Wide Awake 1998

Drama

Comedy

Family

Box Office

$282K

Budget

$6M

Runtime

88 min

Language

English

Directed by

M. Night Shyamalan

Made by

Miramax Family Films

Test your knowledge of Wide Awake with our quiz!

Wide Awake Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Wide Awake (1998). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

During his fifth-grade year, ten-year-old Josh Beal [Joseph Cross] Beal begins a personal search to understand life and death — a journey sparked by the passing of his beloved grandfather Robert Loggia. He attends Waldron Mercy Academy, a private Catholic boys’ school in Philadelphia, where the routine of uniforms and strict rules makes him feel small and sometimes overlooked; he often finds himself bullied because he is small for his age. His best friend Dave [Denis Leary] becomes a constant companion in mischief, always looking for a way to cut class, while Josh quietly navigates the ache of losing his grandfather and the sense that he’s not entirely in safe hands.

Motivated by grief, Josh launches a personal mission to find God and meaning in a world that now feels fragile and uncertain. Along the way, he finds unlikely guidance from two sources: Dave and a Philadelphia Phillies–loving nun Rosie O’Donnell who teaches at Waldron. Dave even engineers a distraction that allows Josh to slip into the girls’ school to meet a cardinal, hoping this encounter might illuminate his faith; but standing face-to-face with the cardinal reveals to Josh the human frailty that even revered figures carry.

Josh also pursues a dream he believes could bring him closer to understanding the divine: he asks his family to travel to Rome during the winter break, a proposal his parents see as part of his faith quest and quickly reject. In the midst of this earnest search, a girl named Hope Julia Stiles enters his world, becoming his first crush and a source of gentle light amid his trials. They cross paths again at a boy’s birthday party, and Josh musters the courage to share his feelings. Later, at a ceremony where the girls’ school offers flowers to the Virgin, Hope gives Josh a rose, a small yet meaningful symbol for his quest.

As the school year unfolds, a string of incidents among Josh’s classmates tests his resolve and sense of justice. One student unexpectedly kidnaps the school’s framed portrait of the pope, a startling act that unsettles everyone. The bully at Waldron faces consequences and is forced to leave the school due to financial issues, highlighting the precariousness of adolescence and the fragility of reputations. After an awkward moment where he finds himself stuck in a turnstile with a boy named Frank, the bully agrees to spend more time with Josh and Dave, underscoring the slow process of friendship and empathy. And throughout it all, Josh’s dream of faith, doubt, and understanding continues to evolve, with Dave facing a serious personal health challenge when he is diagnosed with epilepsy.

Wide Awake Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Wide Awake (1998) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Grandfather's death triggers a quest

Josh's beloved grandfather dies, triggering a personal search about life and death. He feels adrift and begins seeking answers about faith and meaning. This marks the early start of his journey in fifth grade.

early in the fifth-grade year Josh's home, Philadelphia

Josh commits to finding God

He decides to search for God and a deeper purpose. Dave and a Philadelphia Phillies–loving nun at Waldron Mercy Academy become his guides, shaping the course of his quest.

shortly after the grandfather's death Waldron Mercy Academy; Josh's home

Distraction to meet the cardinal

Dave creates a distraction so Josh can sneak into the girls' school to meet the cardinal, hoping for spiritual insight. The plan tests Josh's resolve and curiosity about faith. The event unfolds under the school’s watchful eyes.

soon after the decision Girls' school, Philadelphia

The cardinal's fragility becomes real

Seeing the cardinal up close reveals that even revered figures can be fragile and mortal. This moment deepens Josh's understanding of faith and humanity. It shifts his perception from idealization to empathy.

during the meeting with the cardinal Girls' school

Rome trip proposal rejected

Josh proposes that his family travel to Rome over winter break to further his quest, but his parents quickly realize the suggestion is part of his spiritual journey and they shoot it down. The rejection forces him to continue his personal search closer to home.

winter break Home

Hope becomes Josh's ally and crush

Hope, a girl from the girls' school, becomes Josh's ally in his quest and also his first crush. Their growing connection provides emotional support as his journey unfolds. She helps him see different facets of faith and friendship.

after he begins the quest Girls' school / Waldron campus

Birthday party and confession

They meet again at a boy's birthday party, where Josh confesses his feelings for Hope. This moment blends his personal longing with his spiritual journey. It adds a human, romantic layer to his quest.

later in the year Boy's birthday party

Hope gives Josh a rose at the Virgin ceremony

During a ceremony where the girls' school offers flowers to the Virgin, Hope gives her rose to Josh for his quest. The gesture symbolizes trust, faith, and his evolving relationship with Hope. The scene intertwines devotion with adolescent affection.

during the ceremony Girls' school ceremony

Pope portrait theft shakes the school

A classmate secretly steals the school's framed portrait of the pope, creating tension and incident within the school community. The act becomes a symbol of rebellion and the fragility of the world Josh is trying to understand. It tests his moral compass amid upheaval.

