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M. Night Shyamalan made a kids' movie about death and it's *weirdly* wholesome.
TMDB
55
Rotten Tomatoes
45
Watch

Wide Awake (1998)

90s nostalgia tripprecocious kid energyCatholic school chaos

Overview

ComedyFamilyDrama

The tale of a ten-year-old boy in a Catholic school who, following the death of his beloved grandfather, embarks on a quest to discover the meaning of life.

Flag of USUS
Content warning
boys' school

Standout Aspects

Writing

Shyamalan's debut feature shows his voice already formed.

Acting

Joseph Cross carries the whole film with zero precociousness.

Score

Randy Newman doing what Randy Newman does best.

Best for:Solo: When you want cozy melancholy without the crowd.·Family: Surprisingly thoughtful for kids dealing with loss.·Rewatch: Spot the early Shyamalanisms before he got twist-happy.
Heads up:Emotional: Grandparent death is central; gently handled but present.·Triggers: Brief bullying and a child briefly lost in a crowd.
M. Night Shyamalan

Director

M. Night Shyamalan

ReleasedMar 20, 1998
Runtime1h 28m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitylow
Tonemixed
Feelmedium
Budget$6M
Miramax
Woods Entertainment

Top Cast

Denis Leary

Denis Leary

Mr. Beal

Joseph Cross

Joseph Cross

Joshua Beal

Rosie O'Donnell

Rosie O'Donnell

Sister Terry

Dana Delany

Dana Delany

Mrs. Beal

Timothy Reifsnyder

Timothy Reifsnyder

Dave O'Hara

Camryn Manheim

Camryn Manheim

Sister Sophia

Julia Stiles

Julia Stiles

Neena Beal

Dan Lauria

Dan Lauria

Father Peters

Robert Loggia

Robert Loggia

Grandpa Beal

Michael Shulman

Michael Shulman

Robert Brickman

Marc H. Glick

Marc H. Glick

Father Sebastian

Joey Perillo

Joey Perillo

Mr. Waltman

Jerry Walsh

Jerry Walsh

Football Coach

Ask about Wide Awake

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

Shyamalan wrote this at 19, shot it at 26, and it sat shelved for three years before release.

Cultural

This is the only Shyamalan film without a supernatural twist—he was still finding his lane.

YouTube

Wide Awake - Trailer

Wide Awake - Trailer

Gallery

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