Is This M. Night Shyamalan’s Comeback?

The Visit scores second-place box office finish for Philly director.

M. Night Shyamalan on the set of The Visit. Photograph by John Baer/Universal Pictures

M. Night Shyamalan on the set of The Visit. Photograph by John Baer/Universal Pictures

Philly director M. Night Shyamalan appears to have found his first success in awhile, taking second place at the box office this weekend with his newest flick, The Visit.

“His comedic found-footage horror thriller about a seemingly innocent visit of two teenagers to their grandparents’ house earned an estimated $26-million on its debut weekend, which gave it a close second-place finish,” CBS Philly reports. “But first place belonged to the new suspense thriller, The Perfect Guy, which took in $27-million.”

If that $26 million haul seems less-than-impressive to your Hollywood-jaded bones, remember this: Shyamalan made this movie on the cheap, for a reported $5 million. Even if it doesn’t score $100 million blockbuster numbers, The Visit being in the black would represent a turnaround from the director’s recent big-budget efforts. [CBS Philly | Philly Mag: “M. Night Shyamalan Wants to Scare You Again”]