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Awakenings

  • 1990
  • 12
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
154K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,808
88
Robert De Niro and Robin Williams in Awakenings (1990)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:44
4 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDrama

The victims of an encephalitis epidemic many years ago have been catatonic ever since, but now a new drug offers the prospect of reviving them.The victims of an encephalitis epidemic many years ago have been catatonic ever since, but now a new drug offers the prospect of reviving them.The victims of an encephalitis epidemic many years ago have been catatonic ever since, but now a new drug offers the prospect of reviving them.

  • Director
    • Penny Marshall
  • Writers
    • Oliver Sacks
    • Steven Zaillian
  • Stars
    • Robert De Niro
    • Robin Williams
    • Julie Kavner
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    154K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,808
    88
    • Director
      • Penny Marshall
    • Writers
      • Oliver Sacks
      • Steven Zaillian
    • Stars
      • Robert De Niro
      • Robin Williams
      • Julie Kavner
    • 275User reviews
    • 51Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 6 wins & 11 nominations total

    Videos4

    Awakenings
    Trailer 2:44
    Watch Awakenings
    Awakenings
    Trailer 2:43
    Watch Awakenings
    Awakenings
    Clip 1:51
    Watch Awakenings
    Clip
    Video 1:46
    Watch Clip

    Photos112

    Robert De Niro and Robin Williams in Awakenings (1990)
    Robin Williams and Julie Kavner in Awakenings (1990)
    Robert De Niro and Robin Williams in Awakenings (1990)
    Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, and Ruth Nelson in Awakenings (1990)
    Robin Williams in Awakenings (1990)
    Penelope Ann Miller in Awakenings (1990)
    Robert De Niro and Penelope Ann Miller in Awakenings (1990)
    Don Rickles and Barbara Rickles at an event for Awakenings (1990)
    David Arquette at an event for Awakenings (1990)
    Penny Marshall at an event for Awakenings (1990)
    Penny Marshall at an event for Awakenings (1990)
    Awakenings (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert De Niro
    Robert De Niro
    • Leonard Lowe
    Robin Williams
    Robin Williams
    • Dr. Malcolm Sayer
    Julie Kavner
    Julie Kavner
    • Eleanor Costello
    Ruth Nelson
    Ruth Nelson
    • Mrs. Lowe
    John Heard
    John Heard
    • Dr. Kaufman
    Penelope Ann Miller
    Penelope Ann Miller
    • Paula
    Alice Drummond
    Alice Drummond
    • Lucy
    Judith Malina
    Judith Malina
    • Rose
    Barton Heyman
    Barton Heyman
    • Bert
    George Martin
    George Martin
    • Frank
    Anne Meara
    Anne Meara
    • Miriam
    Richard Libertini
    Richard Libertini
    • Sidney
    Laura Esterman
    • Lolly
    Dexter Gordon
    Dexter Gordon
    • Rolando
    Jayne Haynes
    • Frances
    Le Clanché du Rand
    • Magda
    • (as Le Clanche Du Rand)
    Yusef Bulos
    Yusef Bulos
    • Joseph
    Steven Randazzo
    Steven Randazzo
    • Luis
    • (as Steve Randazzo)
    • Director
      • Penny Marshall
    • Writers
      • Oliver Sacks
      • Steven Zaillian
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Robert De Niro wanted Shelley Winters to play his mother. However, the studio insisted that she read for the part first. Winters refused to do so and when she met the casting director, she reportedly put both her Oscars on his desk and said, "Some people think I can act".
    • Goofs
      When Leonard gets the correct dose of medicine and 'awakens', he walks with almost no difficulty. If he had been catatonic for years, and even if he had been exercised regularly, he would not have been able to just get up and walk around so easily. His muscles would have atrophied. His voice would also have been raspy from disuse.
    • Quotes

      Leonard Lowe: We've got to tell everybody. We've got to remind them. We've got to remind them how good it is.

      Dr. Sayer: How good what is, Leonard?

      Leonard Lowe: Read the newspaper. What does it say? All bad. It's all bad. People have forgotten what life is all about. They've forgotten what it is to be alive. They need to be reminded. They need to be reminded of what they have and what they can lose. What I feel is the joy of life, the gift of life, the freedom of life, the wonderment of life!

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Rookie/Berkeley in the Sixties/Edward Scissorhands/The Grifters (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
      Written by Harry Carroll and Joseph McCarthy

    User reviews275

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Excellent tear dropping drama
    Such a great movie, no wonder why in the 90's it deserved some Oscar nominations. A touching, emotional and inspiring story about a shy doctor with no life that arrives to the chronic hospital in the Bronx to work with post-encephalitic patients, there he meets Leonard a man who's been catatonic for nearly 30 years.While he helps Leonard to restarts his life he began to learn how live his own. The plot is totally convincing and very well developed. The directing was great, Director Penny Marshall did a great job with a very simple view of how's the life of that kind of patients and of the people around them with a very good movie rhythm that flows perfectly and never bores you. The cast is simply excellent, having a pair of actors like Williams and De Niro together in the same film its just worthy. Robert De Niro's performance was flawless, there's no doubt that it was an Oscar nomination role, Robin Williams was also great as Dr. Malcolm Sayer, one of his best performances ever. The secondary roles from Penelope Ann Miller, Julie Kavner, John Heard and Ruth Nelson were very good and gave the necessary support to the movie. This was a enjoyable and tear dropping movie that touches the deepest region of your heart and soul and it will make you appreciate the simple things in life. Recommendable for everyone.
    helpful•19
    1
    • barrys82
    • Sep 16, 2007

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 15, 1991 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Пробудження
    • Filming locations
      • Enid A Haupt Conservatory, New York Botanical Gardens - 200th Street & Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA(Botanical Gardens)
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Parkes/Lasker productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $31,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $52,096,475
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $417,076
      • Dec 25, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $52,096,475
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 1 minute
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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