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Contact

Contact

1997
Drama, Sci-fi
2h 30m
Jodie Foster stars as headstrong visionary astronomer Ellie Arroway in Contact, a drama of discovery, based on the best-selling 1985 novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and noted astronomer Carl Sagan. (Warner Bros.)
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Contact

1997
Drama, Sci-fi
2h 30m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 54% from 9683 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(9682)
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Rated 14 Aug 2007
68
72nd
What I learned from this movie: increased levels of estrogen due to prolonged exposure to Matthew McConaughey severely inhibit logical thought processes, compelling respectable scientists to deem excretory theological outbursts as probable solutions to their myriad queries about life, the universe, and everything.
Rated 06 Jul 2016
100
97th
Superb. The subject matter is fascinating on its own, of course, but Jodie Foster's exceptional performance also provides the movie with a strong emotional core. The direction and effects are impeccable and grounded, and serve the story rather than the other way around. A feast for the brain and soul.
Rated 22 Apr 2019
70
53rd
My only contact with Contact prior to watching Contact was Mr Garrison violently vomiting upon hearing the title after waking up from a rhinoplasty. I didn't have the same reaction but I made sure to take a gravol before taking off. It was fine. It attempts the impossible and mostly succeeds: you try making radio dish coordinates exciting. Dragged like hell though and the entire father thing didn't really - *vomits violently*
Rated 22 Jun 2007
98
99th
What makes Sagan's work (and its movie adaptation) so powerful are the philosophical questions that come from finding life besides our own in this galaxy. It does a great job capturing the worldly implications, and you can't help but feel for Foster's character as the movie plays. Excellent.
Rated 27 Dec 2008
90
79th
Many people bag this film. I don't get it, how did you want it to end? With little green men??? I felt they did the best ending they could have. Foster is brilliant and the story moves at a good pace that doesn't rush things. Great screenplay from an extremely complicated book!
Rated 23 Jun 2021
88
78th
This epitome of sci-fi shows how humanity reevaluates itself after an epoch changing event. Here, we realistically see politicians call the event a hoax manufactured by a man of science and a "lying" woman. Zemeckis expands his Forrest Gump-style exploitation of documentary footage to create a fantastic world that's authentic to the narrative and the era. The screenplay includes some amazing quotes, that've become memes in their own right. And it earns its achingly profound final shot of wonder.
Rated 29 Dec 2008
89
73rd
This is a beautiful sci-fi, fantasy... Some of the most sensitive work Jodie Foster has ever done, and definitely some of the BEST from Matthew McConaughy
Rated 12 May 2012
58
34th
That's it. I hate aliens. It's tough to hate any movie with Jake Busey in it though.
Rated 28 Jan 2014
95
94th
Just re-watched this for the first time since, apparently, 1997. It bowled me over back then; my eyes were a bit more open this time. But it stands the test of 17 years. It's a fantastic story with great special effects (especially given it was made in '97). The low points are few and are no more than minor distractions; e.g., the acting in the mishap at the first IMC, and the science-religion comparison (i.e., I know what I know though I can't prove it) in the court hearing at the end.
Rated 27 Sep 2015
80
73rd
A success story among blockbusters. Contact serves to give big effects, have big stars, but still stay grounded in its message. The debate between differing philosophical questions is well done and enticing enough to propel a solid sci-fi flick.
Rated 01 Apr 2009
87
75th
This film transported me.
Rated 18 Jul 2010
25
43rd
After a brilliant beginning, an awe-inspiring journey through space, the film soon settles for sentimentality and psychobabble, being less interested in the consequences of the possibilities of alien contact than in self-help and exploring one's inner being.
Rated 01 May 2011
85
88th
Carl Sagan is no Stanislaw Lem, and 'Contact' is no 'His Master's Voice' but really, this blockbuster movie should be applauded for trying to deal with first contact in a mature way. Some will have a hard time mustering that 'Contact' ends up taking the 'faith' road, but to those of you I'd like to say: You cannot hate any movie where Tom Skerritt gets killed by an alien onboard the spaceship. Fact.
Rated 08 Mar 2013
85
92nd
Zemeckis and the screenwriters extract the most emotional, inspirational and arresting moments of the great novel by Sagan and craft an immensely poignant, character-based science and cosmic journey. Like Flight, another giant man-against-the-world kind of duel, Contact is about a stubborn, aggressive individual, one that simply won't stop believing in what she wants. This has to be one of the most underrated films of the 1990s.
