Simon Birch was born no bigger than a man's fist. Doctors said that he wouldn't live through his first night. He did. Then they said he would not live more than a week. But he did. Weeks turned into months and then those months turned into years, until Simon grew into a boy. He believed that God had a special plan for him and it was His plan to make Simon the way he is. Simon's friend Joe is on a mission of his own. His mother, Rebecca, never told him who his real father is. When his mother takes on a new love interest, Joe is not too excited about the idea as he dreams of meeting his true father someday. One day, Simon, while playing in a Little League baseball game, hits a foul ball that hits Joe's mother, Rebecca, killing her. Now the secret of Joe's real dad has died along with her. Simon's and Joe's destinies become interwoven in the end, when Simon strives to become the hero he was destined to be and helps Joe solve the mystery of his father. Summary written by Jared Brent Johnson Simon Birch believes that God made him for a special, heroic purpose. Simon and his best friend Joe Wenteworth are both outcasts in their tiny New England town: Joe is the illegitimate son of the town beauty, and Simon, at age 12, is so small that he still plays the infant Jesus in the church Christmas pageant. In the summer of 1964, friendship is put to the test when Little Leaguer Simon hits a foul ball that strikes and kills Joe's mother. Together, they try to find out who Joe's father is. Just as they succeed, the time comes for Simon to fulfill the destiny he believes in. A situation arises that demands a hero - a very small hero.

release year: 1998

star(s): Ashley Judd