyamalan responded, "It's definitely about our relationship to time and, in my opinion, our dysfunctional relationship to time that we all have. Until we're forced to examine it, whether it's a pandemic or the factors that are in this situation for these characters, they're trapped on this beach, and they have to reflect on their relationship over time. You see some characters unable to navigate this, and then some characters find peace. Why did they find peace, and how did they find peace in the midst of all of this chaos? So there's this conversation about that, the one that I'm having of myself with time."{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/m-night-shyamalan-explains-his-decisions-behind-old-ending-3003125|title=M. Night Shyamalan explains his decisions behind Old ending|date=July 26, 2021|first=Beth|last=Webb|website=NME|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801213147/https://www.nme.com/news/film/m-night-shyamalan-explains-his-decisions-behind-old-ending-3003125|archive-date=August 1, 2021}}
At the Tribeca Film Festival, Shyamalan said that the film's focus on aging reminded him of his father, who has dementia, and his children as he watches them grow up. During the event, Alex Wolff compared the film to the COVID-19 pandemic, "Coming out of COVID, it feels like time just stopped. And that's what the movie's literally about."{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/m-night-shyamalan-old-ending-covid-bubble-hurricane-hints-tribeca-2021-1234970741/|title=M. Night Shyamalan Teases Old at Tribeca: 'No One Has Ever Seen Anything Like It'|date=June 19, 2021|first=Allison|last=Crist|website=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802152656/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/m-night-shyamalan-old-ending-covid-bubble-hurricane-hints-tribeca-2021-1234970741/|archive-date=August 2, 2021}}{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/m-night-shyamalan-alex-wolff-detail-the-pandemic-production-of-old-tribeca-festival/|title=M. Night Shyamalan and Alex Wolff detail the pandemic production of Old at Tribeca Festival|date=June 19, 2021|first=Christian|last=Holub|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802152658/https://ew.com/movies/m-night-shyamalan-alex-wolff-detail-the-pandemic-production-of-old-tribeca-festival/|archive-date=August 2, 2021}} At the film's premiere, Wolff was asked for his interpretation of the film and said it was "an allegorical existential sort of meditation on getting older."{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/m-night-shyamalan-old-cast-twist-endings-new-york-city-priemere-ca-1234983301/|title=Old Cast on Film's Ending and Making an M. Night Shyamalan Movie That Doesn't Hinge on Its Twist|date=July 20, 2021|first=Abbey|last=White|website=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802153459/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/m-night-shyamalan-old-cast-twist-endings-new-york-city-priemere-ca-1234983301/|archive-date=August 2, 2021}} Other cast members chimed in; Nikki Amuka-Bird said the film was about not taking nature for granted; Gael García Bernal said it was about questioning how time travels differently for other people; and Vicky Krieps found that it was about "love and family and all these things that are much stronger than any fears — the fear of aging and the fear of death."
Production
=Development and casting=
File:M. Night Shyamalan (28769148857) (cropped 2).jpg]]
In September 2019, Universal Pictures announced its plans to distribute two then-untitled independently financed thriller films written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. In a statement, Universal Pictures President Peter Cramer said that these projects contained "highly original stories," while Shyamalan added, "There are wonderful studios out there, but Universal has made it a mandate to release original films. They are the best at finding an audience for new stories with unexpected tones. I believe original films are crucial to the longevity of the theatrical experience."{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/m-night-shyamalan-sets-next-two-movies-at-universal-2021-2023-release-1239942/|title=M. Night Shyamalan Sets His Next Two Movies at Universal for Release in 2021, 2023|date=September 16, 2019|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|website=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730223442/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/m-night-shyamalan-sets-next-two-movies-at-universal-2021-2023-release-1239942/|archive-date=July 30, 2021}}
In May 2020, Eliza Scanlen, Thomasin McKenzie, Aaron Pierre, Alex Wolff, and Vicky Krieps entered negotiations to star.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/m-night-shyamalan-movie-cast-1234602057/|title=M. Night Shyamalan Sets Ensemble Cast for Next Movie (Exclusive)|date=May 8, 2020|first=Justin|last=Kroll|website=Variety|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730225113/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/m-night-shyamalan-movie-cast-1234602057/|archive-date=July 30, 2021}} That June, they all joined the cast alongside Abbey Lee, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Ken Leung.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/m-night-shyamalan-new-movie-abbey-lee-nikki-amuka-bird-1234645427/|title=M. Night Shyamalan's Next Film Rounds Out Ensemble|date=June 22, 2020|first=Justin|last=Kroll|website=Variety|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730225123/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/m-night-shyamalan-new-movie-abbey-lee-nikki-amuka-bird-1234645427/|archive-date=July 30, 2021}} In July, it was reported that Shyamalan, Marc Bienstock, and Ashwin Rajan would produce the project through Perfect World Pictures and Blinding Edge Pictures,{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/gael-garcia-bernal-joins-m-night-shyamalan-thriller-at-universal-1303897/|title=Gael García Bernal Joins M. Night Shyamalan Thriller at Universal|date=July 21, 2020|first=Mia|last=Galuppo|website=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730225118/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/gael-garcia-bernal-joins-m-night-shyamalan-thriller-at-universal-1303897/|archive-date=July 30, 2021}} with Gael García Bernal also being cast.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/gael-garcia-bernal-m-night-shyamalan-movie-cast-1202989221/|title=Gael García Bernal Joins M. Night Shyamalan's Next Film|date=July 21, 2020|first=Justin|last=Kroll|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730225119/https://deadline.com/2020/07/gael-garcia-bernal-m-night-shyamalan-movie-cast-1202989221/|archive-date=July 30, 2021}} In August, Rufus Sewell, Embeth Davidtz, and Emun Elliott were all announced as part of the ensemble cast.