Rated 08 Sep 2013
96
99th
Really good, deals with a lot of interesting topics in a good way. Jodie Foster is great in this and the story is very interesting. I liked the ending too, because it dealt with deep themes and raises interesting questions. The film is a blend of sci-fi and drama, I think the film would have been even better if the drama was toned down a bit, it is important for certain aspects to this film but it felt a bit unnecessary at other moments. Very philosophical and thought-provoking, recommended!
Rated 18 Jun 2018
68
52nd
Competently made and acted, with some good ideas, but despite the lengthy running time it doesn't make the most of its potential. Very watchable, if a bit slight.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
89
97th
Actually superior to the book in some ways. Thinking SF on the big screen for once
Rated 20 Oct 2007
100
99th
My favorite movie of all time. The writing, the acting, the special effects, and the message about mankind's future and evolution, as well as the flaws in science and religion. Fascinating and exceptional example of a well-made movie with an important message.
Rated 12 Jun 2008
95
99th
Want to watch a great science fiction movie? Look no further than Contact. Based on a story by prolific science writer Carl Sagan, this ticks all the boxes needed for quality sci-fi entertainment. Believable science? Check! Sense of wonder? Check! Emotional significance? Check! Philosophical debate? Check! Great acting? Check! Yes, Contact might be reminiscent of genre classics such as "2001", but it deserves your seperate attention nontheless. Awesome!
Rated 23 Jun 2008
70
37th
Despite a couple excruciatingly boring and long-lasting sections of the film, the concept is fascinating and generally well presented. Meh!
Rated 11 Aug 2008
80
65th
I love this film because of the wormhole-travel sequence and Jodie Foster. The ending is also brilliant. Seventeen hours of static!
Rated 27 Nov 2008
67
37th
Disclaimer: I never read the book. With that out of the way, the film is maybe a tad too long with acting that borders on "am-dram-soc" level. The script is quite clever, the science is refreshingly accurate, but the buildup of the film's second act is cataclysmically let down by the movie's climax. The character of Ellie is also suspiciously - for a scientist - unable to spot the glaring logical fallacies in the religious arguments constantly chucked her way.
Rated 17 Aug 2009
84
78th
Dares to claim there are no sides when religion and science meet. It's not perfect, but it's poetry.
Rated 01 Feb 2010
57
38th
Left me feeling infuriated just as often as it wowed me. "If you won't try to convert aliens to our silly earth religions, then NO SPACE FOR YOU." What?!? Foster gives a valiant effort but some of the acting is atrocious (McConaughey and Busey, I'm lookin' at you). Even the great John Hurt is kind of annoying here. For their time the visual effects are strong, and the climax of the film is great. It's just lacking something. For a film dedicated to Sagan, I'm not sure he would approve of this.
Rated 16 Feb 2010
40
19th
The first 40 minutes of this movie are utterly awful. I would recommend just starting the film when the alien transmission is first heard. Everything else is totally unnecessary. The romance here is really awful, and I hope these characters were more products of Hollywood than of Carl Sagan. At one point Matthew McConaughey inadvertently quotes Jodie Foster's father, so she has sex with him. So stupid. The stuff surrounding the alien transmission is good, but thumbs down on everything else
Rated 15 Mar 2010
70
83rd
A quite unique sci-fi movie, because the stress mark here is on science rather than fiction - an unusual practice in 90's Hollywood. Foster barely fits the bill, but she didn't bother me much. Film touches lots of interesting topics, especially clash of religion and science. Visual effects are great, beginning scene reminded me of the greatness of one Kubrick's film.
Rated 20 Mar 2010
68
49th
Takes two and a half hours to formulate the concept that scientists can't explain everything and therefore must sometimes make assumptions based on personal intuition. As a concept I really enjoyed the film but the last half hour was really hard to swallow after the first two due to being relatively ham-fisted. Plus it cuts short Sagan's book resulting in a changed message. Still everything up to that, and the core premise, is pretty good.
Rated 22 Jun 2010
89
86th
One of the best contemporary movies of its genre, with an interesting premise and execution. The idea behind the alien contact through radio transmissions isn't precisely new, but the way it was written for this movie amazed me. Science vs. religion is a touchy subject for some people, and in certain way that view was favored in the film, by leaving the most important part of the movie (the actual aliens) to mere faith, which probably doomed it. At least I'm open to the idea, unlike others...
