Appearance

  • light/dark mode
powered by
moviedb

Awakenings

"There is no such thing as a simple miracle."

1990-12-04 Drama 2hr 0m

Dr. Malcolm Sayer, a shy research physician, uses an experimental drug to "awaken" the catatonic victims of a rare disease. Leonard is the first patient to receive the controversial treatment. His awakening, filled with awe and enthusiasm, proves a rebirth for Sayer too, as the exuberant patient reveals life's simple but unutterably sweet pleasures to the introverted doctor.

More
Trailer
Netflix

Watch on Netflix

close
Awakenings
Netflix

Watch on Netflix

Storyline

Dr. Malcolm Sayer, a shy research physician, uses an experimental drug to "awaken" the catatonic victims of a rare disease. Leonard is the first patient to receive the controversial treatment. His awakening, filled with awe and enthusiasm, proves a rebirth for Sayer too, as the exuberant patient reveals life's simple but unutterably sweet pleasures to the introverted doctor.

  • Released
    1990-12-04
  • Revenue
    $52,096,475
  • Budget
    $31,000,000
  • Runtime
    2hr 0m
  • Genre
    Drama
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    7.8
  • Production
    Parkes/Lasker productions

Crew

Penny Marshall
Director
Steven Zaillian
Screenplay
Walter F. Parkes
Producer

Stream and watch Awakenings

similar movies

Cold in July

Cold in July

Hellion

Hellion

Infinitely Polar Bear

Infinitely Polar Bear

Pietà

Pietà

Daimi

Daimi

Tales of Meeting and Parting

Tales of Meeting and Parting

Scarface

Scarface

Antonia's Line

Antonia's Line

Crash

Crash

All the President's Men

All the President's Men

Aparajito

Aparajito

Cool Hand Luke

Cool Hand Luke

Doctor Zhivago

Doctor Zhivago

Bullitt

Bullitt

Don't Look Now

Don't Look Now

The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera

Paths of Glory

Paths of Glory

On the Wire

On the Wire

Clair Obscur

Clair Obscur

In Between

In Between

Cast

Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro

Leonard Lowe
Robin Williams

Robin Williams

Malcolm Sayer
John Heard

John Heard

Dr. Kaufman
Julie Kavner

Julie Kavner

Eleanor Costello
Ruth Nelson

Ruth Nelson

Mrs. Lowe
Max von Sydow

Max von Sydow

Peter Ingham
Alice Drummond

Alice Drummond

Lucy Fishman
Mary Alice

Mary Alice

Nurse Margaret
Harvey Miller

Harvey Miller

Hospital Director
Tanya Berezin

Tanya Berezin

Psychiatrist
Peter Stormare

Peter Stormare

Neurochemist
Shane Fistell

Shane Fistell

Man in Hall
Waheedah Ahmad

Waheedah Ahmad

Hysterical Woman
Linda Burns

Linda Burns

Fishsticks
Judy Jacksina

Judy Jacksina

Hospital Receptionist
Rico Elias

Rico Elias

Orderly #1
Mel Gorham

Mel Gorham

Nurse Sara
Chris Carolan

Chris Carolan

EEG Technician
Debra Kovner-Zaks

Debra Kovner-Zaks

Cafeteria Nurse
Max Rabinowitz

Max Rabinowitz

Ward #5 Orderly
Gordon Joseph Weiss

Gordon Joseph Weiss

Ward #5 Patient
Byron Utley

Byron Utley

Ward #5 Patient #2
Anthony McGowen

Anthony McGowen

Ward #5 Patient #3
Paul Montgomery

Paul Montgomery

Ward #5 Patient #4
Leonard Tepper

Leonard Tepper

Ward #5 Patient #5
Vincent Pastore

Vincent Pastore

Ward #5 Patient #6
Howard Feller

Howard Feller

Ward #5 Patient #7
Libby Titus

Libby Titus

Club Singer
Michael Hyde

Michael Hyde

Bus Driver
Adam Bryant

Adam Bryant

Librarian
Anthony J. Nici

Anthony J. Nici

Young Leonard
Oliver Block

Oliver Block

Leonard's Friend #1
Buck Smith

Buck Smith

Leonard's Friend #2
Harry L. Seddon

Harry L. Seddon

Medical Student
Jack Mulcahy

Jack Mulcahy

Psych Ward Intern
Jason W. Fuchs

Jason W. Fuchs

Pot-Head Hippie
Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel

Hospital Orderly (uncredited)

Videos and Photos

Awakenings
Awakenings
Awakenings
Awakenings
Awakenings
Awakenings
Awakenings

Movie Reviews

Reviews for Awakenings
reviewer avatar

A Review by Wuchak 5

Written by Wuchak on 2020-01-01

***A ‘hospital film’ with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, based on a true story*** A shy doctor (Robin Williams) gets a job at a Bronx... read more

***A ‘hospital film’ with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, based on a true story*** A shy doctor (Robin Williams) gets a job at a Bronx hospital in 1969 where he attends to several patients in a catatonic state after the encephalitis epidemic of 1917–28. He experiments with a new drug that offers the hope of reviving them. Robert De Niro plays his key patient, Julie Kavner his nurse and John Heard his supervisor. Penelope Ann Miller is also on hand as a potential romantic interest. "Awakenings” (1990) is based on Oliver Sacks' 1973 memoir of the same name, which chronicled the true event that occurred the summer of ’69. Being a hospital movie about ailing people trying to recover puts it in the same camp as “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” (1975) and “Instinct” (1999), but it’s not as compelling. There’s just not enough human interest beyond the viewer being sympathetic toward the patients’ plight and wanting them to get well. It’s also marred by some blatant predictableness, like Leonard’s name on the bench and the “cup of coffee” aspect. Still, this is a tale that needed to be told and I’m not sorry I watched it. It’s just overrated. The film runs 2 hours and was shot in Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, New York City. GRADE: C+

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by Wuchak

***A ‘hospital film’ with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, based on a true story*** A shy doctor (Robin Williams) gets a job at a Bronx hospital in 1969 where he attends to several patients in a catatonic state after the encephalitis e...

reviewer avatar

A Review by Wuchak 5

Written by Wuchak on 2020-01-01

***A ‘hospital film’ with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, based on a true story*** A shy doctor (Robin Williams) gets a job at a Bronx hospital in 1969 where he attends to several patients in a ...

read more