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/rufus-sewell-embeth-davidtz-and-emun-elliot-m-night-shymalans-1203018823/|title=Rufus Sewell, Embeth Davidtz & Emun Elliott Round Out Cast of M. Night Shyamalan's Next Film|date=August 20, 2020|first=Justin|last=Kroll|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730225204/https://deadline.com/2020/08/rufus-sewell-embeth-davidtz-and-emun-elliot-m-night-shymalans-1203018823/|archive-date=July 30, 2021}} That same month, Bryan Cranston said he had declined a role in the film due to a scheduling conflict caused by his involvement with filming Your Honor in New Orleans.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/bryan-cranston-on-the-one-and-only-ivan-and-the-past-present-and-future-of-walter-white-4051730/|title=Bryan Cranston on The One and Only Ivan and the Past, Present and Future of Walter White|date=August 28, 2020|first=Brian|last=Davids|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=January 27, 2022|archive-date=January 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127112737/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/bryan-cranston-on-the-one-and-only-ivan-and-the-past-present-and-future-of-walter-white-4051730/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/servant-season-3-m-night-shyamalan-apple-tv-1235081736/|title=M. Night Shyamalan on Servant Season 3 and Casting Dave Bautista to Lead His Next Film|date=January 26, 2022|first=Brian|last=Davids|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=January 27, 2022|archive-date=January 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126232413/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/servant-season-3-m-night-shyamalan-apple-tv-1235081736/|url-status=live}}
=Filming and post-production=
On September 26, 2020, principal photography began in the Dominican Republic, and to celebrate, Shyamalan revealed the film's title and published its first promotional release poster.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/m-night-shyamalan-reveals-title-and-artwork-for-upcoming-thriller-4067528/|title=M. Night Shyamalan Reveals Title and Artwork for Upcoming Thriller|date=September 26, 2020|first=Trilby|last=Beresford|website=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730231130/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/m-night-shyamalan-reveals-title-and-artwork-for-upcoming-thriller-4067528/|archive-date=July 30, 2021}} That same day, Collider reported that the film was an adaptation of Sandcastle, the French graphic novel by Swiss authors Pierre Oscar Levy and Frederik Peeters, which Shyamalan had received as a collective Father's Day gift from his three daughters in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/m-night-shyamalan-old-sandcastle-graphic-novel-movie/|title=Exclusive: M. Night Shyamalan's Old Is Inspired by Graphic Novel 'Sandcastle'|date=September 26, 2020|first=Jeff|last=Sneider|website=Collider|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730231110/https://collider.com/m-night-shyamalan-old-sandcastle-graphic-novel-movie/|archive-date=July 30, 2021}} Old marks the first film of Shyamalan's career to have no shooting take place around his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.{{cite web|url=https://6abc.com/m-night-shyalaman-movie-director-thriller-old/10904080/|title=Chester County's M. Night Shyamalan talks about his new supernatural thriller Old|date=July 22, 2021|first=Alicia|last=Vitarelli|website=WPVI-TV|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723071802/https://6abc.com/m-night-shyalaman-movie-director-thriller-old/10904080/|archive-date=July 23, 2021}} With an $18 million budget,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/box-office/box-office-m-night-shyamalan-old-opening-weekend-1235026953/|title=Box Office Twist: M. Night Shyamalan's Old Beats Space Jam and Snake Eyes|date=July 25, 2021|first=Rebecca|last=Rubin|website=Variety|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802020738/https://variety.com/2021/film/box-office/box-office-m-night-shyamalan-old-opening-weekend-1235026953/|archive-date=August 2, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2021/07/25/old-m-night-shyamalan-weekend-box-office/|title=Box Office: Old Proves That M. Night Shyamalan Remains A Bankable Horror Director|date=July 25, 2021|first=Scott|last=Mendelson|website=Forbes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917220028/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2021/07/25/old-m-night-shyamalan-weekend-box-office/?sh=1ef69088d32f|archive-date=September 17, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=September 17, 2021}} filming took place during the COVID-19 pandemic with cinematographer Michael Gioulakis, using 35mm film,{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/m-night-shyamalan-old-movie-set-photo-clue-creature/|title=M. Night Shyamalan's Old Set Photo May Contain an Unusual Clue|date=November 14, 2020|first=Allie|last=Gemmill|website=Collider|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801205256/https://collider.com/m-night-shyamalan-old-movie-set-photo-clue-creature/|archive-date=August 1, 2021}} and concluded on November 15, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/old-m-night-shyamalan-thriller/|title=Old: M. Night Shyamalan Wraps Production on His Latest Thriller|date=November 17, 2020|first=Ben|last=Pearson|website=/Film|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515234144/https://www.slashfilm.com/old-m-night-shyamalan-thriller/|archive-date=May 15, 2021}} After filming wrapped, Shyamalan said Old was the first film to be shot during the pandemic in the Dominican Republic and that, throughout the shoot, no one tested positive for the virus as he paid for the production crew's ten-week stay at a hotel.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/06/m-night-shyamalan-shooting-old-pandemic-hurricane-season-tribeca-1234645467/|title=M. Night Shyamalan on 'Complicated' Shooting of Old During the Pandemic in Hurricane Season|date=June 18, 2021|first=Tyler|last=Hersko|website=IndieWire|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730235315/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/06/m-night-shyamalan-shooting-old-pandemic-hurricane-season-tribeca-1234645467/|archive-date=July 30, 2021}}