during a sequence of events School

Bullying leads to a student's departure

Josh observes that his bully has to leave the school due to insufficient funds, highlighting the precarious nature of life for those around him. The change removes a source of intimidation and alters group dynamics. This shift influences Josh's social environment.

following financial troubles Waldron Mercy Academy

Turnstile incident and changing friendships

After getting stuck in a turnstile with Frank, Josh agrees to spend more time with him. The awkward moment becomes a turning point in their relationship, prompting new empathy and camaraderie. It reinforces the theme of understanding others on his quest.

after the turnstile incident School

Dave diagnosed with epilepsy

Dave is diagnosed with epilepsy, adding another layer of gravity to Josh's circle of friends. The news deepens the sense of fragility in their lives and reinforces the seriousness of their respective journeys. This development broadens the scope of Josh's quest toward a more mature empathy.

toward the end School / medical setting

Wide Awake Characters

Explore all characters from Wide Awake (1998). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Joshua A. Beal (Joseph Cross)

Josh is a perceptive, small-for-his-age ten-year-old who is deeply affected by his grandfather's death. He becomes determined to find meaning through faith, setting off on a personal journey that questions adults' explanations. His sensitivity and resolve drive the plot as he searches for God.

👦 Child 🙏 Faith 🧭 Quest 🫂 Vulnerability

Hope (Julia Stiles)

Hope is a compassionate girl who helps Josh during his quest. She becomes his friend and his first crush, bridging the worlds of the boys' and girls' schools. She aids his journey with kindness and insight.

👧 Friend 💗 Crush 🕊️ Compassion 🧭 Support

Wide Awake Settings

Learn where and when Wide Awake (1998) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

Late 1990s

Set in the late 1990s, the story follows a ten-year-old boy who questions life and death while navigating school, family, and faith. The period's Catholic-school setting and contemporary life frame his quest for God and answers beyond traditional explanations.

Location

Waldron Mercy Academy, Philadelphia

The action centers on Waldron Mercy Academy, a private Catholic boys' school in Philadelphia, where Josh begins his search for meaning after his grandfather's death. The city’s religious culture and the school environment shape his questions about life, faith, and belonging.

🏫 School 🕌 Religion 🏙 City

Wide Awake Themes

Discover the main themes in Wide Awake (1998). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🙏

Faith

Josh's personal quest after his grandfather's death centers on understanding life and the existence of God. The film portrays doubt and curiosity as natural parts of faith, explored through conversations with family, friends, the nun, and church figures. Faith is depicted as a deeply individual journey rather than a simple certainty.

🕊️

Mortality

The grandfather’s passing triggers an exploration of mortality and what comes after. Josh grapples with grief, memory, and the fragility of life as he seeks comfort and meaning. The story presents church rituals and supportive peers as ways to cope with loss.

🌱

Coming-of-age

Josh navigates school life, friendship, and a first crush while growing up. He tests independence, questions authority, and learns to balance imagination with reality. The journey blends humor, mischief, and small acts of kindness to illustrate maturation.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Wide Awake Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Wide Awake (1998). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the sterile corridors of a cutting‑edge research facility, the researcher spends long hours overseeing experimental drug trials that promise breakthroughs and carry hidden risks. The world is one of polished glass, humming equipment, and tightly controlled protocols, where each data point can shift the balance between hope and catastrophe. Beneath the clinical exterior, a quiet urgency pulses: lives are being altered, and the pressure to succeed is palpable.

When a string of unexpected deaths emerges from the trials, the laboratory’s calm is shattered. The researcher—driven by a blend of professional dedication and personal curiosity—finds themselves thrust into a maze of scientific intrigue. Suspicion nibbles at the edges of routine, hinting that something may have been tampered with, and the normally methodical environment takes on an almost conspiratorial tone.

As the investigation deepens, the researcher confronts stark moral questions about responsibility, ambition, and the fragile line between innovation and exploitation. Colleagues become both allies and possible obstacles, each interaction charged with the possibility that hidden motives lurk beneath courteous greetings. The atmosphere oscillates between the crisp precision of lab work and the unsettling tension of a puzzle whose pieces may never fit neatly.

All the while, the narrative steadies on the researcher’s internal compass, steering through doubt and ethical ambiguity. The film’s tone is a careful blend of cerebral suspense and human drama, inviting viewers to wonder not only what went wrong, but how far one will go in the pursuit of answers when the stakes are measured in breath and conscience.

Can’t find your movie? Request a summary here.

Movies with Similar Twists and Themes

Uncover films that echo the narrative beats, emotional arcs, or dramatic twists of the one you're exploring. These recommendations are handpicked based on story depth, thematic resonance, and spoiler-worthy moments — perfect for fans who crave more of the same intrigue.