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Trailer

Awakenings

1990Movie2 h 0 minPG-13

Drama
79
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.8Letterboxd4.0/5Metacritic748.1Rotten Tomatoes81%89%

A deeply moving, awe-inspiring drama movie about everyday modern life and the mind, with standout performances and characters.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

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Not for laughs, brutality or scares.

Movies with

Story

There is no such thing as a simple miracle.

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.

Feels like

  • Emotional Drama
  • Medical Biography
  • Powerful Performances
  • Poignant & Tearjerking
  • Human Connection
  • Psychological Exploration
  • Melancholic Beauty
  • Inspiring yet Tragic

Cast

24 of 34

Crew

Directed by
Penny Marshall
Written by
Steven Zaillian
Produced by
Lawrence Lasker, Walter F. Parkes
Music by
Randy Newman

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

December 4, 1990 · 2 h 0 min · PG-13

Released
December 4, 1990
Runtime
2 h 0 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$31 million
Box office
$52 million
Available in
83 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book, based on true story

Tropes

Adaptational Sexuality, And I Must Scream, Based on a True Story +9

  • Adaptational Sexuality
  • And I Must Scream
  • Based on a True Story
  • Bittersweet Ending
  • Brick Joke
  • Cloud Cuckoo Lander
  • Fish out of Temporal Water
  • The Future Is Shocking
  • Rip Van Winkle
  • Precision F-Strike
  • Not That Kind of Doctor
  • Spotting the Thread

12 of 19 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Awakenings?"

Questions about Awakenings

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Awakenings?

Tubi TVSony Pictures Core

In the United States, Awakenings streams on Sony Pictures Core, and it is free with ads on Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 17 other countries.

Is Awakenings worth watching?

79
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 79 (IMDb 7.8, Letterboxd 4.0 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 81%, and Metacritic 74).

Is Awakenings okay for kids?

PG-13Disturbing imagery

Yes: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Is Awakenings plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on pathos (10 of 10) and character depth (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is Awakenings good for date night?

and 4 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFamily Movie NightFriends Night

Yes: romance is 6 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.