Old was inspired by films created during the Australian New Wave, including Walkabout (1971) and Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), along with The Exterminating Angel (1962), Kuroneko (1968), Jaws (1975), and The Twilight Zone.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/what-to-watch/22605672/old-m-night-shyamalan-movies-to-watch-amazon-hbo-criterion|title=M. Night Shyamalan reveals the movies and TV show that inspired Old|date=August 2, 2021|first=Toussaint|last=Egan|website=Polygon|url-status=live|access-date=August 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804091844/https://www.polygon.com/what-to-watch/22605672/old-m-night-shyamalan-movies-to-watch-amazon-hbo-criterion|archive-date=August 4, 2021}} To create a claustrophobic feeling, Shyamalan employed several filming techniques from Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon (1950) and Ran (1985).{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/07/review-old-is-a-mostly-solid-film-undermined-by-jarring-twist-ending/|title=Review: Old is a mostly solid film undermined by jarring twist ending|date=July 24, 2021|first=Jennifer|last=Ouellette|website=Ars Technica|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731004630/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/07/review-old-is-a-mostly-solid-film-undermined-by-jarring-twist-ending/|archive-date=July 31, 2021}} As a result, Old was mostly filmed in a single location, the Playa El Valle beach located between two mountains on the north coast of Santa Bárbara de Samaná. Additional filming took place at Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios in Juan Dolio and in several locations around Samaná.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/old-location-guide-film/|title=Old location guide: where is the beach in the new M. Night Shyamalan movie?|date=July 23, 2021|first=Patrick|last=Cremona|website=Radio Times|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731004626/https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/old-location-guide-film/|archive-date=July 31, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://thecinemaholic.com/where-was-old-filmed/|title=Where Was Old Filmed?|date=July 23, 2021|first=Dhruv|last=Trivedi|website=The Cinemaholic|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731004747/https://thecinemaholic.com/where-was-old-filmed/|archive-date=July 31, 2021}} To capture footage of the surrounding nature, Shyamalan's daughter, Ishana, served as the film's second unit director.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/artisans/news/m-night-shyamalan-daughter-ishana-old-1235026710/|title=M. Night Shyamalan's Daughter Follows in Filmmaking Footsteps as Old Second Unit Director|date=July 24, 2021|first=Jazz|last=Tangcay|website=Variety|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731005231/https://variety.com/2021/artisans/news/m-night-shyamalan-daughter-ishana-old-1235026710/|archive-date=July 31, 2021}} His other daughter, Saleka Shyamalan, wrote an original song for the film titled "Remain" that was inspired by the topic of marriage vows and U2's "With or Without You," used to "highlight the relationship between Guy and Prisca and the love that exists between them."{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/artisans/news/m-night-shyamalan-old-music-song-saleka-u2-1235023651/|title=For New Old Song, M. Night Shyamalan and Daughter Saleka Sought Inspiration in U2's 'With or Without You'|date=July 20, 2021|first=Jazz|last=Tangcay|website=Variety|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731010451/https://variety.com/2021/artisans/news/m-night-shyamalan-old-music-song-saleka-u2-1235023651/|archive-date=July 31, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/m-night-shyamalan-new-film-old|url-access=limited|title=The Mystery of M. Night Shyamalan|date=July 23, 2021|first=Mallika|last=Rao|website=GQ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811004623/https://www.gq.com/story/m-night-shyamalan-new-film-old|archive-date=August 11, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=August 11, 2021}}
Several cast members recalled Shyamalan using storyboards to frame every shot in the film.{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/podcasts/m-night-shyamalan-talks-old-and-career/2570862/|title=M. Night Shyamalan Talks Old And Career|date=July 22, 2021|first1=Gabriel|last1=Kovacs|first2=Sean|last2=O'Connell|website=CinemaBlend|url-status=live|access-date=August 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808160222/https://www.cinemablend.com/podcasts/m-night-shyamalan-talks-old-and-career/2570862/|archive-date=August 8, 2021}} Ishana Shyamalan described her father's choice as a "very prescribed and programmatic" approach, while Wolff said the director "had such precision in terms of what age he wanted you to be and where he wanted you to be at that age. Night would just guide you where you needed to be emotionally, and then it would happen naturally." Wolff said he and McKenzie were the first actors to be cast after submitting audition tapes, and recalled passing out during the filming of the pregnancy scene due to high temperatures.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/old-movie-alex-wolff-m-night-shyamalan-pig-1234987668/|title=Old and Pig Star Alex Wolff on the Virtues of Nicolas Cage and M. Night Shyamalan|date=July 23, 2021|first=Brian|last=Davids|website=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801011139/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/old-movie-alex-wolff-m-night-shyamalan-pig-1234987668/|archive-date=August 1, 2021}} During post-production, editing was completed by Brett M. Reed.{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/old-movie-review-2021|title=Old|date=July 22, 2021|first=Brian|last=Tallerico|website=RogerEbert.com|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729011044/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/old-movie-review-2021|archive-date=July 29, 2021}} The film's score was composed by Trevor Gureckis and released by Back Lot Music on July 23, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/01/26/trevor-gureckis-to-score-m-night-shyamalans-old/|title=Trevor Gureckis to Score M. Night Shyamalan's Old|date=January 26, 2021|website=Film Music Reporter|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302224512/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/01/26/trevor-gureckis-to-score-m-night-shyamalans-old/|archive-date=March 2, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/07/22/old-soundtrack-album-details/|title=Old Soundtrack Album Details|date=July 22, 2021|website=Film Music Reporter|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724190550/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/07/22/old-soundtrack-album-details/|archive-date=July 24, 2021}}
Release
