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 has generally received very positive reviews.
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Review of Awakenings (1990)
By Private U (13,627) on 12 May 2009
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Review of Awakenings (1990)
By Roger Ebert (5,190) for Chicago Sun-Times (7,580) on 05 Dec 2005
Review of Awakenings (1990)
By William Arnold (1,101) for Seattle Post-Intelligencer (2,422) on 25 Dec 1991
Review of Awakenings (1990)
By Jay Carr (837) for Boston Globe (6,852) on 01 Aug 2007
Review of Awakenings (1990)
By Nell Minow (2,357) for Common Sense Media (4,943) on 22 Dec 2010
Review of Awakenings (1990)
Review of Awakenings (1990)
By Chris M (3,023) on 12 Dec 2012
Review of Awakenings (1990)
Review of Awakenings (1990)
Review of Awakenings (1990)
Review of Awakenings (1990)
Review of Awakenings (1990)
More About This Page
Awakenings was released in 1990 and has generally received very positive reviews.
Online reviewers have written 583 reviews, giving Awakenings (1990) an average rating of 80%.
Overall, cinema-goers marginally prefer the movie, giving it an average score of 86%, compared to film critics, who gave it a slightly lower average score of 77%.
With a score of 80%, Awakenings is above the average Cinafilm score for movies made in 1990, which stands at 58%.
Other movies from 1990 with similar scores include films like Dances with Wolves and Misery.
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