Rated 18 Oct 2010
65
77th
This had the potential to be one of the greatest science-fiction movies of all time. As it is, the science is great, but the fiction is somewhat hampered by melodrama, stock characters, and a predictable love interest. It's tempting to give Sagan all the credit for the great parts and blame Hollywood for the corniness. Anyway, the subject matter is right down my alley, and the concepts and visuals are great, so I quite enjoyed it.
Rated 31 May 2011
87
81st
A cerebral, thought provoking, deeply compelling and enjoyable film. All the leads play credible parts with the story being as much about ambition and the nature of humanity as a radio signal. Some very good special effects and a decent pace in the plot make this a rarity - a genuinely impressive science fiction story that doesn't rely on little green beings.
Rated 14 Aug 2013
90
82nd
"Contact" is one of those rare movie that really bring out the question about science and religion.it might be a little too serious at times,but the whole story truly provoke the thoughts about human confusion between rationality and spirituality.As depicted in the two leading character which one is a skeptic and the other is a believer. "Contact" was Robert Zemeckis underrated masterpiece and sometimes being forgotten as well.
Rated 11 Sep 2014
80
73rd
This is actually a pretty great movie. Foster and McConaughey deliver in performance and the plot entertained me thoroughly to the end. Sure, there were some cheesy moments but the overall psychological and philosophical messages played through correctly and made for a good plot. Ended up liking this for what it was. Pretty great.
Rated 14 Sep 2014
90
97th
Spread-eagling faith and science this movie poses questions and allows for the imagination to run free.
Rated 07 Sep 2015
90
93rd
Few movies capture the awe of space exploration as inspirationally as Contact, and the movie succeeds brilliantly at blending a fantastical sci-fi story into the contemporary world, with all of the eerily relatable reactions and struggles you would imagine. From a science standpoint, the movie is also very well-grounded and asks the right, interesting questions. Possibly my favorite Jodie Foster performance as well.
Rated 03 May 2016
59
24th
On paper the idea of an alien speaking to you through your dead father's face should be nothing but terrifying but this movie managed to make it sappy. It's kind of funny that Tom Skerritt's character is the chief skeptic of the alien's intent, clearly expecting the Giger variety.
Rated 26 Aug 2016
64
31st
Ambitious & entertaining scifi story that's equally awe-inspiring and ridiculous. Well paced, expertly crafted, decently played and builds some really nice tension. You barely notice its two and a half hour running time. Slightly gag-inducing piano score though. Very heavy-handed but mostly engaging writing that admirably tackles some hefty themes in a populist way. Walks on the knife edge of goofiness with that serious tone and cuts itself pretty bad in the final act.
Rated 27 Nov 2006
60
23rd
Some intriguing ideas and some beautiful visuals, but I found large parts of the story -- especially the "misunderstood genius" elements -- to be annoying. Would religious people really be so petty as to care whether the person we sent to communicate with the aliens shared their own beliefs? Would people really be so myopic as to think that since the aliens transmitted back a video clip of Hitler, that means they must be warlike? I hope not.
Rated 06 Mar 2007
44
27th
Carl Sagan deserved much better.
Rated 28 Apr 2007
74
41st
I like the ending with the 3-hours of blank tape.
Rated 05 Jun 2007
90
86th
One of the rare examples of a Hollywood adaptation being better than the book. Thoughtful, handsome sf picture
Rated 11 Jun 2007
70
32nd
A decent adaptation, but boring and forgettable in the end.
Rated 25 Jul 2007
100
95th
A thought provoking film to it's core, the very best movie of the 90's, not to be missed. Don't forget your brain!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
60
58th
The sci-fi wizardry here is vehicle for an essentially human movie. Clever circular dialogue, concise arguments about religion served up by likable characters who frame an event capturing imagination. The few problems here: reliance on the cathode ray tube as a media to communicate to the audience, as well as a dominant image in the film; Jody always about ready to cry; some effects are fakey; the movie doesn't have to be this long; are a minor detraction from our fascination with ourselves.
Rated 03 Apr 2008
81
67th
I liked it. It was probably as close to really 'hard' sci-fi as a big mainstream film can get, and it did throw some nice philosophical questions out there too.
Rated 29 Jun 2008
2
21st
I owe this another viewing, but my recollection of it isn't very warm.
Rated 03 Oct 2008
39
6th
Too many "Theatrical adaptations" assuming an audience IQ of 50. Read the book first and then see the movie as good illustrations to the text
Rated 11 Nov 2008
75
20th
This movie was really, really good - until the ending. I mean, it wasn't terrible, but still...real let-down. Very anti-climactic.
