Wide Awake (1998)
This is the most arbitrary placement on the list, because I dont really know what else to do with it. Wide Awake is for all intents and purposes a kids movie, chronicling a fifth graders search for God after his beloved grandfather dies. Its a heavy topic for a childrens film, but the proceedings are packed with enough routine hijinks and light humor to keep it breezy enough for the most part. The writing is a bit cheesy and on the nose, but I suppose you cant really fault Shyamalan for not being subtle in a movie that supposed to speak to ten year olds. Wide Awake is not a great childrens film by any means. You can always tell the great ones because you can relate to them even if youre seeing them for the first time as an adult. Its sufficient though, and does more with the question of faith and belief than most others do. It may only be relatable for children with certain life experiences, but its easy to see some finding comfort in it. Its not a bad watch though, and it has some early performances from Denis Leary and Rosie ODonnel. Plus, it may have the earliest attempt at a Shyamalan twist, although the reveal itself turns out to be rather meaningless.