Awakenings

Play trailer

2:44

Awakenings

PG-13

1990

2h 1m

Drama

Biography

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

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

08/15/2014

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.

Go to Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/22/2010

4/5

Nonfunny Robin Williams role in moving story.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jan 26

2.5/4

De Niro’s performance is a matter of taste: Some will marvel at his total immersion into a role that requires a lot of twitching while others will see early signs of the ham he would eventually become.

Go to Full Review

Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

Dec 16

4/5

Awakenings may not hold much in the way of surprises over the course of its narrative arc, but it remains a richly emotional true-life tale that pulls you in with its captivating story & the marvelous performances from co-leads Williams & De Niro.

Go to Full Review

Noah Berlatsky

Splice Today

04/22/2024

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

Go to Full Review

Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

05/09/2023

2/4

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.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

David D

@David2026 Jul 19

A brilliantly acted film by all involved, superbly shot and. both heartwarming and wrenching to watch. Ultimately it's a story about the human condition, the fight against the unknown and adversity, the joy of discovery and the anguish of inevitability.

See more

Einat H

@EinatStrassberg96 Jun 26

Loved it, will watch again.

See more

Christina M.

@RT82416517 May 25

I think in this era of movie making there was gentle story telling for hard truths. In the awakenings they added the balance of RW quirkiness with the sadness of those who were lost to an unknown, untreatable diagnosis. I enjoyed the movie and feel it met all expectations for the movie goer.

See more

Iverrie B

@RT95293858 Mar 31

This movie changed my life, I had never cried at a movie before, but this one made me SOB. Robin Williams doesnt have a funny role, but I think it adds more. I feel like it adds to the deep connection viewers have with these raw characters.

See more

Jeff H

@Jethro71 Mar 15

Robert William brings you in and helps make you care for his patients and the small window of opertunity they had when they "Awoke" and were living life again. Truly enjoyable and yet sad movie.

See more

thiago S

@Thiagostone Mar 7

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

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

Now Playing

Awakenings: Official Clip - The Will of the Ball

2:18

Now Playing

Awakenings: Official Clip - Remind Them How Good It Is

1:47

Now Playing

Awakenings: Official Clip - The Simplest Things

3:22

Now Playing

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

2:29

Now Playing

Awakenings: Official Clip - You Woke A Person

2:14

Now Playing

Awakenings: Official Clip - The Strangest Dream

2:09

Now Playing

Awakenings: Official Clip - We're Talking About Money

1:29

Now Playing

Awakenings: Official Clip - You're Awake

2:29

Now Playing

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

2:02

Now Playing

View more videos

White Nights

50%

74%

White Nights

Watchlist

My Life

42%

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

Now Playing

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, Biography
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

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings