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Wide Awake

  • 1998
  • PG
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
Wide Awake (1998)
Trailer
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
52 Photos
ComedyDramaFamily

A 10-year-old boy goes on a search for God after his grandfather dies.A 10-year-old boy goes on a search for God after his grandfather dies.A 10-year-old boy goes on a search for God after his grandfather dies.

  • Director
    • M. Night Shyamalan
  • Writer
    • M. Night Shyamalan
  • Stars
    • Joseph Cross
    • Timothy Reifsnyder
    • Dana Delany
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    4.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • M. Night Shyamalan
    • Writer
      • M. Night Shyamalan
    • Stars
      • Joseph Cross
      • Timothy Reifsnyder
      • Dana Delany
    • 61User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
    • 50Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Wide Awake
    Trailer 0:31
    Wide Awake

    Photos52

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    Top Cast41

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    Joseph Cross
    Joseph Cross
    • Joshua Beal
    Timothy Reifsnyder
    Timothy Reifsnyder
    • Dave O'Hara
    Dana Delany
    Dana Delany
    • Mrs. Beal
    Denis Leary
    Denis Leary
    • Mr. Beal
    Robert Loggia
    Robert Loggia
    • Grandpa Beal
    Rosie O'Donnell
    Rosie O'Donnell
    • Sister Terry
    Camryn Manheim
    Camryn Manheim
    • Sister Sophia
    Vicki Giunta
    • Sister Beatrice
    Julia Stiles
    Julia Stiles
    • Neena Beal
    Heather Casler
    • Hope
    Dan Lauria
    Dan Lauria
    • Father Peters
    Stefan Niemczyk
    Stefan Niemczyk
    • Frank Benton
    Michael Pacienza
    • Freddie Waltman
    Michael Shulman
    Michael Shulman
    • Robert Brickman
    Jaret Ross Barron
    • Dan
    Jarrett Abello
    • John
    Joseph Melito
    • Billy
    • (as Joseph Melito Jr.)
    Peter A. Urban Jr.
    • Newman
    • Director
      • M. Night Shyamalan
    • Writer
      • M. Night Shyamalan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews61

    5.84.7K
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    Featured reviews

    sundiva32

    Not just another coming of age film

    I caught this unique, heartwarming film on cable in one of those "there is nothing on television" moments. I did not expect to fall in love with this beautiful story of a young boy in search of God. It deals with themes such as family, faith, and acceptance. What started out as a "kid" movie ended up in being a movie for people of all ages. It even made me kind of like Denis Leary. Look for a good performance by Robbert Loggia as the grandfather. If you've ever had or wished for a special relationship with a grandparent, watch this movie. You'll laugh, cry, and it might make a believer out of you.
    8Quicksand

    In the Beginning...

    This was the first film written and directed by M. Night Shyalaman, who would go on to make a film called "The Sixth Sense" a few years later. They're not exactly the same genre of movie, but they both have a very similar feel to them, in both dialogue and overall tone & pacing.

    This movie was a lot of fun to watch, and worth the rent, if you can dig it out of the children's section at your local video store (it's rated PG). Good performances from all, with maybe only 1 or 2 scenes giving themselves away, something "The Sixth Sense" wasn't guilty of at all.

    That said, it's worth something as a milestone, as well... compare the early works of David Fincher or even Ron Howard, and notice how they got better as they went along, making more movies. This movie is a solid B+, with The Sixth Sense being the obvious A. We can only guess what "Unbreakable" may hold for us.

    Great actors and writing in this one, regardless. It is very much the story of young Josh and his search for God, and is not at all a Rosie O'Donnell movie as you may have been led to believe. Well worth watching. Denis Leary never looked so nerdy.
    bob the moo

    An interesting but not all together successful film

    When his grandfather dies, Joshua is left feeling lost and confused. Full of questions he begins to search for God in order to get answers. Turning to priests as well as other religions, Joshua is frustrated by his lack of progress but soon learns more than he thought on his journey.

    Like many of those who have recently seen it, I was drawn to this film by the fact that Shyamalan directed it shortly before hitting big with Sixth Sense. The film isn't like his more recent straight-dramas with a twist, so beware what you expect; this is more a human story and, as such, it isn't totally successful. It delivers most of the story quite well, managing to be quite touching without ever really falling into daytime tv sentimentality, however something was lacking I felt. The overall story is worthy enough but that side of it never really touched me as much as I would have hoped and it could have been made more of - especially as the ending is focused on that aspect in particular. Also I needed more feeling for the relationship between Josh and his grandfather - the flashbacks were OK but didn't do enough to convey the depth of Josh's love nor the sheer loss he must feel.

    Like he did in Sixth Sense, Shyamalan gets good performances out of his child actors. All the support kids are good but Cross is particularly strong and he does very well carrying the narrative. He really is the lead role and nobody else really gets close in terms of screen time. Given this fact I was surprised how many other famous faces were in small roles - O'Donnell, Leary, Loggia and Lauria; they are all OK but none really has more than a supporting role.

    Overall, this film was nice but not great. The plot is an interesting one but it doesn't manage to satisfactorily conclude on all the mysticism and ideas that it puts forward. It is still quite a nice little story if you just look at it as a sort of coming of age story surrounding Joshua, but really it didn't quite go where I hoped it would.
    franceseca_orr

    This film changed my life! 11 out of 10

    Before I saw this film I knew exactly what I was going to do when I grew up, I had my whole life planned out. I knew what job I was going to have and I didn't think anything could change that, alas, I was wrong. I thought I would always be an author, use my imagination for a career and write books. But ‘Wide Awake', this film has made me realise there are jobs very much like a writer, author, job which can actually make my stories come to life, so they don't have to just be inside somebody's head they can be created with so much realism as in a book as well, as in the wonderful movie which changed the way I see my life in the future, When I was watching that film, it really deepened my look upon movies, it was one of the best films I have ever seen, and although it was not full of action, romance, and that much comical feature (in my opinion) it was a heart-warming very dramatically movie in which portrayed excellent acting, especially from the lovely ‘Joseph Cross' and also such beautiful scenes, so meaningful and heart-warming, to me every scene seemed absolutely perfect, some people may not see the utter deep effect it has and may think it is boring, but that is them, if your only interest is in action flicks with meaningless plots other than to blow up things then this film isn't for you, but for everyone else, everyone who thinks of such a movie as more than just a movie then maybe this film will change your life too, I know it has mine, and I know what I HAVE to be when I grow older and choose what I am going to do for a living, I will be a director. And I am sorry if I have not told you much about the film, but I don't know much more to say other than it is a beautiful emotional journey of one boy (Joseph Cross) who tries to look for god, and some things happen which attack his belief in god, but in the end things happen which save it, many different issues are brought up along the way, but the overall message is passed along very nicely which is in my opinion that we all need something to believe in, and that eventually faith should pay off, I know I believe that I finally have something to believe in, in this lifetime, I will make it as a director, and I know I will make a film one day as meaningful as this, and maybe I will change someone's life too. Maybe one day I will make you laugh, make you cry, make you happy, and make you sad, but I know this I will never forget the film which changed my life ‘Wide Awake', and as one of the dramatic and so meaningful lines goes in the movie, I am ‘Wide Awake' now too.

    11 out of 10

    Francesca Orr

    14 years old

    Animal lover
    5abooboo-2

    A Warm Up for The Sixth Sense

    Evidently, this was made in 1995, and was not released until 1998. (Though where it could've possibly played I have no idea). I don't want to be too harsh on it, because it is from the same writer/director of 'The Sixth Sense', a film that I believe will be regarded as a classic some day - if it isn't already.

    So many of the same themes and ideas are present here as in "The Sixth Sense", (principally a sensitive young boy suffering under the weight of colossal thoughts and emotions that most kids his age either shun or never consider until years later) that it is interesting to view with that in mind. Unfortunately, however, the film has a hard time standing on its own. I did find it too be too mushy and sentimental and precious in spots - if this film were a car it would be a spotless antique that looks great on a showroom floor - but closer inspection would reveal that it has no engine under it's hood. Or at the very least, no gas in the tank. There isn't enough juice to make the story go, to move forward more than an inch or two at a time. A young boy's beloved grandfather dies, which causes him to go on a mission to verify the existence of God. All fine and good, but there isn't enough of a sense of jeopardy, everything's too safe and easy. The film would've had more gravity and weight if the boy had actually left home and set off for some destination where he believed he might find the answers. Instead, he merely repeats his intention and doesn't do a whole lot to achieve his goal. There just isn't enough there ... there. Certainly not enough to support an hour and a half long feature film.

    Having said all that, it does have moments where it approaches the magical. Flashbacks with his grandfather are moving, especially the race track scene where the boy falls down in the middle of the race and then finishes and runs into his grandfather's arms. But the director (I couldn't spell his last name if I tried and I'll lose what I've written if I go back to look) just isn't as sure of himself here as he would later become with "The Sixth Sense". This film lacks the ingenious structure that made his next effort so satisfying. At this point in his career, 1995, he still hadn't found his voice yet; or that key that unlocks the section of his brain that elevates his work from the mundane to the sublime.

    Fascinating to watch that development take place with an artist as thoughtful and talented as this one.

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe, André Holland, Herman Caheej McGloun, Edson Jean, Alex R. Hibbert, and Tanisha Cidel in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
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    Family

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Due to the heavy-handed post-production influence of Harvey Weinstein, this film appears on a 2017 list in The Telegraph entitled "Harvey Scissorhands: 6 films ruined by Harvey Weinstein."
    • Goofs
      During the girls' ceremony, Hope's rose changes from one more fully open and blush colored, to a more tightly closed, whiter bud.
    • Quotes

      Joshua A. Beal: I'm going on a mission. A real mission.

      Dave O'Hara: What kind of mission?

      Joshua A. Beal: The kind where you're looking for something important.

      Dave O'Hara: What're you gonna look for?

      Joshua A. Beal: God.

      Dave O'Hara: God? What for?

      Joshua A. Beal: I just want to talk to him.

      Dave O'Hara: Why?

      Joshua A. Beal: To make sure my grandpa's okay.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Wild Things/Niagara, Niagara/Mr. Nice Guy/Wide Awake/Fireworks (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      This Ain't a Song (It's a Prayer)
      Performed by John Carbo

      Music and Lyrics by John Carbo

      Published by Kingmaker Music (BMI)

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 20, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Más astuto que nunca
    • Filming locations
      • Waldron Mercy Academy - 513 Montgomery Avenue, Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production companies
      • Miramax
      • Woods Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $282,175
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $95,875
      • Mar 22, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $282,175
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 28m(88 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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