Awakenings

Play trailer

2:44

Awakenings

PG-13

Released Dec 20, 1990

2h 1m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

37 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

Buy 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

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B

Sep 7, 2011

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

Read all reviews

Enigma N

When this movie came out, I was in college studying psychology and creative writing. The story of Oliver Sack's work with those patients had a deep emotional impact on me. At the time, I wanted to write science-fiction and fantasy novels. After graduation, I was a licensed social worker in community mental health. I feel like this story is still shaping my life. It took me a long time to realize I want to help educate people about health and medical issues. I hope to combine my love of science and writing. I will mention one negative aspect. The movie is somewhat misleading about Leonard (Robert De Niro's character). The movie references the side effects of psychosis from L-Dopa. In reality, Leonard wanted to discontinue L-Dopa because of the psychosis, not because the drug stopped working for him. For me, the choice between psychosis and lethargica makes the story even sadder.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/23/24

Full Review

Daniel N

Sharing an important story, Penny Marshall delivers a beautiful film with remarkable performances.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/20/24

Full Review

Samuel P

Absolute beauty of a film

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/08/24

Full Review

Dionisis T

Touching and certainly one of the most beautiful films based on true events and real physical ailments...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/30/24

Full Review

Captain A

Dramatic and emotional about giving life only to have it taken away again.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/28/24

Full Review

Luke G

An emotional and poignant movie that engages and invests audiences into the struggles and denials of awakening back into the real world.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/26/23

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

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

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

Robin Williams’ 10 Best Movies

Paramount Takes a Shine to "Stoneheart"

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