Contagion
A globally connected society buckles under a lethal virus while scientists, officials, families, and opportunists race to understand and contain it.
Overview
A global pandemic unfolds, testing humanity's resolve and resilience in the face of disaster.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- tense
- austere
- paranoid
- pandemic movie night
- serious thriller viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an intelligent, gripping, and unusually realistic ensemble medical thriller, though some found its emotionally cool approach limiting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film intercuts Mitch Emhoff, CDC officials, epidemiologists, investigators, and a conspiracy-minded blogger as the outbreak develops.
Virus identification, contact tracing, quarantine, vaccine research, and public-health logistics drive the suspense.
International travel, dense social contact, commerce, and mass communication allow the infection and panic to spread worldwide.
The film repeatedly foregrounds hands, surfaces, shared objects, and ordinary social interactions as vectors of infection.
Films like Contagion, and why
Outbreak
shared epidemic thriller premise, scientific investigation, public panic, and procedural realism
The Andromeda Strain
shared global catastrophe, ensemble storytelling, institutional response, and escalating social disorder
The Hot Zone
shared disease anxiety, grounded medical suspense, and morally pressured public-health professionals
Movie Details
- Director
- Steven Soderbergh
- Release Date
- 2011-09-08
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (6735)
Cast
- Marion Cotillard
- Matt Damon
- Laurence Fishburne
- Jude Law
- Kate Winslet
- Jennifer Ehle
- Gwyneth Paltrow
- Bryan Cranston
- Elliott Gould
- Chin Han
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Contagion about?
- A globally connected society buckles under a lethal virus while scientists, officials, families, and opportunists race to understand and contain it.
- What is Contagion like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Contagion as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Contagion violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Contagion as mild.
- What did critics think of Contagion?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an intelligent, gripping, and unusually realistic ensemble medical thriller, though some found its emotionally cool approach limiting.
- Which films are like Contagion?
- Films with a similar feel include Outbreak, The Andromeda Strain, and The Hot Zone.
- How long is Contagion?
- Contagion runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch Contagion?
- In United States, Contagion streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