Rated 03 Oct 2009
75
82nd
The ultimate American movie, from searching for aliens in the New Mexico desert to softspoken evangelists handing us a moral compass; it turns out what we're looking for in the end is our dad
Rated 17 Nov 2009
85
26th
A little bit of a let down with the special effects and the ending, but a captivating idea and some good cinematography. It was one of the movies that really stayed with me a long time, made me think about the structure of knowledge, how we know what we say we know and how we give an account of that. It's a kind of argument for postmodernism.
Rated 23 Feb 2010
60
30th
Pretty lame and comes across as a cheap imitation of Kubrick's 2001 in a myriad of ways. This includes the abstract ending which was made audience and family friendly into another "daddy issues" type character piece. Overall, very tedious at times and totally conventional. There are some good CGI shots in this though that are commendable to tech people but overall this is as lackluster as they come. Jodie Foster gives a good turn in her role but it's nothing special.
Rated 26 Aug 2010
45
34th
Some mildly diverting aspects, but the filmmaking is too conventional if not indeed pedestrian. The "human" story is unconvincing and the questions raised by the "scientific" story fail to rise beyond an elementary level (in some ways the issues seem very "1990s"). Foster is a charismatic actress, but the character she is given to play is rather awkwardly drawn. McConaughey's is worse. Fails to capitalise on the investment it invites from its audience, leaving the viewer somewhat dissatisfied.
Rated 22 Sep 2010
68
65th
I don't think Zemeckis was the right choice here. There are obviously some high level concepts at the root of this, but it is so watered down it may become more confusing than if left completely intact. Foster is good, Matty McCon is completely out of his element.
Rated 05 Dec 2010
85
80th
Made me want to be an astronomer for a brief period back in the 7th grade.
Rated 19 Jan 2011
73
50th
I think there is more to this movie than many give it credit for. It scratches the surface of faith and science and in a way that few have tried. Why should we believe her? That story she gave us is crazy. Is it really that crazy in comparison to the stories we are told everyday?
Rated 30 Jul 2012
4
91st
Don't remember quite why I ranked this so highly. Must've really been in the mood for some big, glossy sci-fi that day, and Foster.
Rated 11 Feb 2013
89
81st
Near-perfect philopsical rumination on humanity and its various belief systems (and the contradictions inherent in them) botched somewhat by a clumsy mid-section, which marks time like a bad shaggy dog joke before the film gets to the expected climax. So much of it works so well though; Foster's superb leading performance is matched by undervalued contribution by McConaughey in one of his best performances. Intriguing dialogue and debates (and Foster's final verdict) leave much food for thought.
Rated 19 Apr 2013
95
90th
better to be watched or re-watched after reading carl sagan's novel, demon haunted world.
Rated 15 Jun 2014
48
32nd
Ambitious, and all the worse for it. Terrific opening zoom and a nice worm-hole machine helps.
Rated 28 Mar 2015
7
57th
Contact is definitely a film of mixed quality. As a thought provoking Sci/Fi with a real sense of wonder, it partially feels unsung and underrated. But rightly or wrongly in the mid 90's mainstream audiences seemed more interested in blockbusters like 'Independance Day' & 'Men in Black'. The science itself and the ideas here are interesting, but they are tarnished by sentiment. Jodie Foster carries the film well but I'm not convinced that Robert Zemeckis was the right choice to direct this film.
Rated 02 May 2015
73
66th
"When I talk about belief, why do you always assume I'm talking about God?" to quote another movie. As a philosophical argument, "Contact" falls a bit short, tossing up strawmen and contrived coincidences left and right to force its plot to make a point without getting uncomfortable. That said, it is, often enough, quite literally wonder-ful.
Rated 28 Dec 2015
65
28th
I have a high tolerance for wish fulfillment fantasy films, but Contact is for the most part a little too silly and sappy to have any real significance. The character drama is woefully underwritten, relying almost entirely on the machinations of an increasingly tenuous plot. The most interesting narrative is all squeezed into the last ten minutes, rather than underpinning the film. In this era, just as at release, the visual effects are the real draw - which to their credit still look fantastic.
Rated 20 Nov 2016
75
88th
Excellent piece of cinema. Zemeckis has a very meticulous and careful camera approach. The pace is great with acting, music and screenplay adding in gorgeously. Beautiful segment towards the end, thought-provoking motives, wonderful supporting cast (Rob Lowe ahem, James Woods, a spot-on William Fichtner). Loved it. Some of the visual effects are outdated, and there are a couple of scenes that the film could've done without. Overall a superb experience. The court scene - gosh.
