While You Were Sleeping (1995)
84%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 5 nominations
While You Were Sleeping is built wholly from familiar ingredients, but assembled with such skill — and with such a charming performance from Sandra Bullock — that it gives formula a good name
While You Were Sleeping is the perfect movie to watch when you’re feeling down and need a good laugh. Sandra Bullock is hilarious as Lucy, and her chemistry with Bill Pullman is off the charts. Sure, the plot might be a little far-fetched, but who cares when you’re having this much fun? Plus, it’s got a great soundtrack that will have you singing along in no time. So grab some popcorn, snuggle up on the couch, and get ready for a rom-com that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
Production Company(ies)
Wildwood Enterprises
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Randolph/Wabash El Station, The Loop, Downtown, Chicago, Illinois, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for some language
Year of Release
1995
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby SR Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Nov 19, 2002
Genre(s)
Comedy/Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Peter Boyle, Jack Warden, Glynis Johns, directed by Jon Turteltaub, written by Daniel G Sullivan, Fredric LeBow, produced by Joe Roth, Roger Birnbaum, reviewed by Duane Byrge, Anthony Lane, Steven Rea, Jay Boyar, Jami Bernard, Michael Wilmington, Charlotte Harrison, Leigh Paatsch, Sean Collier, Rachel Wagner, PG, Comedy, Romance, box office gross $81.1M, budget unknown, transit worker, coma, mistaken identity, family, romance, charming, heartwarming, funny, engaging, likable, sweet, romantic, twist, turn, formulaic, skillful, familiar, Sandra Bullock’s performance, Bill Pullman’s performance, Peter Gallagher’s performance, Jon Turteltaub’s direction, Daniel G Sullivan’s writing, Fredric LeBow’s writing, Joe Roth’s production, Roger Birnbaum’s production, love, relationships, mistaken fiancée, hospital, sheepish brother, oncoming train, misplaced comment, confidence, engagement, falling in love, good joke, moxie, frustration, edge, down-to-earth, special effects, delightful, American romantic comedy, heart, head, intriguing twists, dreamy bliss
Worldwide gross: $182,057,016
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $357,989,607
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 428
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 39,039,216
US/Canada gross: $81,057,016
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $159,387,262
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 491
US/Canada opening weekend: $9,288,915
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $18,265,350
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 700
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $17,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $33,428,117
Production budget ranking: 1,096
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $18,001,041
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $306,560,448
ROI to date (est.): 596%
ROI ranking: 215
Bill Pullman – Jack Callaghan
Peter Gallagher – Peter Callaghan
Peter Boyle – Ox Callaghan
Jack Warden – Saul
Glynis Johns – Elsie
Director(s)
Jon Turteltaub
Writer(s)
Daniel G. Sullivan, Fredric LeBow
Producer(s)
Joe Roth, Roger Birnbaum
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (62) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (50) | Rotten (12)
Bullock gives Lucy just the right amount of edge. Pullman’s performance as Peter’s down-to-earth younger brother is also a deft mix of moxie and frustration.
May 5, 2020
Duane Byrge
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
[Bullock] knows one of the secrets of doing romantic comedy: treating the romance as a good joke.
December 4, 2013
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
Compared to While You Were Sleeping, even the half-baked scenario of the Marisa Tomei-Robert Downey Jr. romance Only You looks witty and inventive.
December 4, 2013 | Rating: 2/4
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
It’s Bullock’s first shot at a role in which she plays second fiddle neither to males nor special effects. And she turns out to be every bit as delightful as anyone might have expected.
December 4, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
A cute premise with engaging leads but little else to keep you awake.
December 4, 2013 | Rating: 2/4
Jami Bernard
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
It plays like a movie dreamed up by people in a studio marketing department who’d decided to bare their souls.
December 4, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/4
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
…an increasingly compelling and charming romantic comedy…
November 11, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Really sweet, romantic and very funny.
April 13, 2021
Charlotte Harrison
Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies
Like most American romantic comedies, this is all heart and no head, but it does have a habit of sneaking in some intriguing twists and turns when you least expect it.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
I don’t buy it, and it’s the kind of plot that genuinely leaves me cold.
December 27, 2019 | Rating: 4/10
Sean Collier
Box Office Prophets
The script is actually really solid and the performances are so likable.
June 18, 2019
Rachel Wagner
Rachel’s Reviews (YouTube)
It’s practically certain to lull moviegoers into a pleasant state of dreamy bliss.
December 12, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Dennis King
Tulsa World…
Plot
Nursing a secret and hopeless crush on the handsome commuter who passes her booth every day, the charming loner and Chicago “L” ticket seller, Lucy, is about to have a second chance at love. During one seemingly ordinary Christmas shift, Lucy witnesses the object of her desire falling off the platform, and in one of those spur-of-the-moment decisions, she saves him from certain death, only to be mistaken for his fiancée at the hospital. As Lucy enjoys the unexpected stroke of good luck, unable to tell the truth to his welcoming family, unforeseen romantic affairs further complicate matters. Now, the comatose patient’s suspicious brother, Jack, thinks he’s onto something. Will Lucy face the consequences of what happened while the beautiful stranger was sleeping?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises Sandra Bullock’s performance as Lucy, saying she gives the character “just the right amount of edge.”
Jon-Turteltaub.jpg
