The Andromeda Strain

G

Released Mar 12, 1971

2h 10m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

List

67%

Tomatometer

39 Reviews

72%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

Chilling tale about a US research satellite carrying a deadly extraterrestrial microscopic organism that crashes into a small town in Arizona. A group of top scientists are hurriedly assembled in a bid to identify and contain the lethal stowaway. Based on the novel by Michael Crichton.

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Critics Consensus

Although its urgent subject matter warrants less a deliberate pace, The Andromeda Strain brings Michael Crichton's techno-thriller to the big screen with striking intelligence and an engrossing sense of paranoia.

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

It is, in fact, quite a proficient example of the science fiction genre, though I can't help thinking that 130 minutes is too long for anything non-Kubrick.

Jun 2, 2020

Full Review

Margaret Hinxman

Daily Telegraph (UK)

A real spellbinder.

Jun 2, 2020

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

It all goes a bit sci-fi bonkers towards the end, with a high-tension countdown and green lasers blasting scientists who attempt to override a doomsday button. But, well, it is a movie after all. And an underrated classic.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 19, 2020

Full Review

Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

It remains well worth watching, but the magical 'classic' status afforded to Wise's other famous films is not quite earned.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 25, 2020

Full Review

Barbara Shulgasser

Common Sense Media

'70s book-based sci-fi classic has violence, peril.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 3, 2020

Full Review

Sergio Benítez

Espinof

With an incredible cast and a fine direction, The Andromeda Strain can serve up some great and tense discourse. [Full Review in Spanish]

Mar 16, 2020

Full Review

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ACUMEN

Countless animals died for the film and the baby they show the entire time suffered greatly. If you have morals and decency, skip this film! The acting is super bad anyway!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/19/24

Full Review

Audience Member

After 50 years it’s still a very good flick directed by the renowned Robert Wise. A US research satellite lands on earth carrying a microscopic organism that begins infecting our planet. A team of top scientists are called in to determine its nature and learn how to combat the deadly disease. By today's standards this fits our current fear of facing an epidemic matching COVID-19 as this outbreak comes out of nowhere and no one can quite identify it. It's interesting too that the several safety measures they take have to be precise to avoid risk of infection or contamination. The film itself continues to offer context for considerable futures for us. It's true too that we don't know everything about how a disease works as it constantly mutates and adapts to defend itself. With this movie the politicians would resort to bombing the virus out of existence. There's statements about germ warfare, biological weapons, discovery of new interworkings of contagions, and determining the correct actions to combat sickness. What do we do if another biological crisis happens again is the big question? A deadly outbreak will always exist in one form or another; either we are ready or totally unprepared. A majority of this takes place in an underground facility but watching these people break down the mechanics of this unknown disease is fascinating. The science of the movie is enough to make up for lack of character. Not to mention it played a central role in the construction of new and contested futures for molecular biology. Yeah it blurs the line between science and reality although Robert Wise's direction is smooth, it's intelligent, and scary with its sense of paranoia.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/13/24

Full Review

Regina P

I don't think this aged all that well. It wasn't a chore to watch like some older films, but it definitely would not appeal to modern audiences.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/24/23

Full Review

Sheldon W

One of the best sci-fi movies. It's not what we're accustomed to today, with continuous edge-of-your-seat action. Instead, it relies on tense situations created as the story develops. Entirely fiction (I hope!), but told so well it seems real, Crichton's best-selling book is accurately translated to the big screen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/28/23

Full Review

Jack S

Dated but still suspenseful , "Andromeda" actually benefits from director Wise's meticulously paced scenes of scientific discovery which I think led authenticity to sequences that some critics found overlong. Separately, an annoying techno audio track and split-screen visuals detract from the story/action, but aren't fatal.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/27/23

Full Review

Ian B

One of the most influential "classic" science fiction movies. Michael Crichton is a master and this movie intelligently tells his story. First watching this as a kid, this movie has unforgettable scenes such as the disintegrating plane and unforgettable concepts like exponential growth. I wish more movies today dealt with this kind of (at least to my kid brain) hard science and less with fantasy. I saw the 7/10 score and had to leave my first ever review. It's a 8/10 at least and a 9/10 for me personally

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/25/23

Full Review

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Robert Wise

Director

Arthur Hill

Dr. Jeremy Stone

David Wayne

Dr. Charles Dutton

James Olson

Dr. Mark Hall

Kate Reid

Dr. Ruth Leavitt

Paula Kelly

Karen Anson

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The Andromeda Strain: Official Clip - An Alien Vessel

3:03

The Andromeda Strain: Official Clip - It's a Crystal

2:38

The Andromeda Strain: Official Clip - A Town of the Dead

2:32

The Andromeda Strain: Official Clip - Containment Breach

2:52

The Andromeda Strain: Official Clip - Animal Testing

2:38

The Andromeda Strain: Official Clip - A Deadly Discovery

1:56

The Andromeda Strain: Official Clip - It's Growing

2:42

The Andromeda Strain: Official Clip - Laser Turrets

3:41

The Andromeda Strain: Official Clip - Laser Decontamination

3:13

The Andromeda Strain: Official Clip - Disinfecting the Human Body

2:42

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Synopsis

Chilling tale about a US research satellite carrying a deadly extraterrestrial microscopic organism that crashes into a small town in Arizona. A group of top scientists are hurriedly assembled in a bid to identify and contain the lethal stowaway. Based on the novel by Michael Crichton.

Director: Robert Wise
Screenwriter: Nelson Gidding
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal/Universal Int
Rating: G
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 12, 1971, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2015
Runtime: 2h 10m

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