Old was originally going to be released by Universal Pictures on February 26, 2021,{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/m-night-shyamalan-sets-next-two-movies-at-universal-2021-2023-release-1239942/|title=M. Night Shyamalan Sets His Next Two Movies at Universal for Release in 2021, 2023|date=September 16, 2019|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|website=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801230715/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/m-night-shyamalan-sets-next-two-movies-at-universal-2021-2023-release-1239942/|archive-date=August 1, 2021}} but in April 2020,{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/universal-delays-nobody-m-night-shyamalans-untitled-film-1288964/|title=Universal Bumps Nobody to Winter, Delays M. Night Shyamalan's Untitled Film|date=April 7, 2020|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|website=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801230718/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/universal-delays-nobody-m-night-shyamalans-untitled-film-1288964/|archive-date=August 1, 2021}} the film was removed from the studio's release schedule after its film Nobody was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/12/m-night-shyamalan-bob-odenkirk-nobody-universal-movie-release-date-change-1202902785/|title=Universal's Bob Odenkirk Action Thriller Nobody Now Going A Week Later|date=December 10, 2020|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801230719/https://deadline.com/2020/12/m-night-shyamalan-bob-odenkirk-nobody-universal-movie-release-date-change-1202902785/|archive-date=August 1, 2021}} In June 2020, Universal Pictures announced that Old would be theatrically released on July 23, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/universal-sets-m-night-shyamalans-next-movie-july-2021-1299932/|title=Universal Sets M. Night Shyamalan's Next Movie for July 2021|date=June 23, 2020|first1=Pamela|last1=McClintock|first2=Aaron|last2=Couch|website=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801230809/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/universal-sets-m-night-shyamalans-next-movie-july-2021-1299932/|archive-date=August 1, 2021}} A premiere for the film was held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on July 19, 2021, which was attended by its cast and crew.
On February 7, 2021, during Super Bowl LV, Universal Pictures aired a 30-second television spot for Old.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/super-bowl-movie-trailer-ads-2021-what-to-expect-1234685625/|title=How Many Super Bowl Spots Are Hollywood Studios & Streamers Running This Year? Not That Many|date=February 2, 2021|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801232958/https://deadline.com/2021/02/super-bowl-movie-trailer-ads-2021-what-to-expect-1234685625/|archive-date=August 1, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/old-m-night-shyamalan-trailer-super-bowl-1234901638/|title=M. Night Shyamalan's New Film Old Releases First Trailer During Super Bowl|date=February 7, 2021|first=Antonio|last=Ferme|website=Variety|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801233000/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/old-m-night-shyamalan-trailer-super-bowl-1234901638/|archive-date=August 1, 2021}} Anthony D'Alessandro from Deadline Hollywood said the teaser reminded him of a two-part episode of The Brady Bunch, where an ancient tiki brings the group bad luck and causes Greg (Barry Williams) to suffer a surfing accident.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/video/super-bowl-movie-trailer-old-m-night-shyamalan-movie/|title=Old Trailer: M. Night Shyamalan's Upcoming Summer Thriller Unveiled – Watch Super Bowl Ad|date=February 7, 2021|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801233003/https://deadline.com/video/super-bowl-movie-trailer-old-m-night-shyamalan-movie/|archive-date=August 1, 2021}} Writing for Syfy Wire, Josh Weiss said the teaser "definitely bears Shyamalan's signature slow-boil tension."{{cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/m-night-shyamalan-old-drops-first-trailer|title=M. Night Shyamalan gets Old in first trailer for his next mysterious genre movie|date=February 7, 2021|first=Josh|last=Weiss|website=Syfy Wire|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801233054/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/m-night-shyamalan-old-drops-first-trailer|archive-date=August 1, 2021}} On May 27, 2021, a theatrical release poster and an official trailer were released, which Variety{{'s}} Antonio Ferme said brought "thrills and chills," and Weiss described as "a reverse Benjamin Button situation that the characters need to reverse before they shrivel up and die."{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/old-m-night-shyamalan-trailer-1234983257/|title=M. Night Shyamalan's Old Trailer Brings Thrills and Chills|date=May 27, 2021|first=Antonio|last=Ferme|website=Variety|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801233851/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/old-m-night-shyamalan-trailer-1234983257/|archive-date=August 1, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/old-m-night-shyamalan-official-trailer|title=Old: M. Night Shyamalan asks 'What's my age again?' in latest chilling trailer for his new film|date=May 27, 2021|first=Josh|last=Weiss|website=Syfy Wire|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801233835/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/old-m-night-shyamalan-official-trailer|archive-date=August 1, 2021}} That July, an exclusive image of the film was released in a magazine issue of Empire.{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/old-m-night-shyamalan-exclusive-image/|title=Old: M Night Shyamalan On Swapping Big Budgets For Creative Freedom – Exclusive Image|date=July 7, 2021|first=Ben|last=Travis|website=Empire|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801234148/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/old-m-night-shyamalan-exclusive-image/|archive-date=August 1, 2021}}
Summarizing the film's marketing results, RelishMix wrote that it was being compared to A Quiet Place Part II and The Conjuring 3, Shyamalan's Split and Glass, and Edgar Wright's Last Night in Soho, as well as ABC's Lost. The site added that there were "Conversational tones swings from excitement, fear, curiosity, caution, warnings to the characters in the film — to questions about the pregnant girl and numerous guesses about how the films ends and plot twists." By July 2021, the film's promotional content had been viewed a total of 113.2 million times, which included 41.2 million views from three YouTube videos and 30.3 million views from nineteen videos on Facebook. According to Universal Pictures, the Super Bowl teaser was viewed at least 100 million times, but overall, videos promoting the film "[fell] short of the norm along with daily click-rates." A Snapchat aging filter created for the film also gained 23 million views worldwide on its first day after it was used by celebrities such as Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley.
