Awakenings

Play trailer

2:44

Awakenings

PG-13

Released Dec 20, 1990

2h 1m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

The story of a doctor's extraordinary work in the Sixties with a group of catatonic patients he finds languishing in a Bronx hospital. Speculating that their rigidity may be akin to an extreme form of Parkinsonism, he seeks permission from his skeptical superiors to treat them with L-dopa, a drug that was used to treat Parkinson's disease at the time.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Elevated by some of Robin Williams' finest non-comedic work and a strong performance from Robert De Niro, Awakenings skirts the edges of melodrama, then soars above it.

Read Critics Reviews

Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

Williams gives his best "straight" performance, shorn of all his marvelous manic vaudeville. The man he plays here is not a performer, which he was even in Dead Poets Society, but simply a man.

Aug 15, 2014

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Nonfunny Robin Williams role in moving story.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 22, 2010

Full Review

Noah Berlatsky

Splice Today

If Awakenings is a cure for Hollywood’s sexism, then it is, unfortunately, a cure which was painfully limited.

Apr 22, 2024

Full Review

Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

Though the film is directed with elegant reticence by the gifted Penny Marshall, it's diminished somewhat by Zaillian's tissue-thin adaptation which relies heavily on formulaic comedy, on cliches of character and plot.

Rated: 2/4

May 9, 2023

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Awakenings suffers from false optimism and, in the end, is inconsolably sad. [Full review in Spanish]

Jan 20, 2023

Full Review

Toussaint Egan

Polygon

With stirring lead performances courtesy of Williams and De Niro, Awakenings is a beautiful and captivating film about making the most out of life.

Oct 22, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Mr. S

Awakenings (1990) shows the beauty of optimism and the strength of the human spirit, while also confronting us with the sad reality that not every story ends happily.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/13/25

Full Review

Gareth v

An inspiring, heartfelt drama that celebrates human resilience and connection.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/11/25

Full Review

Kristin M.

Explores the relationship between being alive and living. So much crying and laughing. Loved this movie so much.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/04/25

Full Review

Benjamin H

Thanks to a stellar screenplay and fantastic performances from legends Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, Awakenings manages to outweigh some of its small issues in conveying drama with its beautiful, tender and introspective exploration of themes like cherishing the simple things in life and its fascinating character development.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Success in 2 hours and 1 minute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $49,400,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

Full Review

Larry K

Great movie. Sad ending. Robin and Deniro are fantastic!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/16/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Penny Marshall

Director

Robert De Niro

Leonard Lowe

Robin Williams

Dr. Malcolm Sayer

Julie Kavner

Eleanor Costello

Ruth Nelson

Mrs. Lowe

John Heard

Dr. Kaufman

Awakenings: Official Clip - The Drug Isn't Working

2:37

Awakenings: Official Clip - The Will of the Ball

2:18

Awakenings: Official Clip - Remind Them How Good It Is

1:47

Awakenings: Official Clip - The Simplest Things

3:22

Awakenings: Official Clip - I Won't See You Anymore

2:29

Awakenings: Official Clip - You Woke A Person

2:14

Awakenings: Official Clip - The Strangest Dream

2:09

Awakenings: Official Clip - We're Talking About Money

1:29

Awakenings: Official Clip - You're Awake

2:29

Awakenings: Official Clip - Don't Give Up on Me

2:02

View more videos

White Nights

46%

74%

White Nights

Watchlist

My Life

44%

74%

My Life

Watchlist

TRAILER

for My Life

Agnes of God

44%

59%

Agnes of God

Watchlist

The Deep End of the Ocean

42%

58%

The Deep End of the Ocean

Watchlist

Medicine Man

17%

46%

Medicine Man

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Awakenings: Trailer 1

2:44

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

The story of a doctor's extraordinary work in the Sixties with a group of catatonic patients he finds languishing in a Bronx hospital. Speculating that their rigidity may be akin to an extreme form of Parkinsonism, he seeks permission from his skeptical superiors to treat them with L-dopa, a drug that was used to treat Parkinson's disease at the time.

Director: Penny Marshall
Producer: Walter F. Parkes, Lawrence Lasker
Screenwriter: Steven Zaillian
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 20, 1990, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 15, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $49.4M
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now