Rated 09 Nov 2020
41
24th
Religion and Science FUCK. John Hurt shows up as a Bond villain who is actually nice. We visit the strange, uncharted, mysterious lands of.... Japan and Florida. This movie is kinda bananas, but I don't think it crosses over into being full on bad.
Rated 19 Nov 2020
75
64th
Lovely bit of Hollywood here, like momma used to make.
Rated 07 Jun 2021
100
90th
Beautiful and inspiring.
Rated 03 Dec 2006
74
47th
If you've taken 8th grade geometry/algebra, you'll be able to see the ending coming a mile off.
Rated 12 Dec 2006
10
3rd
Crap.
Rated 12 Dec 2006
64
15th
It's an interesting idea for a movie, and for a large part it's pretty enjoyable despite the sappiness and occasional heavy handedness. The end really didn't work for me, though.
Rated 30 Dec 2006
20
8th
Don't bother trying to find aliens, just think about your dad. Yech.
Rated 06 Jan 2007
1
0th
The BIGGEST let-down ending I've EVER experienced. It would have been FAR better if I had just stopped watching it after the first hour.
Rated 20 Feb 2007
60
40th
Builds up very nicely to a completely crap ending.
Rated 21 Feb 2007
60
62nd
Great film.
Rated 26 Feb 2007
72
29th
Anti climatic and very slow.
Rated 22 Apr 2007
70
47th
if it werent for the over-dramatic acting of foster i would have liked it better/
Rated 18 May 2007
73
60th
This movie is not about Contact. It's about how you can be boring when there are fucking aliens in a movie. I'm not saying it's a poor film, just not exactly what I expected.
Rated 26 May 2007
40
17th
Bleh.
Rated 27 May 2007
67
24th
Saw it when I was younger and thought it was pretty cool. It's a suspenseful movie with an interesting third act.
Rated 08 Jun 2007
50
16th
A well made, but ultimately quite dull science fiction film. Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey are quite bland, and the ending of the film makes little sense.
Rated 13 Jun 2007
61
44th
very long, and nothing actually happends
Rated 28 Jun 2007
76
31st
Could have been so much more!
Rated 09 Jul 2007
40
14th
next to the village, this is one of the worst endings ever.
Rated 24 Jul 2007
55
52nd
I remember being bored. And what the hell was Matthew McConaughey doing in this movie? Casting him is a sign of a film's questionable quality, I'm sorry.
Rated 25 Jul 2007
50
25th
Richard Zemeckis trying, and quite failing, to make THE RIGHT STUFF for himself.
Rated 31 Jul 2007
49
29th
Nice idea but just kind of went nowhere with it... it was all a bit WTF towards the end with a sprinkle of conspiracy.
Rated 03 Aug 2007
80
51st
I wasn't particularly enthused to see this, much as I love Sagan and Foster, but it ended up being quite good.
Rated 05 Aug 2007
65
38th
It's a passable adaptation up until the ending, when the movie delivers a final message that runs contrary to everything Carl Sagan had spent his life talking about.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
86th
Great story. Kind of lacks a bit at the end.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
3
64th
Wonderful story, competently brought to film.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
71
50th
It could have been a lot better, but it's still the best Zemeckis movie aimed at adults.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
67th
crazy end
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
64th
Decent adapation of a much better book.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
30
8th
I'm not a Jodie Foster fan. This movie didn't help things. A snooze-fest with a lame ending.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
18th
Call me stupid, but I just didn't get it.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
83
78th
Aside from the weird ending, this is a great, thought-provoking film about the clash between science and faith.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
82
63rd
Good story and cast. I liked it.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
82
67th
Sometimes longwnded, sometimes overly dramatic, this movie tries to do a lot of things, and is successful with most of them. Jodie Foster is excellent, as always, and so is James Woods. McConaughey is miscast but delivers an adequate performance. If nothing else, this is a tribute to Carl sagan's legacy. As always though, the book is superior to movie.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
55th
One of the better big-budget Hollywood movies.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
65
37th
The book is much better.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
41
17th
The idea is great, but the execution is craptastic. None of the casting seemed right or had any chemistry, the acting blew, and the execution of the final scenes (with Morse) just came off as retarded.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
69
9th
Will Jodie Foster never play just a regular non-headstrong misunderstood genius. Just once I'd like to see her the dumb blond

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