Ashley Judd, Dana Ivey, David Strathairn

From the day he was born, Simon Birch (Ian Smith) was different. He was no bigger than a baby bird, and the doctors predicted that he'd never last the night. But he did. Then they said he'd never last...( read more  read more... ) the week. But he did. Weeks turned into months and months into years, until Simon grew into a boy with an unwavering belief that God had a special plan for him -- that He had made him that small for a reason. Simon's only friend, Joe (Joe Mazello), is on a quest of his own. His young and beautiful mother, Rebecca (Ashley Judd), has kept the identity of his father a secret. With dreams of finding his real father one day, Joe is less than thrilled with Ben (Oliver Platt), the new man in his mother's life. But things take a sudden and tragic turn when Simon, in a Little League baseball game, hits a foul ball that strikes and kills Rebecca, sending her to her grave along with her secret. Simon's destiny and Joe's quest for his father become intertwined in the end, when Simon becomes the hero he was destined to be and in the process helps Joe solve the mystery of his father.

Flixster Users

78% liked it

44,830 ratings

Critics

45% liked it

31 critics

DVD Release Date: May 18, 1999

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Stats: 2,411 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,411)


  • September 24, 2009
    It has its moments but you really should read the John Irving novel "A Prayer For Owen Meany". If they had stuck to the book it would have been so much better! Ian Michael Smith was excellent though!
  • April 18, 2009
    Underrated little film that was inspired by John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany. If you haven't yet read the book you'll love the film. Director Mark Steven Johnson took the story in an entirely different direction.
  • September 13, 2008
    What a great movie.
  • January 1, 2008
    A focused character movie.
  • October 13, 2007
    uh...uh....BOOBIES!!!
  • November 14, 2009
    Good but really sad.
  • August 20, 2009
    Great movie. If only everyone who is different really did have a purpose for being here.
  • August 15, 2009
    I often wonder if my favorite genre of movies is drama, action, or horror. It'd be a 3-sided toss up for me - I'm always in the mood for any of the three. Simon Birch is a favorite of mine in the genre of drama as we follow the sad story of Simon and then get into the struggles a...( read more)nd mysteries of the other characters also. Simon seems to be more Christian than almost anyone else in the movie, even the minister. Coming of age dramas in particular, such as this, "Stand By Me", etc. always seem to particularly stick with me.
  • August 12, 2009
    a very sad movie about a boy who is physically different from normal kids but
    knows that god has a purpose for him...i like the story, a story about friendship and believing in one another...2 thumbs up highly recommended
  • July 24, 2009
    very well written tear jerker..i'm crying while writing this

Critic Reviews


Comments


  • shaolinrana
    October 6, 2009
    awesome emotional heart touching movie. I loved it so much.
  • shaolinrana
    September 2, 2009
    awesome film.......i love it.....
  • 21orangecreamsicles
    December 23, 2007
    Joe: "My balls just turned into prunes"
    Simon: "My balls just turned into raisins"
  • deadlynightshade87
    September 13, 2007
    This movie sucked so much. It actually made a mockery of anyone who deals with something that sets them apart from the rest of the world. I cannot see why so many people like this. It's horrendous. Way too corny and way too scripted, and way too perverted for a film of this type. And I usually love this style of film. If you want to watch a good film in this genre, watch "The Mighty." Now that's a good film, not this piece of junk.
  • jihunjung0421
    August 22, 2007
    nice movie.
  • 123ally456
    December 19, 2006
    i find simon birch da best movie i have eva seen simon is soooo cute

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Simon Birch Trivia


  • What Jim Carrey movie is based on the novel "A Prayer for Owen Meany"?  Answer »
  • In which movie does Ashley Judd's character die from being hit on the head by a baseball?  Answer »
  • In Simon Birch, Does Simon Birch Die?  Answer »
  • Name the 1998 movie starring,Ian Michael Smith,Ashley Judd,Oliver Platt & Joseph Mazzello,with the plot outline:A young boy with stunted growth is convinced that God has a great purpose for him?  Answer »

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