James McAvoy portrays a man with 23 distinct personalities who kidnaps three teenage girls in this 2016 M. Night Shyamalan psychological horror film. What is this film called?

The film described, where James McAvoy delivers a captivating performance as a man with 23 distinct personalities who abducts three teenage girls, is M. Night Shyamalan's 2016 psychological horror film, Split. McAvoy's character, Kevin Wendell Crumb, suffers from dissociative identity disorder (DID), and his numerous "alters" range from a nine-year-old boy named Hedwig to a manipulative woman named Patricia, all vying for control of his body and mind. The tension escalates as a terrifying 24th personality, "The Beast," threatens to emerge.

Split was a significant critical and commercial success for director M. Night Shyamalan, grossing $278 million worldwide against a $9 million budget. Critics widely praised McAvoy's transformative performance, showcasing his impressive range as he seamlessly shifted between the various personalities. However, the film also sparked debate among mental health advocates, with some criticizing its portrayal of dissociative identity disorder for potentially stigmatizing mental illness.

What makes Split particularly engaging is its surprising connection to another of Shyamalan's works. Unbeknownst to many viewers during its initial release, Split serves as a "stealth sequel" to his 2000 film, Unbreakable. This connection is dramatically revealed in the film's final moments with a cameo appearance by Bruce Willis, reprising his role as David Dunn from Unbreakable, confirming that both stories exist within the same cinematic universe. This unexpected twist set the stage for the third installment in the trilogy, Glass, which brought together the characters from both films.