The Andromeda Strain

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The Andromeda Strain

G

1971

2h 10m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

44 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

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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Daniel Stoffman

Toronto Star

Feb 21, 2026

The Andromeda Strain gets bogged down in a morass of cryptic computer read-outs.

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Stephen Handzo

Village Voice

Jan 15, 2026

In a humanist blast at NASA, the film clinically details the obsessive compulsive decontamination of the human body, ironically to meet a crisis caused by the search for bigger and dirtier germ cultures.

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Clayton Dillard

Slant Magazine

May 10, 2025

Robert Wise’s The Andromeda Strain, a hard-sci-fi procedural slash disaster thriller, is a fascinating early example of large-scale blockbuster filmmaking with a brain.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Jun 7, 2026

3/5

…science wins out over entertainment in The Andromeda Strain, which keeps faith with credible scientific action at the expense of the disaster movie format which was just around the corner…probably plays better for scientists than anyone else….

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Jun 18, 2024

3.5/5

Over 50 years later, The Andromeda Strain remains one of the best films in the killer virus genre in terms of accuracy and attention to detail.

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Sep 25, 2020

7/10

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

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Robert P

@Superbad 3 days ago

The Andromeda Strain = A *3.5* star movie

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Blake L

@MovieMasochist Aug 27, 2026

Fantastic film. Robert Wise was the perfect director for this, with his preference for slow dramatic buildup. The cast was well-chosen.

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Brian M

@Bmizzle Jun 27, 2026

A great sci-fi movie from the 70s. A good book as well!

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Edward R

@Edward186 Jun 25, 2026

Excellent science told properly. Fine acting.

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Luiz A

@AdamLuiz69XD Jun 2, 2026

The ending is very tense and it is a very good film. But it is a little bit slow

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G L.

@RT09869090 Apr 27, 2026

The best word to describe this movie is..boring!

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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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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
Producer: 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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