The Happening
“We've sensed it. We've seen the signs. Now...it's happening.”
Synopsis
When a deadly airborne virus threatens to wipe out the northeastern United States, teacher Elliot Moore and his wife Alma flee from contaminated cities into the countryside in a fight to discover the truth. Is it terrorism, the accidental release of some toxic military bio weapon -- or something even more sinister?
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Happening Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2008-06-27
Top Cast
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Mark Wahlberg
Elliot Moore
Zooey Deschanel
Alma Moore
John Leguizamo
Julian
Ashlyn Sanchez
Jess
Betty Buckley
Mrs. Jones
Spencer Breslin
Josh
Robert Bailey Jr.
Jared
Frank Collison
Nursery Owner
Jeremy Strong
Private Auster
Alan Ruck
Principal
Victoria Clark
Nursery Owner's Wife
M. Night Shyamalan
Joey (voice)
Alison Folland
Woman Reading on Bench with Hair Pin
Kristen Connolly
Woman Reading on Bench
Cornell Womack
Construction Foreman
Curtis McClarin
Construction Crew Member
Robert Lenzi
Jake
Derege Harding
Train Conductor
Release History & Theatrical Window
New York City, New York
Festival / Special Debut
June 13, 2008
Wide Cinema Exhibition
April 18, 2017
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$60M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$163.4M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.72x
+$103.4M net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- M. Night Shyamalan
- Screenplay & Story
- M. Night Shyamalan
- Original Score
- James Newton Howard
- Original Title
- The Happening
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, India
- Spoken Languages
- English, French
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Production Budget
- $60M
- Worldwide Gross
- $163.4M
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox, UTV Motion Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment, Blinding Edge Pictures, Dune Entertainment III
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
M. Night Shyamalan
M. Night Shyamalan
James Newton Howard
Tak Fujimoto
Conrad Buff IV
M. Night Shyamalan, Barry Mendel, Sam Mercer, Deven Khote, Jose L. Rodriguez
Department Leadership Roster
M. Night Shyamalan
Director
M. Night Shyamalan
Screenplay
M. Night Shyamalan
Producer
Barry Mendel
Producer
Sam Mercer
Producer
Deven Khote
Producer
Jose L. Rodriguez
Producer
John Rusk
Producer
James Newton Howard
Original Music Composer
Tak Fujimoto
Director of Photography
Conrad Buff IV
Editor
Jeannine Oppewall
Production Design
Betsy Heimann
Costume Design
Ruth Myers
Costume Design
David Ebner
Visual Effects Supervisor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Happening.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Happening
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Happening about?
When a deadly airborne virus threatens to wipe out the northeastern United States, teacher Elliot Moore and his wife Alma flee from contaminated cities into the countryside in a fight to discover the truth. Is it terrorism, the accidental release of some toxic military bio weapon -- or something even more sinister?
Who directed The Happening?
The Happening was directed by M. Night Shyamalan.
Who stars in The Happening?
The principal cast of The Happening includes Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, Ashlyn Sanchez, Betty Buckley.
When was The Happening released and how long is it?
The Happening was released in 2008 with a total runtime of 1h 30m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Happening?
The Happening had a reported production budget of $60M and grossed $163.4M at the worldwide box office (2.72 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for The Happening?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Happening was composed by James Newton Howard.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Happening?
The Happening holds official age classifications: AU: MA 15+; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).