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.
Awakenings (1990) is a drama film directed by Penny Marshall, released on December 4, 1990 with a runtime of 2h. It stars Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, John Heard and Julie Kavner. Viewers rate it 7.8 out of 10 across 2,998 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for Awakenings before you stream it.
Official trailers, teasers, clips and featurettes for Awakenings.
Trailer
Teaser
Clip
Robert De Niro
as Leonard Lowe
Robin Williams
as Malcolm Sayer
John Heard
as Dr. Kaufman
Julie Kavner
as Eleanor Costello
Penelope Ann Miller
as Paula
Ruth Nelson
as Mrs. Lowe
Max von Sydow
as Peter Ingham
Anne Meara
as Miriam
Dexter Gordon
as Rolando
George Martin
as Frank
Alice Drummond
as Lucy Fishman
Richard Libertini
as Sidney
Directed by Penny Marshall, written by Steven Zaillian and Oliver Sacks, produced by Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes.
Average viewer score of 7.8/10 from 2,998 ratings.
***A ‘hospital film’ with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, based on a true story*** A shy doctor (Robin Williams) gets a job at a Bronx hospital in 1969 where he attends to several patients in a catatonic state after the encephalitis epidemic of 1917–28. He experiments with a new drug that offers the hope of reviving them. Robert De Niro plays his key patient, Julie Kavner his nurse and John Heard his supervisor.…
Reviewed on January 1, 2020
De Niro deserved his nomination for this… Robin Williams should’ve been nominated as well. This wasn’t a thick pour of emotion but a slow build of ominous hope. When the crash comes, it doesn’t hit as hard as I thought it would but seeing the journey Leonard went on made it hard. Ominous hope sums up this movie, but isn’t that the struggle in every day life?
Reviewed on October 24, 2026
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Awakenings (1990) is available to stream on Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel, and to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
The main cast of Awakenings (1990) includes Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, John Heard, Julie Kavner and Penelope Ann Miller. The film was directed by Penny Marshall. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
Awakenings was released on December 4, 1990 and runs for 2h.
Awakenings (1990) holds an average rating of 7.8 out of 10 from 2,998 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy drama films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official Awakenings trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
