Contact

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2:12

Contact

PG

Released Jul 11, 1997

2h 30m

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

68%

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68 Reviews

79%

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100,000+ Ratings

In this Zemeckis-directed adaptation of the Carl Sagan novel, Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) races to interpret a possible message originating from the Vega star system. Once first contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence is proven, Arroway contends with restrictive National Security Advisor Kitz (James Woods) and religious fanatics bent on containing the implications of such an event. An incredible message is found hidden in the signal, but will Arroway be the one to answer its call?

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Critics Consensus

Contact elucidates stirring scientific concepts and theological inquiry at the expense of satisfying storytelling, making for a brainy blockbuster that engages with its ideas, if not its characters.

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Duane Byrge

The Hollywood Reporter

Despite its lineage and some impressive special effects, Contact is a disappointingly earthbound production, weighed down by the ballast of talking-heads dramaturgy and bloated storytelling.

Jul 18, 2018

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

If Contact is disappointingly soft in the head, it can also enthrall. Zemeckis is such a potent imagemaker that he is capable, for long stretches at a time, of sweeping you up in his vision.

Feb 28, 2018

Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B+

Sep 7, 2011

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The ruminative approach and final resolution that there are no certainties in the universe, however honest, left audiences unsatisfied. But the film remains a daring work, among the most cerebral and emotional motion pictures on this subject ever released

Rated: 4/4

Jun 7, 2023

Full Review

James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

If you’ve ever gazed at the sky in wonder and wondered “what if”, are a fan of the magnificent Foster (and who isn’t), or simply like first-rate storytelling, then seek Contact out.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 14, 2022

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Andrea Thompson

Inverse

Sagan's spirit certainly comes through in the film, which makes a point of valuing scientific exploration for its own sake rather than a means to an end.

Nov 1, 2021

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Brandon S

Maybe it's the clunky dialogue, but Foster seems so awkwardly miscast. Much of the movie plays out like it was a made for tv melodrama. Some of the visuals still hold up.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/25

Full Review

Bill B

I love this movie - perhaps my all time favourite. Jodie Foster as Dr Ellie Arroway is wonderful in the lead role and the supporting cast is outstanding. It's a wide ranging sci-fi movie addressing the interconnections between politics, religion and science. It's thought provoking, moving, breathtaking and a beautiful wild ride.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/09/25

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srikar s

Never gets old. One of the best Science fiction movies of all time. Carl Sagan was a visionary!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/29/24

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Farah R

Watching this film for the first time over two decades after its release offers a different experience as one can appreciate the use of practical effects, the earnest performances of the cast who make every outlandish aspect of the plot more believable, the 90s vibes, and the ambitious vision of Rob Zemeckis. Contact is a unique film not for everyone's taste but filled with admirable qualities that make it entertaining nonetheless.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/06/24

Full Review

Blu B

A Sci-Fi Classic. It reminds me of Sci-Fi flicks like original The Day the Earth Stood Still where it's not about tons of cool fantasy action or world building but more about exploring ideas and science. The fundamental building blocks of the Science Fiction genre. When it focuses on those ideas, besides a handful of plot conviences, it explores those ideas pretty darn well and asks though provoking questions. However, when it focuses on character driven interactions, it struggles quite a bit and isn't as good. Most of the problems are in the first half. Overall this has solid acting and is really well made all around. The first half is mainly about setting Foster's characters background and the relationships with others. The problems are two fold. First she's just not that interesting a character to explore for a whole hour. Second, The acting is just alright for the first half. M.M. & Jodie are the poster child for the problems here. They are fine on their own with great charisma and prescence. However they just don't really romantic chemistry at all, the other characters she interacts with like Fitchner & Hurt are more quirky than they are anything with depth. Also, this really struggles with making the science babble expose understandable at first. It truly is not accessible at all. As a whole looking back the first half is very bloated and could've probably been cut in half without much lost. You probably could've gotten away with quick flashbacks and cutting the romance completely and it would've fixed everything. Once it focuses on the plot and becomes more story driven though it really finds it stride and never lets up. The ideas it explores are SOOOO much more interesting than the characters and everything including the acting takes a big step up. The special effects overall are very good and creative. They really do a good job immerising you and visually explaining what's happening than the first half did which counts more. It does a great job flipping the script of the idea of religion and faith on it's head as well. Don't go into this expecting tons of cool tech, space battles, and action. You'll be severely let down. Go in expecting ideas and to be challenged. Anyone who is a fan of any actors in this, Sci-Fi, or the director will like this. As a sidenote you can defintely see Interstellar drew a lot of inspiration from this. It fixed the issues this had and soared.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/24/24

Full Review

Marc K

Good acting coupled with messages that are still alive today.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

Full Review

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Robert Zemeckis

Director

Jodie Foster

Eleanor Ann 'Ellie' Arroway

Matthew McConaughey

Palmer Joss

James Woods

Michael Kitz

John Hurt

S.R. Hadden

Tom Skerritt

David Drumlin

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Synopsis

In this Zemeckis-directed adaptation of the Carl Sagan novel, Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) races to interpret a possible message originating from the Vega star system. Once first contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence is proven, Arroway contends with restrictive National Security Advisor Kitz (James Woods) and religious fanatics bent on containing the implications of such an event. An incredible message is found hidden in the signal, but will Arroway be the one to answer its call?

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Producer: Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis
Screenwriter: Carl Sagan, James V. Hart, Michael Goldenberg
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 11, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $100.9M
Runtime: 2h 30m
Sound Mix: SDDS, DTS, Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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