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment released Old on Digital HD via digital distribution on October 5, 2021, with a physical release on Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD on October 19. Special features include deleted scenes; "Shyamalan Family Business," a look into how Ishana and Saleka Shyamalan contributed to the film; "All the Beach Is a Stage" and "Nightmares in Paradise," a detailing of how filming took place; and "A Family in the Moment," featuring cast members describing a specific night of filming.{{cite web|url=https://www.thathashtagshow.com/2021/09/14/m-night-shyamalans-old-hits-4k-blu-ray-digital-in-october/|title=M. Night Shyamalan's Old Hits 4K, Blu-Ray, Digital in October|date=September 14, 2021|first=Jessica|last=Lancaster|website=That Hashtag Show|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926213029/https://www.thathashtagshow.com/2021/09/14/m-night-shyamalans-old-hits-4k-blu-ray-digital-in-october/|archive-date=September 26, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=September 26, 2021}}
Reception
=Box office=
Old grossed $48.3 million in the United States and Canada, and $41.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $90.2 million.{{cite Box Office Mojo|id=10954652|title=Old|access-date=September 28, 2021}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite The Numbers|id=Old-(2021)|title=Old (2021)|access-date=September 28, 2021}}{{cbignore}}
A week before its release, Variety and Deadline Hollywood reported that film analytics had predicted the film would make $12–15 million in its opening weekend, with some noting that its competition, which had the same target audience, could impact box office revenues.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/box-office/box-office-snake-eyes-old-opening-projections-1235023575/|title=Can Space Jam Dunk on M. Night Shyamalan's Old and Snake Eyes at the Box Office?|date=July 21, 2021|first=Rebecca|last=Rubin|website=Variety|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801211013/https://variety.com/2021/film/box-office/box-office-snake-eyes-old-opening-projections-1235023575/|archive-date=August 1, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/snake-eyes-m-night-shyamalan-old-weekend-box-office-projections-1234797523/|title=Snake Eyes & M. Night Shyamalan's Old In Cage Match At Weekend Box Office|date=July 21, 2021|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802014125/https://deadline.com/2021/07/snake-eyes-m-night-shyamalan-old-weekend-box-office-projections-1234797523/|archive-date=August 2, 2021}} Released alongside Snake Eyes and Joe Bell on July 23, 2021, in 3,355 theaters, Old made $6.9 million on its first day, including $1.5 million from Thursday night previews. With audiences that were 52% female and 62% at or over the age of 25, it went on to debut to $16.85 million,{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W30/|title=Domestic 2021 Weekend 30|website=Box Office Mojo|url-status=live|access-date=August 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803013252/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W30/|archive-date=August 3, 2021}} making it the sixth film of Shyamalan's to top the box office, though it marked the lowest opening weekend of his career.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/snake-eyes-old-m-night-shyamalan-weekend-box-office-1234798883/|title=Box Office Drops With Old, Snake Eyes, Black Widow & Space Jam 2: But Is Delta Variant Or Dynamic Windows To Blame? – Update|date=July 25, 2021|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802011843/https://deadline.com/2021/07/snake-eyes-old-m-night-shyamalan-weekend-box-office-1234798883/|archive-date=August 2, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed292553732/?ref_=bo_rl_ra|title=Shyamalan's Old Beats G.I. Joe's Snake Eyes As The Box Office Hits A Speed Bump|date=July 25, 2021|first=Sam|last=Mendelsohn|website=Box Office Mojo|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802015629/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed292553732/?ref_=bo_rl_ra|archive-date=August 2, 2021}}
Describing the openings of Old and Snake Eyes as "weak," Michael Cieply wrote an analysis to explain the audience decline at the box office, streaming sites, and television by using Occam's razor, "Maybe, as a group, we are suffering from 'screen fatigue' — not in the narrow sense of migraines, eye strain, and Computer Vision Syndrome, but in a much bigger way, as a culture. We are tired of Zoom calls. We are tired of event television. We are really tired of looking at ourselves on media screens, large and small."{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/as-audience-evaporates-reach-for-occams-razor-1234799712/|title=As The Audience For Almost Everything Evaporates, We Reach For Occam's Razor|date=July 26, 2021|first=Michael|last=Cieply|author-link=Michael Cieply|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802022010/https://deadline.com/2021/07/as-audience-evaporates-reach-for-occams-razor-1234799712/|archive-date=August 2, 2021}} In its second weekend, the film experienced a 60% decline and grossed $6.86 million.Multiple sources:
- {{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W31/|title=Domestic 2021 Weekend 31|website=Box Office Mojo|url-status=live|access-date=August 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806011008/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W31/|archive-date=August 6, 2021}}
- {{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/dwayne-johnson-jungle-cruise-weekend-box-office-disney-black-widow-1234806607/|title=Disney Pulls Jungle Cruise Into Weekend Port With $91.8M In Global B.O. & Disney+ Premier Spend|date=August 1, 2021|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802023031/https://deadline.com/2021/08/dwayne-johnson-jungle-cruise-weekend-box-office-disney-black-widow-1234806607/|archive-date=August 2, 2021}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed527434756/|title=Jungle Cruise Sets Sail With A $34.2 Million Domestic Opening; Adds $30 Million More On Disney Plus|date=August 1, 2021|first=Chris|last=Nashawaty|website=Box Office Mojo|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802023023/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed527434756/|archive-date=August 2, 2021}} After making $4.1 million in its third,Multiple sources:
- {{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W32/|title=Domestic 2021 Weekend 32|website=Box Office Mojo|url-status=live|access-date=August 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810012903/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W32/|archive-date=August 10, 2021}}
- {{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/the-suicide-squad-margot-robbie-james-gunn-opening-weekend-box-office-hbo-max-1234810359/|title=The Suicide Squad Posts Best R-Rated Opening During Pandemic With $26.5M, But Worst For Franchise: Here's Why|date=August 8, 2021|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|access-date=August 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808162224/https://deadline.com/2021/08/the-suicide-squad-margot-robbie-james-gunn-opening-weekend-box-office-hbo-max-1234810359/|archive-date=August 8, 2021}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed493880324/|title=The Suicide Squad Bows To A Disappointing $26.5 Million; Still Snags Top Spot At The U.S. Box Office|date=August 8, 2021|first=Chris|last=Nashawaty|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811092133/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed493880324/|archive-date=August 11, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=August 15, 2021}} Old dropped out of the box office top five in its fourth weekend with $2.4 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W33/|title=Domestic 2021 Weekend 33|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817001349/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W33/|archive-date=August 17, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=August 17, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/ryan-reynolds-free-guy-weekend-box-office-1234814231/|title=How Ryan Reynolds & Shawn Levy's Free Guy Triumphed At The Weekend Pandemic B.O. With A Great $28M+|date=August 15, 2021|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816210744/https://deadline.com/2021/08/ryan-reynolds-free-guy-weekend-box-office-1234814231/|archive-date=August 16, 2021|url-status=live}} In its fifth and sixth weekends, the film fell to the bottom of the box office top ten, making $1.15 million and $840,810, respectively.Multiple sources:
- {{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W34/|title=Domestic 2021 Weekend 34|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824224210/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W34/|archive-date=August 24, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=August 24, 2021}}
- {{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/ryan-reynolds-free-guy-paw-patrol-weekend-box-office-1234819266/|title=Free Guy Posts Best Summer Second Weekend Hold During Pandemic; 'Paw Patrol' Arrests $13M – Sunday Box Office Update|date=August 22, 2021|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822164136/https://deadline.com/2021/08/ryan-reynolds-free-guy-paw-patrol-weekend-box-office-1234819266/|archive-date=August 22, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=August 22, 2021}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W35/|title=Domestic 2021 Weekend 35|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831190629/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W35/|archive-date=August 31, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=September 1, 2021}}
Worldwide, Old made $6.5 million in its opening weekend in 23 markets;{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/old-box-office-snake-eyes-1234987711/|title=Box Office: Old Slithers Past Snake Eyes to Top Slow Weekend With $16.5M|date=July 24, 2021|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|website=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802020927/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/old-box-office-snake-eyes-1234987711/|archive-date=August 2, 2021}} the top countries were Russia ($2.1 million), the United Kingdom ($1.1 million), Mexico ($800,000), Italy ($600,000), and France ($500,000).{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/old-snake-eyes-black-widow-china-global-international-box-office-1234799615/|title=F9 Tops $600M WW, Black Widow Passes $300M & China Still Confounds With Hollywood Locked In Release Date Limbo – International Box Office|date=July 25, 2021|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802020929/https://deadline.com/2021/07/old-snake-eyes-black-widow-china-global-international-box-office-1234799615/|archive-date=August 2, 2021}} In its second, the film had a 35% drop and grossed $7.5 million, including a $1.2 million opening in Spain.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/jungle-cruise-sets-sail-with-62m-global-theatrical-faces-choppy-overseas-waters-suicide-squad-slays-7m-in-early-debut-international-box-office-1234807219/|title=Jungle Cruise Sets Sail With $62M Global Theatrical, Faces Choppy Overseas Waters; Suicide Squad Slays $7M In Early Debut – International Box Office|date=August 1, 2021|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|access-date=August 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804231803/https://deadline.com/2021/08/jungle-cruise-sets-sail-with-62m-global-theatrical-faces-choppy-overseas-waters-suicide-squad-slays-7m-in-early-debut-international-box-office-1234807219/|archive-date=August 4, 2021}} After making $4.4 million in its third weekend,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/the-suicide-squad-jungle-cruise-f9-global-international-box-office-1234811102/|title=The Suicide Squad Misses Mark At $72M Global; Overseas On Par With Birds Of Prey As Covid Complications Continue – International Box Office|date=August 8, 2021|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809104923/https://deadline.com/2021/08/the-suicide-squad-jungle-cruise-f9-global-international-box-office-1234811102/|archive-date=August 9, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=August 9, 2021}} it made $2 million in its fifth and held a Korean opening in a mere 453 theaters, a decision by the Korea Theater Association to release local titles instead.