Simon Birch

"Destiny has big plans for little Simon Birch."

1998 1h 54m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 281

ComedyDramaFamily

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Simon Birch and Joe Wenteworth are boys who have a reputation for being oddballs. Joe never knew his father, and his mother, Rebecca, is keeping her lips sealed no matter how much he protests. Simon, meanwhile, is an 11-year-old dwarf whose outsize personality belies his small stature. Indeed, he often assails the local reverend with thorny theological questions and joins Joe on his quest to find his biological father.

“Destiny has big plans for little Simon Birch.”

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Cast

Ian Michael Smith
Simon Birch
Joseph Mazzello
Joe Wenteworth
Ashley Judd
Rebecca Wenteworth
Oliver Platt
Ben Goodrich
David Strathairn
Reverend Russell
Dana Ivey
Grandmother Wenteworth
Beatrice Winde
Hilde Grove
Jan Hooks
Miss Leavey

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Writers: Mark Steven Johnson
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 91% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

28 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Mark Steven Johnson, shot by Aaron Schneider. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Marc Shaiman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor David Finfer shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Ian Michael Smith and Joseph Mazzello and Ashley Judd carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Destiny has big plans for little Simon Birch.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0124879 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Mark Steven Johnson directs. Aaron Schneider behind the camera. Marc Shaiman scores. David Finfer cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 91% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
228 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Mark Steven Johnson, shot by Aaron Schneider. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Marc Shaiman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor David Finfer shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Ian Michael Smith and Joseph Mazzello and Ashley Judd carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Destiny has big plans for little Simon Birch.".
8IMDB entry: tt0124879 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.