Awakenings
“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.
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Cast
62 people
Robert De Niro
Leonard Lowe
Known for
Joker
GoodFellas
Robin Williams
Malcolm Sayer
Known for
Dead Poets Society
Jumanji
John Heard
Dr. Kaufman
Known for
Home Alone
Big
Julie Kavner
Eleanor Costello
Known for
The Simpsons
The Simpsons Movie
Penelope Ann Miller
Paula
Known for
DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Kindergarten Cop
Ruth Nelson
Mrs. Lowe
Known for
3 Women
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Max von Sydow
Peter Ingham
Known for
Shutter Island
Minority Report
Anne Meara
Miriam
Known for
Like Mike
ALF
Dexter Gordon
Rolando
Known for
'Round Midnight
George Martin
Frank
Known for
Dead Poets Society
Falling in Love
Alice Drummond
Lucy Fishman
Known for
Ghostbusters
Doubt
Richard Libertini
Sidney
Known for
DuckTales: The Movie - Treasure of the Lost Lamp
Fletch
Penny Marshall Director · Steven Zaillian Screenplay Oliver Sacks Author
Worldwide gross $52M · Budget $31M · United States release December 19, 1990
Box office
Budget
$31,000,000
Worldwide gross
$52,096,475
Gross vs. budget
1.7×
Production
Parkes/Lasker productions
Production
Columbia Pictures
Studio
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
United Kingdom · December 4, 1990
Theatrical · 15 on VHS
United States · December 19, 1990
Limited theatrical
United States
December 12, 1990 · Premiere · Century City, California
January 11, 1991 · Theatrical
Argentina
February 21, 1991 · Theatrical
Australia
March 14, 1991 · Theatrical
Austria
February 15, 1991 · Theatrical
Brazil
March 22, 1991 · Theatrical
Canada
June 21, 1994 · Digital
Denmark
March 29, 1991 · Theatrical
Finland
March 1, 1991 · Theatrical
France
February 20, 1991 · Theatrical
November 29, 1999 · Physical · DVD
February 1, 2016 · Digital · VOD
September 15, 2022 · Digital · Netflix
Germany
February 14, 1991 · Theatrical
Greece
March 8, 1991 · Theatrical
Hungary
April 26, 1991 · Theatrical
India
March 20, 2019 · Digital
Ireland
March 15, 1991 · Theatrical
Italy
December 1, 1999 · Physical · DVD
Japan
April 5, 1991 · Theatrical
Mexico
September 10, 1997 · Physical · DVD
Netherlands
March 8, 1991 · Theatrical
January 25, 2002 · TV · Net 5
September 30, 2010 · Physical · DVD
Norway
October 6, 1991 · Theatrical
Poland
December 31, 1990 · Theatrical
Portugal
March 15, 1991 · Theatrical
Singapore
December 7, 2010 · Physical · DVD
Slovakia
April 13, 1997 · TV · Markíza
February 11, 2018 · TV · RTVS
South Korea
March 30, 1991 · Theatrical
Spain
March 4, 1991 · Theatrical
Sweden
March 8, 1991 · Theatrical
Switzerland
March 15, 1991 · Theatrical · German
March 16, 1991 · Theatrical · French
Türkiye
May 10, 1991 · Theatrical
United Arab Emirates
May 8, 2015 · TV
XC
September 13, 1991 · Theatrical
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