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Wake Up Sid

Wake Up Sid

2009138 minNot RatedMidcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
Director
Ayan Mukerji
Starring
Ranbir Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma, Rahul Khanna, Anupam Kher

Wake Up Sid! is the story of a lazy Mumbai college student who does absolutely nothing, with a turn of events will Sid realize his potential in this world and become a success in the fast-paced life of Mumbai.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Wake Up Sid?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Wake Up Sid to rent or buy on Apple TV, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Wake Up Sid?

Wake Up Sid earns 7 badges, led by Universally Loved and Top 5% in Comedy.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Wake Up Sid worth watching?

Wake Up Sid's Midcredits score is the 94th percentile of all films, from 73K ratings across 4 sources. 85% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

94th percentile

Better received than 94% of films

97th percentile among Comedy94th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)90th
Approval (how many liked it)95th

75 /100

90th percentile of all films

94th percentile among Comedy90th percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

85% liked it

95th percentile of all films

97th percentile among Comedy95th percentile among 2000s
85% rated it 7–1015% rated it 1–6

Critics 83% · Audience 76%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 10 wins / 28 noms overall

86th percentile

73K ratings across platforms

84th percentile among Comedy79th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 15% in 30 days

Box office

Opening weekend$356K
Domestic gross$719K
Worldwide gross$4.3M

62nd percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A simple, predictable coming-of-age story about a lazy rich boy who finds direction and love through a grounded, independent girl.

Fans praised

  • charming, natural lead performances (Ranbir Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma)
  • refreshingly simple, realistic coming-of-age story with relatable characters
  • beautiful, immersive Mumbai backdrop and soulful soundtrack (especially "Iktara")

Detractors panned

  • predictable, clichéd plot with no surprises
  • slow pacing and dull stretches, especially second half
  • underdeveloped supporting characters and overly rose-tinted solutions

What stands out

Acting85

Ranbir Kapoor's natural, charming performance as Sid; Konkona Sen Sharma's outstanding, nuanced acting

Sound and musicDivisive82

soulful songs (Iktara), excellent background score, well-integrated

AtmosphereDivisive78

breezy, warm Mumbai setting and everyday neighborhood life

CharactersDivisive72

relatable but archetypal spoiled-rich-kid and ambitious-girl-next-door

Emotional impactDivisive72

heartwarming, inspiring, but some find it too rose-tinted or lacking catharsis

Plot and storyDivisive53

familiar, predictable coming-of-age arc from laziness to responsibility

Pacing45

slow in first half and drags in second half

Originality40

derivative of Dil Chahta Hai and Lakshya; familiar rich-boy-wakes-up trope

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 9 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 5 points apart

Watch experience

What is Wake Up Sid like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Romantic: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are in the mood for a love story.

It has a few laughs and leaves you hopeful.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Romantic.

The answer rests on this: Moods
RomanticHopefulMelancholicJoyful
Heaviest: middle
Register
WarmTender · 13% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its coming-of-age story straight, with genuine emotion and warmth, never winking at the audience or undercutting its sentimental moments.
The rideThe film balances lighthearted early scenes with emotional weight when Sid confronts his failures and his relationship with Aisha intensifies.
StructureThe story unfolds chronologically from Sid's college life, through his falling out with his parents, to his transformation and reconciliation.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Hopeful.

HopefulFeel-good
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you believing that change is possible and with a gentle, uplifting warmth about finding your path and love.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Rebirth
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13% (this title): Redemption 3% (this title) · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Redemption: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).

13% of films fit this archetype

with Comedy underneath

Why this archetypeSid, a spoiled slacker, finds purpose and grows into a responsible adult after a crisis and a new friendship. The story follows his moral and personal reawakening.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfPurposeSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% (this title) · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Purpose · 9% of filmsSelf-worth · 7% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on Sid finding a sense of purpose and self-worth through becoming responsible and pursuing his passion, with romantic love as the catalyst for his realization.
StanceThe film celebrates Sid's journey toward purpose and self-improvement, affirming that personal growth and love are attainable.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
PopAmbientSupportive music · hybrid · Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
SettingMumbai, India — college life and a fashion magazine office
MusicThe soundtrack includes upbeat Bollywood numbers that underscore Sid's transformation.

Content guide

Is Wake Up Sid okay for kids?

Ratings in 2 other countries
  • UKPG
  • IndiaUA

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Wake Up Sid have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Wake Up Sid?

Cast

4 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Ranbir Kapoor
as Sid Mehra
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Konkona Sen Sharma
as Aisha Banerjee
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Rahul Khanna
as Kabir Chaudhary
Anupam Kher
as Ram Mehra (Sid's father)
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Supriya Pathak
as Sarita Mehra (Sid's mother)
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Namit Das
as Rishi Atul Raheja
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Shikha Talsania
as Laxmi Inder Advani
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Kashmira Shah
as Sonia
Shruti Bapna
as Debbie
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Kainaz Motivala
as Tanya Lathia
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Wake Up Sid?

Movies like Wake Up Sid include Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), Swades (2004) and Jab We Met (2007). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films written by Ayan Mukerji, and several are redemption stories.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 12 share its character type: friends-to-lovers. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Wake Up Sid?

1.8K other films share the rarest tag below, relationship: friends to lovers. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.