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/free-guy-f9-suicide-squad-reminiscence-luca-china-korea-global-international-box-office-1234819494/|title=Free Guy Banks $112M Global; Paw Patrol Collars $35M; F9 & Quiet Place 2 Near Milestones – International Box Office|date=August 22, 2021|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823014637/https://deadline.com/2021/08/free-guy-f9-suicide-squad-reminiscence-luca-china-korea-global-international-box-office-1234819494/|archive-date=August 23, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=August 23, 2021}} In its sixth weekend, Old was screened in 57 markets and made $1.64 million.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/free-guy-china-global-international-box-office-1234823823/|title=Free Guy Flies To $100M+ Overseas With China Assist, Global Now $180M – International Box Office|date=August 29, 2021|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829220314/https://deadline.com/2021/08/free-guy-china-global-international-box-office-1234823823/|archive-date=August 29, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=August 29, 2021}} It made $277,000 in its ninth weekend and $169,000 in its tenth across 60 foreign markets.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/dune-opening-weekend-shang-chi-global-international-box-office-1234839288/|title=Dune Reaps A Heap With $37M From Early Offshore Debut; Shang-Chi Tops $320M WW – International Box Office|date=September 19, 2021|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210919195633/https://deadline.com/2021/09/dune-opening-weekend-shang-chi-global-international-box-office-1234839288/|archive-date=September 19, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=September 19, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/dune-shang-chi-free-guy-china-global-international-box-office-1234844625/|title=Dune Mines $77M Cume Through Second Early Offshore Frame – International Box Office|date=September 26, 2021|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927114444/https://deadline.com/2021/09/dune-shang-chi-free-guy-china-global-international-box-office-1234844625/|archive-date=September 27, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=September 27, 2021}}
=Critical response=
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|50|5.50|344|Old has no shortage of interesting ideas -- and writer-director M. Night Shyamalan's uneven execution will intrigue or annoy viewers, with little middle ground between.|ref=yes|access-date=March 1, 2023}} {{MC film|55|53|ref=yes|access-date=March 1, 2022}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported 61% of audience members gave it a positive score, with 37% saying they would definitely recommend it.
Old received criticism for its screenplay and dialogue. Wendy Ide of The Observer said the film's exposition felt "ponderous and mannered" and asked: "If we can't believe the characters, how are we meant to accept the film's central premise?"{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/01/old-review-m-night-shyamalan-gael-garcia-bernal-vicky-krieps|title=Old review – M Night Shyamalan's beach thriller is all washed up|date=August 1, 2021|first=Wendy|last=Ide|website=The Observer|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802132331/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/01/old-review-m-night-shyamalan-gael-garcia-bernal-vicky-krieps|archive-date=August 2, 2021}} WXIX-TV{{'s}} Terrence "TT" Todd gave a similar response and said that while the premise was interesting, the plot was confusing and could have been explained better as its own television series.{{cite web|url=https://terrencetodd.com/2021/07/23/fox19-tt-is-not-feeling-old/|title=Fox19: TT Is Not Feeling Old|date=July 23, 2021|first=Terrence|last=Todd|website=WXIX-TV|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802134216/https://terrencetodd.com/2021/07/23/fox19-tt-is-not-feeling-old/|archive-date=August 2, 2021}} From Vox, Alissa Wilkinson wrote that "Shyamalan has not grown any more skilled at writing dialogue over the years," but found that at its best, the film was comparable to Luis Buñuel's The Exterminating Angel.{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/22588761/old-shyamalan-review|title=M. Night Shyamalan returns with Old, a floppy but haunting thriller about aging|date=July 23, 2021|first=Alissa|last=Wilkinson|website=Vox|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802134212/https://www.vox.com/22588761/old-shyamalan-review|archive-date=August 2, 2021}} Barry Hertz of The Globe and Mail said that the director had "stilted dialogue that runs in circles, dumb-dumb plot holes, [and] a bizarre determination to have his performers act as unnaturally as possible."{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-m-night-shyamalans-new-thriller-old-is-pure-chaos/|url-access=registration|title=M. Night Shyamalan's new thriller Old is pure chaos|date=July 22, 2021|first=Barry|last=Hertz|website=The Globe and Mail|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820010015/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-m-night-shyamalans-new-thriller-old-is-pure-chaos/|archive-date=August 20, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=August 19, 2021}} However, some critics enjoyed the gallows humor in the movie. Germain Lussier of Gizmodo said the movie was made with sadistic glee and surprising emotion.{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/m-night-shyamalans-old-is-one-of-the-movie-visceral-i-1847283013|title=M. Night Shyamalan's Old Is One of the Most Visceral, Intense Movies in Years|date=July 22, 2021|first=Germain|last=Lussier|website=Gizmodo|access-date=June 22, 2022|archive-date=June 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621013523/https://gizmodo.com/m-night-shyamalans-old-is-one-of-the-movie-visceral-i-1847283013|url-status=live}} Nick Allen of The Playlist called it a pitch-black comedy and self-aware horror.{{cite web|url=https://theplaylist.net/old-m-night-shyamalan-review-film-20210722/|title=Old: M. Night Shyamalan Crafts A Weird, Self-Aware Horror About How Time Comes For Us All [Review]|date=July 22, 2022|first=Nick|last=Allen|website=The Playlist|access-date=June 22, 2022|archive-date=June 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621013700/https://theplaylist.net/old-m-night-shyamalan-review-film-20210722/|url-status=live}} Scott Mendelson of Forbes said it would have benefited from an R rating and described it as a "relentless and mean little chiller".{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2021/07/22/old-m-night-shyamalan-review-universal/?sh=76ddb1dd6b87|title=Old Review: M. Night Shyamalan Has Nothing Left To Prove|date=July 22, 2022|first=Scott|last=Mendelson|website=Forbes|access-date=June 22, 2022|archive-date=June 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622224102/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2021/07/22/old-m-night-shyamalan-review-universal/?sh=76ddb1dd6b87|url-status=live}}
