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Simon Birch

  • 19981998
  • PGPG
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
21K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Simon Birch (1998)
A young boy with stunted growth is convinced that God has a great purpose for him.
Play trailer2:26
1 Video
20 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Family

A young boy with stunted growth is convinced that God has a great purpose for him.A young boy with stunted growth is convinced that God has a great purpose for him.A young boy with stunted growth is convinced that God has a great purpose for him.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
21K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mark Steven Johnson
  • Writers
    • Mark Steven Johnson(screenplay)
    • John Irving(novel "A Prayer For Owen Meany")
  • Stars
    • Ian Michael Smith
    • Joseph Mazzello
    • Ashley Judd
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mark Steven Johnson
  • Writers
    • Mark Steven Johnson(screenplay)
    • John Irving(novel "A Prayer For Owen Meany")
  • Stars
    • Ian Michael Smith
    • Joseph Mazzello
    • Ashley Judd
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 230User reviews
    • 44Critic reviews
    • 39Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:26
    Official Trailer

    Photos20

    Ashley Judd, Joseph Mazzello, Oliver Platt, and Ian Michael Smith in Simon Birch (1998)
    Ashley Judd, Joseph Mazzello, Oliver Platt, and Ian Michael Smith in Simon Birch (1998)
    Simon Birch (1998)
    Simon Birch (1998)
    Ashley Judd, Joseph Mazzello, Oliver Platt, and Ian Michael Smith in Simon Birch (1998)
    Ashley Judd, Joseph Mazzello, Oliver Platt, and Ian Michael Smith in Simon Birch (1998)
    Simon Birch (1998)
    Simon Birch (1998)
    Ashley Judd, Joseph Mazzello, Oliver Platt, and Ian Michael Smith in Simon Birch (1998)
    Simon Birch (1998)
    David Strathairn and Oliver Platt in Simon Birch (1998)
    Joseph Mazzello and Ian Michael Smith in Simon Birch (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ian Michael Smith
    Ian Michael Smith
    • Simon Birchas Simon Birch
    Joseph Mazzello
    Joseph Mazzello
    • Joe Wenteworthas Joe Wenteworth
    Ashley Judd
    Ashley Judd
    • Rebecca Wenteworthas Rebecca Wenteworth
    Oliver Platt
    Oliver Platt
    • Ben Goodrichas Ben Goodrich
    David Strathairn
    David Strathairn
    • Rev. Russellas Rev. Russell
    Dana Ivey
    Dana Ivey
    • Grandmother Wenteworthas Grandmother Wenteworth
    Beatrice Winde
    • Hilde Groveas Hilde Grove
    Jan Hooks
    Jan Hooks
    • Miss Leaveyas Miss Leavey
    Cecilley Carroll
    • Marjorieas Marjorie
    Sumela Kay
    Sumela Kay
    • Annas Ann
    • (as Sumela-Rose Keramidopulos)
    Sam Morton
    • Stuartas Stuart
    Jim Carrey
    Jim Carrey
    • Adult Joe Wenteworthas Adult Joe Wenteworth
    John Mazzello
    • Simon Wenteworthas Simon Wenteworth
    Holly Dennison
    • Mrs. Birchas Mrs. Birch
    Peter MacNeill
    Peter MacNeill
    • Mr. Birchas Mr. Birch
    Thick Wilson
    • Dr. Wellsas Dr. Wells
    • (as Addison Bell)
    Roger McKeen
    • Coach Higginsas Coach Higgins
    Sean McCann
    Sean McCann
    • Chief Al Corkas Chief Al Cork
    • Director
      • Mark Steven Johnson
    • Writers
      • Mark Steven Johnson(screenplay)
      • John Irving(novel "A Prayer For Owen Meany") (suggestion)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Simon Birch tells the story of Joe and Simon's heart-warming journey of friendship. Simon Birch was born with a condition that makes him much smaller than all the other kids in town. Now, due to his condition, Simon thinks God made him this way for a reason and highly believes in God. Together, Joe and Simon go on a journey of trust and friendship to find the answers to many things. Their friendship is put to the test when some unfortunate events happen. —Thorpe89
    • close up of eyes
    • close up of lips
    • close up of mouth
    • character name as title
    • simon birch character
    • 114 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Destiny has big plans for little Simon Birch.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Family
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG for language, emotional thematic elements, and an accident scene
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Author John Irving doubted his novel, "A Prayer for Owen Meany", could ever be turned into a film, and sold the screen rights on the condition it not be released under the same name as his book. Irving himself provided the name Simon Birch for the producers to use in place of Owen Meany.
    • Goofs
      The fateful Christmas in question is in December 1964, but a news item on the radio reports a speech given by President Kennedy, killed a year earlier.
    • Quotes

      Simon: Your mother is so sexy, sometimes I forget she's someone's mother.

      Joe: What if I said the same thing about your mother?

      Simon: I'd have you committed.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Rounders/Kiki's Delivery Service/Simon Birch/Slums of Beverly Hills/Digging to China (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      You Were There
      Written, Produced and Performed by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds

      Performance courtesy of Epic Records

    User reviews230

    Review
    Top review
    What a grandma thinks about this movie
    Today I watched Simon Birch for the second time. I checked it out of the library yesterday and watched it in the afternoon. And today I saw it again. I am so impressed by all the actors, they were perfect. Especially little Ian Michael Smith. And I didn't mind being emotionally manipulated at all. I looked up the movie on the internet, that's how I found this site, and until now all the reviews were kind of negative. Well, I thought it was wonderful, and I may even watch it one more time before returning it. So there! And oh, Ashley Judd. She is so beautiful anyway, but in this movie she was almost angelic. Well, everyone was so good. Oliver Platt was great, and the two boys were magnificent. I have encouraged a lot of friends to rent or otherwise see this movie, it does one's heart good. I have just decided, tomorrow I will watch it again.
    helpful•6
    2
    • bsc2001
    • Feb 9, 2004

    FAQ1

    • What did John Irving think of Simon Birch?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 11, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Prayer for Owen Meany
    • Filming locations
      • Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Hollywood Pictures
      • Caravan Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $18,253,415
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,321,370
      • Sep 13, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $18,253,415
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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