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Joseph Cross, Dana Delany, Denis Leary, Robert Loggia, Rosie O'Donnell ... see more see more... , Camryn Manheim , Vicki Giunta , Julia Stiles , Heather Casler , Dan Lauria , Stefan Niemczyk , Michael Pacienza , Michael Shulman , Jaret Ross Barron , Jarrett Abello , Joseph Melito Jr. , Peter A. Urban Jr. , Jahmal Curtis , Michael Craig Bigwood , Gil Robbins , Marc H. Glick , Robert K. O'Neill , Deborah Stern , Joey Perillo , Jerry Walsh , Liam Mitchell , Charles Techman , Antoine McLean , Arleen Goman , Mets Suber

In this film by writer-director M. Night Shyamalan, a young boy learns lessons about life and God during a trying year of discovery in fifth grade at a Catholic boys' school. As the school year opens,... read more read more... Joshua Beal (Joseph Cross) is despondent over the recent death of his grandfather (Robert Loggia). On his first day at school, Joshua is harassed by the class bully. Because his grandfather played football, Joshua tries out for the school team, over the objections of his parents (Dana Delaney and Denis Leary), two physicians who don't like the risk of injury. But Joshua is inept athletically and does not make the team. Joshua continues to seek answers from God about his grandfather, so his teacher, Sister Terry (Rosie O'Donnell), advises him to approach a cardinal who is coming to visit the nearby girls school. Joshua meets a young girl at the school and falls for her. As the year goes by, Joshua continues his quest for spiritual answers and finds them in unexpected places, such as a winter snowstorm. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Flixster Users

63% liked it

4,463 ratings

Critics

40% liked it

30 critics

PG, 1 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan

Release Date: March 20, 1998

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DVD Release Date: March 28, 2001

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Stats: 233 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (233)

  • SirPant
    October 2, 2009
    SirPant
    Absolute bile! It?s not funny, it has Julia Stiles in it, it has annoying 9 year old boys talking like adults in it and a predictable ending, and not a particularly good one at that! I'm glad Shyamalan was given the go ahead for The Sixth Sense based on this, as I liked it but I ... read moresure as hell wouldn't have!
  • dreamfaeries
    January 2, 2007
    dreamfaeries
    Such a cute little film with a strong message.
  • fb1644764650
    May 24, 2011
    fb1644764650
    Adorable, down-to-earth, and spiritually in-depth. There's more to this film than what you may have heard.
  • kevsammal
    September 9, 2007
    kevsammal
    Shyamalan's 1st commercial film is certainly one worth watching. This film focuses on a 5th-grader's journey to find god following his grandfather's passing, and his year-long adventures leading up to his final revelation. I'm not a believer in god, but this film is very heart-... read morewarming.
    Joseph Cross is an amazing actor at such a young age. Leary, Loggia, Stiles, Delaney and Reifsnyder provide great supporting roles which do not subtract from the film's charm. O'Donnell fits well in this film.
    Unlike the real world, Shyamalan's film is non-abusive in its faithful message of enlightenment. The plot is easy to understand, and does not steer the audience with dogmatic tension or fear.
  • buddyacker
    September 21, 2010
    buddyacker
    There was an M. Night Shyamalan movie before "The Sixth Sense", and here it is: "Wide Awake". And there it goes. It sucked.
  • ElisaLopez20
    January 13, 2009
    ElisaLopez20
    I'm not religious and even though this movie is about a kid that is trying to find god, its so much more than that. M.Night Shymalan is such a great story-teller, I enjoyed this film a lot.
  • scrambledegg7
    October 30, 2008
    scrambledegg7
    This is so unlike Shyamalan in its plot and feel if you look on the surface -- but one of Shyamalan's main themes has always been the issue of faith, of God, of how that can connect to our life down here. He just took an entire movie to explore it here, instead of having it as a ... read moresideplot to the main idea of aliens invading earth.

    Joseph Cross is superb as the main child. He's possibly as brilliant as Haley Joel Osment was in Sixth Sense, but in a very different genre. He is wrestling with very serious, adult issues, and his growing discouragement is heartbreaking to watch.

    Although this isn't a brilliant film, it's a solidly moving portrayal of a young boy's search for God in a world that is too busy to answer his questions.

    (By the way, what is this "Rosie O'Donnell Is Hilarious!" endorsement up at the top of the box cover? Rosie O'Donnell was in it very briefly and was not terribly hilarious either time. Really, the story's about the boy, not about her at all. Terrible idea trying to market it as an uproarious family comedy.)
  • jkallard
    February 9, 2008
    jkallard
    A kid movie for people that used to be kids. A church movie for people that do/do not attend church. A thinking movie for people that enjoy using their brains. From this moment forward, Night showed us what was coming, and like the Coen brothers, I think he should be declared a N... read moreational Treasure.
  • flixsterbum
    December 21, 2007
    flixsterbum
    Good first effort by M. Night. Nothing like his subsequent work, though you do get a little preview of how he likes to wrap his films up in this one. This is actually his most subtle film; I have a feeling that were he to direct this one now, it would be a supernatural thriller... read more. As it is, a nice, breezy family-friendly flick about the nature of faith and friendship.
  • diana1107
    June 20, 2007
    diana1107
    A charming story told by a 10 year old boy who goes on a mission looking for God after his best friend/grandfather passes away. I came upon this one by chance while flipping through the channels. Good family fun.

View All Wide Awake Reviews

Critic Reviews

Kevin Thomas
February 14, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

A wonderful family film that deals sensitively, and even with humor, with a fairly unusual situation for the screen: a 9-year-old's struggles with his faith in God. Full Review

Peter Stack
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

Children, too, will be bored to tears navigating through some of the talky spiritual gunk. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

I was aware of the problems, but that didn't diminish the warm, fuzzy glow I was experiencing. Full Review

Jeff Millar
January 1, 2000
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

The fact is, just too many of the characters and plot points are right out of the stock room: the obligatory fat kid; the obligatory bully; the obligatory kid whose parents can't really afford Catholi...

Stephen Holden
January 1, 2000
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Beneath its suffocating, smug sentimentality, you have to look hard to uncover a single moment of truth and genuine feeling. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I wonder who the movie was made for. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 25, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Earnest, overly familiar coming-of-age tale Full Review

Blake Davis
April 28, 2003
Blake Davis, KFOR Channel 4 News

A pretentious, preachy first movie from an arguably great filmmaker.

Tom Meek
December 8, 2002
Tom Meek, Film Threat

The film pursues its sensitive material with the appropriate degree of care, but the direction by M. Night Shyamalan turns potentially provocative moments into dull eddies of melodrama. Full Review

Margaret A. McGurk
October 15, 2002
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer

The movie's greatest strength is in its willingness to admit that the mysteries of life and death are as difficult for children as for adults. Full Review

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Wide Awake Trivia

  • The little boy in M Night Shyamalan's Wide Awake is searching for what?  Answer »
  • Which actress has been with in 10 things I hate about you, Save the last dance, wide awake, down to you and I love you, I love you not?  Answer »
  • He wrote Unbreakable, Wide Awake and The Village?   Answer »
  • Which Actress played in the following movies; Now and Then Sleepless in Seattle Harriet the Spy Wide Awake The Flintstones and Riding the Bus with My Sister??  Answer »
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