The film's cinematography and premise received praise. While criticizing the film in general, Jocelyn Novec from the Associated Press said it had "an enticing premise and pretty scenery."{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-entertainment-travel-arts-and-entertainment-film-reviews-26622970e8f18c3b12fd31429ec2ff76|title=Review: Crystal waters, soft sands, clunky dialogue in Old|date=July 22, 2021|first=Jocelyn|last=Novec|website=Associated Press|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802134805/https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-entertainment-travel-arts-and-entertainment-film-reviews-26622970e8f18c3b12fd31429ec2ff76|archive-date=August 2, 2021}} In his Deadline Hollywood review, Pete Hammond wrote, "I don't expect this one to age very well, and some of it is just laughably bad. At the very least, as a summertime theatrical release, the stunning location should give audiences a nice respite from the heat."{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/video/old-review-m-night-shyamalan-movie/|title=Old Review: M. Night Shyamalan's Latest Doesn't Age Well, But The Scenery's Nice|date=July 22, 2021|first=Pete|last=Hammond|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802134745/https://deadline.com/video/old-review-m-night-shyamalan-movie/|archive-date=August 2, 2021}} Critic Richard Roeper described the film's main location as "absolutely breathtaking,"{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/7/22/22588107/old-review-movie-m-night-shyamalan-alex-wolff-gael-garcia-bernal-thomasin-mckenzie-rufus-sewell|url-access=limited|title=Old: A beach speeds up aging in M. Night Shyamalan's latest letdown|date=July 22, 2021|first=Richard|last=Roeper|author-link=Richard Roeper|website=Chicago Sun-Times|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802135543/https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/7/22/22588107/old-review-movie-m-night-shyamalan-alex-wolff-gael-garcia-bernal-thomasin-mckenzie-rufus-sewell|archive-date=August 2, 2021}} and The New Yorker{{'s}} Richard Brody wrote that "with spare methods and sharp images, the director turns a simple premise into potent fantasy."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/old-reviewed-m-night-shyamalans-new-old-school-sci-fi-movie|url-access=limited|title=Old, Reviewed: M. Night Shyamalan's New Old-School Sci-Fi Movie|date=July 22, 2021|first=Richard|last=Brody|author-link=Richard Brody|magazine=The New Yorker|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802140456/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/old-reviewed-m-night-shyamalans-new-old-school-sci-fi-movie|archive-date=August 2, 2021}}
The film's themes and twist ending received a polarized response. Sandcastle, the novel the film is based on, ends without explaining why the beach ages its guests, and Wilkinson found that ending to be "more satisfying." From ABC News, Peter Travers said he was "shocked" to find "how clumsily [Shyamalan] handles potent themes about sudden death and the collapse of time that should resonate powerfully in the COVID-19 era. Even his argument for family values in the face of global youth worship feels rote."{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/review-shows-director-night-shyamalan-best-worst/story?id=78989033|title=Review: Old shows director M. Night Shyamalan at his best and worst|date=July 23, 2021|first=Peter|last=Travers|author-link=Peter Travers|website=ABC News|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802141229/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/review-shows-director-night-shyamalan-best-worst/story?id=78989033|archive-date=August 2, 2021}} Writing for The New York Times, Glenn Kenny said, "Shyamalan's fluid filmmaking style serves him especially well here [and] the way he switches out his actors as their characters age is seamless," but found that "while Shyamalan is often cited for his tricky endings, it's arguable that he doesn't quite stick the landing with this one."{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/22/movies/old-review.html|url-access=limited|title=Old Review: They Say Sun Can Age You, but This Is Ridiculous|date=July 22, 2021|first=Glenn|last=Kenny|author-link=Glenn Kenny|website=The New York Times|url-status=live|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802145642/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/22/movies/old-review.html|archive-date=August 2, 2021}}
=Accolades=
See also
- "Død Kalm", a 1995 episode of The X-Files, with a similar premise
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{wikiquote}}
- {{Official website|https://www.old.movie/}}
- {{IMDb title}}
{{M. Night Shyamalan}}
{{Blinding Edge Pictures}}
Category:American thriller films
Category:Blinding Edge Pictures films
Category:Films about diseases and disorders
Category:Films about rapid human age change
Category:Films about vacationing
Category:Films based on Swiss novels
Category:Films directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Category:Films postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Category:Films produced by M. Night Shyamalan
Category:Films shot in the Dominican Republic
Category:Films with screenplays by M. Night Shyamalan
Category:Live-action films based on comics
Category:Perfect World Pictures films
Category:Universal Pictures films