Simon Birch (1998): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Simon Birch is a 1998 comedy drama directed by Mark Steven Johnson, starring Joseph Mazzello and Ian Michael Smith. It is inspired by A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. It runs 1 hour 54 minutes and earned $18.3 million worldwide. It won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Child Performer at the Critics' Choice 1999. Critics gave it 39 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 54m (114 min)
- Director
- Mark Steven Johnson
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Buena Vista Pictures
- Inspired by
- A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Simon Birch About?
The premise of Simon Birch without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Simon Birch, an eleven-year-old boy with dwarfism, befriends Joe Wenteworth, a young man seeking answers about his missing father. Their lives intertwine as they face the complexities of adolescence and personal struggles, forging a deep and enduring friendship that helps them both confront difficult circumstances and discover unexpected truths about themselves and the world around them.
Simon Birch Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- voice over narration
- child protagonist
- childhood friendship
- boy
- illegitimate son
- destiny
- best friend
- bus accident
- told in flashback
- secret
- rescue
- death of friend
+38 more Show fewer
- death of mother
- based on novel
- character name in title
- mother son relationship
- grave
- priest
- affection
- father son relationship
- childbirth
- friendship
- christmas pageant
- vomiting
- 1950s
- funeral
- cemetery
- confession
- baseball
- neglected child
- precocious child
- holding one's breath underwater
- swimming
- faith
- loss of mother
- coming of age
- school bus
- 1960s
- accidental death
- single mother
- misfit
- little person
- close up of eyes
- close up of lips
- close up of mouth
- two word title
- closeup
- mosquito's syndrome
- smmer that changed my life
- trust
Simon Birch Cast
Joseph Mazzello leads the cast, with Ian Michael Smith. Directed by Mark Steven Johnson.
-
Director Mark Steven Johnson
Simon Birch Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Simon Birch 39 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 39 Metascore
User score 6.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 68% User score
See on TMDB
Simon Birch Plot Summary
What happens in Simon Birch from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As Joe Wentworth stands at the grave of his beloved friend, Simon Birch, he begins to recount their heartfelt journey from childhood. A seemingly trivial detail about Simon’s height masks the significant influence he had on everyone around him, including his family, who often dismiss him with cruel disregard. Despite being the smallest child in the history of Gravestown, Simon finds a passion for baseball, which serves as both his greatest joy and immense source of pain, as he is frequently left to watch from the sidelines during Little League games.
Full summary
The whole story of Simon Birch, scene by scene
Simon Birch Box Office
Simon Birch grossed $18.3 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$18.3M
- US & Canada
- $18.3M
Simon Birch Awards & Nominations
Simon Birch won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Child Performer at the Critics' Choice 1999.
1 win1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Critics' Choice 1999 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Best Child Performer – Ian Michael Smith
Simon Birch Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Simon Birch.
How Well Do You Know Simon Birch?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What sport does Simon find solace in?
Cars in Simon Birch
32 cars on screen, including the Ford B-Series and the 1958 Chevrolet Task-Force Apache 31.
-
Ford B-Series Important role -
1958 Chevrolet Task-Force Apache 31 Minor role -
1950 Ford Custom De Luxe Minor role -
1947 GMC New Design Minor role
Simon Birch Also Known As
17 alternative titles, including “Der kleine Held” and “Über Gürteltiere”.
- Also known as
-
- Der kleine Held
- Über Gürteltiere
- Simon und mich
- A Prayer for Owen Meany
- 一路上有你
- El inolvidable Simon Birch
- Simon Birch, a kisember
- סיימון בירץ'
- Pequeno Milagre
- Саймон Бирч
- Ett litet mirakel - Simon Birch
- El Gran Simon
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- 사이먼 버치
- サイモン・バーチ
- Саймон Бірч
- Σάιμον: Ένα Μικρό Θαύμα
- ไซมอน เบิร์ช เด็กชายหัวใจมหัศจรรย์
Seen Simon Birch?
Movies Like Simon Birch
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Simon of the Mountain, The Birch Wood and 51 Birch Street.
Simon Birch FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Simon Birch, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Simon Birch?
Simon Birch runs 1 hour 54 minutes (114 minutes).
When was Simon Birch released?
Simon Birch was released on September 11, 1998.
Who directed Simon Birch?
Simon Birch was directed by Mark Steven Johnson.
More films by Mark Steven Johnson Who is in the cast of Simon Birch?
Simon Birch stars Joseph Mazzello and Ian Michael Smith.
How much did Simon Birch make at the box office?
Simon Birch grossed $18.3 million worldwide.
How is Simon Birch rated?
Simon Birch has 39 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.
What awards did Simon Birch win?
Simon Birch won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Child Performer at the Critics' Choice 1999.
Does Simon Birch have a post-credit scene?
No. Simon Birch has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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