Children of a Lesser God poster

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Streaming data from JustWatch

Children of a Lesser God

1986 · Movie · 119 min
B

MEANRANK

76/100

Averaged across 5 ratings · 39.5K votes

Every rating

Platform pages last read 7 October 2026. IMDb’s figure comes from IMDb’s own data file, which we re-read about once a month.

71–81 out of 100

Everyone agrees

Lowest is Letterboxd on 71, highest is Rotten Tomatoes critics on 81.

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Starting his new job as an instructor at a New England school for the deaf, James Leeds meets Sarah Norman, a young deaf woman who works at the school as a member of the custodial staff. In spite of Sarah's withdrawn emotional state, a romance slowly develops between the pair.

Details

Director
Randa Haines
Based on
a work by Mark Medoff
Released
13 September 1986
Country
United States
Language
English
Runtime
119 min
Rated
R
Box office
$31.9M
Awards
5 wins, 10 nominations

This title elsewhere

William Hurt

William Hurt

James Leeds

Marlee Matlin

Marlee Matlin

Sarah Norman

Piper Laurie

Piper Laurie

Mrs. Norman

Philip Bosco

Philip Bosco

Dr. Curtis Franklin

Awards & nominations

See all 15 →

4 major awards won · 5 wins from 15 nominations across 7 ceremonies

Academy Awards 1986 Best Actress Marlee Matlin Winner
Berlin International Film Festival 1986 Reader Jury of the "Berliner Morgenpost" Randa Haines Winner
Berlin International Film Festival 1986 Silver Bear for outstanding artistic contribution Randa Haines Winner
Golden Globe Awards 1986 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Marlee Matlin Winner
Academy Awards 1986 Best Actor William Hurt Nominee
Academy Awards 1986 Best Picture Burt Sugarman and Patrick J. Palmer Nominee
Academy Awards 1986 Best Supporting Actress Piper Laurie Nominee
Academy Awards 1986 Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium Hesper Anderson and Mark Medoff Nominee
Show all 15 awards across 7 ceremonies