Mark Wahlberg openly expressed his disappointment with the film The Happening, directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

Released in 2008, the psychological thriller features Wahlberg as a science teacher battling an inexplicable environmental threat that induces people to commit suicide. Critically panned (earning a mere 18% on Rotten Tomatoes), the movie faced severe backlash.

Mark Wahlberg

Wahlberg himself refrained from defending it, acknowledging the negative reception it received. The actor’s candidness about his dissatisfaction mirrored the sentiment shared by many film critics and audiences alike in the years following its release.

Mark Wahlberg Said Amy Adams Saved Herself From Being Cast

During a press conference for the film The Fighter in 2013, Mark Wahlberg was questioned about his experience working with co-star Amy Adams. In response, Wahlberg said that Adams was lucky to have skipped The Happening.

Amy Adams

 “We had actually had the luxury of having lunch before to talk about another movie, and it was a bad movie that I did,” Wahlberg said. “She dodged the bullet.

And then I was still able to…I don’t want to tell you what movie…alright, ‘The Happening.’ Fuck it. It is what it is. Fucking trees, man. The plants. Fuck it. You can’t blame me for not wanting to try to play a science teacher. At least I wasn’t playing a cop or a crook.”

The film received negative reviews from critics and struggled to resonate with audiences, ultimately becoming a controversial entry in Shyamalan’s filmography.

Night Shyamalan Wasn’t Bothered by Mark Wahlberg’s Criticism

During an interview with Vulture to promote his film Glass, director M. Night Shyamalan was asked about Mark Wahlberg’s criticism of The Happening. Shyamalan responded that he was not bothered by Wahlberg’s comments.
“Since that would be the only case of that happening — no,” the director said. “But really, no. It’s totally his call. However, he wants to interpret it.”

Mark Wahlberg

According to Shyamalan, The Happening didn’t resonate with critics and audiences because of its intended tone.

The director aimed to create a B-movie atmosphere, describing it as the “best B-movie you’ll ever see.”

However, this approach left viewers uncertain about how to interpret the events in the film, whether to take them seriously or find humor in them. The film’s tone became a divisive aspect contributing to its mixed reception.
“I think it’s a consistent kind of farce humor,” Shyamalan said about B-movies. “You know, like ‘The Blob.’ The key to ‘The Blob’ is that it just never takes itself that seriously.”