Contact
An idealistic astronomer fights to preserve humanity’s first verified conversation with extraterrestrial intelligence while science, politics, and faith compete to define its meaning.
Overview
A determined astronomer embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about extraterrestrial life, facing challenges from all sides.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- awe-filled
- thoughtful
- earnest
- thoughtful movie night
- science fiction marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found Contact intellectually stimulating and visually impressive, even when its philosophical ambition outpaced its character development and storytelling cohesion.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ellie’s empirical commitment is repeatedly set against Palmer Joss’s theological perspective as they pursue truth from different starting points.
The discovery of a structured signal from Vega drives the investigation, political conflict, and transformation of Ellie’s mission.
The film uses elaborate astronomical imagery, extraterrestrial technology, and wormhole travel to render scientific concepts as spectacle.
Ellie’s search for extraterrestrial contact is connected to her childhood bond with her father Ted and his early death.
Films like Contact, and why
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
shared first contact science fiction, awe-filled cosmic spectacle, and spiritual wonder
2001: A Space Odyssey
shared philosophical science fiction, ambitious visual effects, and humanity confronting the unknown
Arrival
shared intelligent extraterrestrial communication, scientific investigation, and emotionally serious speculative drama
The Martian
shared grounded science fiction, government pressure, and tension between rational inquiry and belief
Movie Details
- Director
- Robert Zemeckis
- Release Date
- 1997-07-11
- Runtime
- 150 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (5210)
Cast
- Jodie Foster
- Matthew McConaughey
- James Woods
- John Hurt
- Tom Skerritt
- William Fichtner
- David Morse
- Angela Bassett
- Geoffrey Blake
- Max Martini
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 Contact about?
- An idealistic astronomer fights to preserve humanity’s first verified conversation with extraterrestrial intelligence while science, politics, and faith compete to define its meaning.
- What is Contact like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Contact as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Contact violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Contact.
- What did critics think of Contact?
- Critics broadly found Contact intellectually stimulating and visually impressive, even when its philosophical ambition outpaced its character development and storytelling cohesion.
- Which films are like Contact?
- Films with a similar feel include Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Arrival, and The Martian.
- How long is Contact?
- Contact runs 150 minutes.
- Where can I watch Contact?
- In United States, Contact is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
