Three Wishes

Year: 1995

Runtime: 115 mins

Language: English

Director: Martha Coolidge

FamilyDramaFantasy

When Jane Holman is driving with her two sons, she accidentally collides with drifter Jack McCloud, who suffers a broken leg. Compassionately, Jane invites Jack and his dog to stay at her house while he recovers. As Jack adjusts to their suburban life, he gradually bonds with the family and discovers a sense of belonging and affection.

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Timeline & Setting – Three Wishes (1995)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Three Wishes (1995). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1955 and Present day

The film alternates between 1955, when a single mother and her two boys navigate wartime absence and a mysterious drifter, and the present day, where adult Tom Holman faces financial strain and tries to reconnect with his family. In 1955, the town feels tight-knit and cautious, while the present-day timeline centers on modern family life and the consequences of old wishes. The juxtaposition of two eras drives the film’s exploration of fatherhood, memory, and renewal.

Location

Small-town America (present day), 1955 American town, Cemetery, Park, Family Home

The story moves between a present-day small town and a 1955 American town, anchored by everyday locations like a family home, a cemetery, and a park where a July 4th celebration unfolds. The cemetery scenes and the family home ground the emotional core, while the park setting provides a backdrop for communal moments and magic-infused events. These places establish a contrast between wartime absence, recovery, and the comfort of home.

🏘️ Small-town setting 🕯️ Cemetery scenes 🏞️ July 4th park celebration

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:21

Main Characters – Three Wishes (1995)

Meet the key characters of Three Wishes (1995), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Tom Holman (Joseph Mazzello)

In the present, Tom is a devoted family man facing financial struggles and emotional distance from his wife and daughters. His near collision in the cemetery triggers a flood of memories from his own youth and the father he longs for. He learns to value the family he has and to allow meaningful connections back into his life. Tom's journey centers on healing, responsibility, and embracing happiness at home.

💸 Financial Struggles 💔 Emotional Distance 👨‍👩‍👧 Family Growth

Jack McCloud (Patrick Swayze)

A drifter and former baseball star who appears to bring warmth and guidance to the Holman family. Jack forms a deep bond with Tom and Jean, acting as a surrogate father figure while revealing a magical, almost mythic underside. He denies a grandiose past but embodies mentorship, generosity, and the possibility of second chances. His departure forces Tom to confront what truly makes him happy, even as Jack dies years earlier in history.

🧭 Mysterious Mentor ⚾ Baseball Legend 🤝 Guiding Presence

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:21

Major Themes – Three Wishes (1995)

Explore the central themes of Three Wishes (1995), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:21

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about magical family healing like Three Wishes

Stories where ordinary families are transformed by a touch of the extraordinary.If you enjoyed the heartwarming and melancholic magic of Three Wishes, discover similar movies where families find emotional healing through extraordinary circumstances. These films blend family drama with gentle fantasy to explore themes of love, loss, and hope.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a family, usually coping with an absence or grief, whose lives are quietly uplifted by the arrival of a mysterious, kind-hearted figure. This figure often possesses an unstated magical quality, helping the family members reconnect with each other and themselves before a poignant, revealing departure.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a specific blend of gentle fantasy and realistic family drama. They evoke a similar tender, nostalgic, and reflective mood, using a slow pace to explore emotional wounds and the quiet magic of human connection.

Movies with bittersweet wish fulfillment like Three Wishes

Emotional stories where a heartfelt wish is granted, but with a poignant cost.Find movies similar to Three Wishes that explore the theme of wishes coming true in unexpected and emotionally complex ways. These stories balance joyful resolution with poignant revelation, leaving viewers with a feeling of hopeful sadness.

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Narrative Summary

The plot revolves around a character's deepest, often unspoken, emotional desire. A catalyst, sometimes magical or simply serendipitous, enters their life and sets events in motion that lead to the wish's fulfillment. However, the path to this resolution unveils a deeper truth, making the happy ending feel earned yet tempered by a sense of poignant loss or change.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a specific emotional arc: the fulfillment of a core wish paired with a melancholic truth. They are united by a bittersweet tone, moderate complexity in their narrative reveals, and a focus on the emotional weight of getting what you wished for.

Unlock the Full Story of Three Wishes

Don't stop at just watching — explore Three Wishes in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Three Wishes is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Three Wishes Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Three Wishes, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Three Wishes Timeline

Track the full timeline of Three Wishes with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Three Wishes Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Three Wishes

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Three Wishes: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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Discover movies like Three Wishes that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.