Without a doubt, one of the most iconic movie twists of all time is The Sixth Sense. M. Night Shyamalan's ghost story is a wonderful thriller for much of the runtime, but it ends with the shocking surprise that Malcolm (Bruce Willis) has been dead the entire movie and is one of the ghosts young Cole (Haley Joel Osment) sees.
The reveal is one of those brilliant twists that immediately makes the viewer want to watch the movie again from the beginning to see if they can spot all the clues. As it turns out, the movie is filled with hints to the truth about Malcolm that, looking back on it now, spell out the ending perfectly.
Malcolm Is Shot
The movie wastes no time establishing its creepy tone as the first scene finds a former patient of Malcolm's breaking into his home and shooting Malcolm for failing to help him. It might not seem very subtle for the movie to include Malcolm's death in the first minutes, but it is a testament to Shyamalan's talents that he is still able to trick everyone.
The movie cuts to a year later and it seems like the encounter was a life-changing moment for Malcolm which sets him on his path to help Cole. In reality, it was the moment his life ended.
When Cole Shares His Secret
The moment Cole decides to trust Malcolm and tell him his secret is an iconic scene, featuring the unforgettable line, "I see dead people." But right after Cole delivers the line, there is a tight closeup on Malcolm as he absorbs the information.
While it could be that Malcolm was troubled to hear Cole suffered the same issues as his troubled former patient, it could also be inferred that Cole is trying to tell Malcolm he is dead and Malcolm is fighting against accepting that.
The Ghosts Don't Know They're Dead
The idea of a movie in which the main character is dead for the whole story only for him and the audience to learn the truth in the final moments seems impossible to pull off. However, Shyamalan was able to establish rules that made sense, covered the twist, and yet didn't tip off the audience.
When Cole explains to Malcolm that he sees dead people, he tells him that these ghosts don't realize they are dead. In retrospect, this should have been a big clue as it established the possibility of one of the characters being dead.
Malcolm Can't Open The Door
Another rule that Cole establishes is that the dead people see that world as they want to see it, specifically, remembering how things were when they were alive. This revelation answers one of the smaller mysteries presented in the movie.
Several times throughout The Sixth Sense, Malcolm is seen attempting to open a locked door in his house but is unable to find the key. However, when he realizes he is dead, he sees that the door is not locked but rather blocked off by a desk which Malcolm didn't notice because it wasn't there when he was alive.
Cole Helps Malcolm
Once Malcolm believes Cole's claims that he can see dead people, Malcolm suggests that the ghosts might be drawn to Cole so that he can help them and thus be left alone. Given the fact that it is Malcolm helping Cole throughout the movie, there was not really any reason for fans to be suspicious of this fact.
However, just before the reveal at the ending, Cole gives Malcolm some intelligent advice on how to connect with his wife again. It is that help from Cole that leads to Malcolm realizing the truth.
No One Else Interacts With Malcolm
Once again, the fact that he is only ever acknowledged by one other character would seemingly cause viewers to suspect that Malcolm was actually a ghost. But Shyamalan was able to stage these scenes in a way that seemed relatively normal.
Malcolm is seen alone with Cole's mother as well as with her when speaking to a doctor, but none of the characters other than Cole speaks to him or even acknowledges that he is even there.
Malcolm's Marriage Troubles
Whenever the movie isn't focused on Malcolm and Cole's relationship with each other, it takes a look at their own troubled relationships at home. Just as Cole struggles to connect with his mother, Malcolm's wife has seemingly become cold to him.
While the movie makes it seem that it is due to Malcolm's obsession with work, she is acting distant from him because he is no longer alive. From her ignoring Malcolm to her getting close with another man, it becomes clear that she is not an unloving wife but a mourning widow.
The Restaurant Scene
One of the most brilliant scenes to look back on is the restaurant scene between Malcolm and his wife. Once again, Shyamalan is able to present it in a way that feels natural on first viewing but becomes extremely obvious once the truth has been revealed.
Malcolm shows up late for dinner and his wife refuses to talk to him and grabs the check before he is able to. As he tries to explain himself, she sadly whispers "Happy anniversary" before leaving. The scene makes so much upon realizing that she is the only one at the table.
Malcolm Wears The Same Clothes He Died In
While certain costumes in movies stand out, Malcolm's clothes in The Sixth Sense are very ordinary and unassuming which was clearly intended. Because after seeing Malcolm in a blue dress shirt on the night he is shot, he is never seen out of that shirt.
He wears coats and various other layers to make it less obvious, but that shirt is always part of his ensemble. In the final moments, it is revealed that the shirt is stained with blood from when he was shot, revealing why he never removes it.
Malcolm's Wedding Ring
The reveal at the end of the movie begins with Malcolm's wife dropping his wedding ring on the ground as he realizes he isn't wearing it. While this moment spells it out, it was actually a clue that was planted throughout the movie.
Malcolm is not seen wearing his wedding ring at all in the movie while his wife is seen with hers. Though they are having marital trouble, it seems as though she is the one pulling away from him so the fact that she would wear the ring doesn't make sense. Of course, the reason he doesn't have his is that she has held onto it since his death.