Awakenings poster

Awakenings (1990)

Film · 2h · Rated PG-13

Drama

A shy doctor finds his own rebirth by awakening catatonic patients with an experimental, yet controversial, drug.

Melancholy and earnest. A comfort watch at a measured pace. Emotionally it is devastating. Based on a book.

Streaming on Tubi (free).

Awakenings parents guide

No surprises for a PG-13: no sex or nudity and mild language.

Rated PG-13, but by what is on screen our estimate is fine from about 7.

Scare
Not scary
Jump scares
None noted
Gore
No gore
Violence
No real violence
Sex and nudity
None noted
Language
Mild
Mild words like damn, hell or crap.

How we rate: an AI reads what is known about each title and tags it 0 to 3; we check the tags against a hand-rated set and correct them by hand when readers tell us. Estimates, not a scene-by-scene review. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

What is Awakenings about?

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.

Does it have a happy ending? (spoiler-safe)

Bittersweet. It earns its ending, but not everyone gets what they want.

Cast and crew

Directed byPenny Marshall
StarringRobert De Niro, Robin Williams, John Heard, Julie Kavner, Penelope Ann Miller, Ruth Nelson

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Uses the TMDB API; not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Intensity, content, tone and pace tags are CouchRot's own.