Contact

Name: Contact
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: July 11, 1997
Duration: 150 min
Rating: 62
Cast: Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey

1997

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 224 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 224 Ratings

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Contact

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: July 11, 1997 | PG

Starring: Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey

Summary: 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.)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: PG

Runtime: 150 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

James Berardinelli

Contact is that rare big-budget motion picture that places ideas, characters, and plot above everything else. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Sagan's novel Contact provides the inspiration for Robert Zemeckis' new film, which tells the smartest and most absorbing story about extraterrestrial intelligence since "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Read full review

Empire Neil Jeffries

Contact delivers on more than a pure visual level, reiterating the idea that greatest progress is made taking "small steps" towards enlightenment. Read full review

Russell Smith

Little effort is made to churn up romantic chemistry between Foster and McConaughey. For better or worse, director Robert Zemeckis sticks to Sagan's original vision for these characters, in which they're basically totems embodying both sides of a philosophical dialectic. Read full review

David Ansen

Robert Zemeckis's movie is frustratingly uneven. When it's good, it's very good. And when it's not, it can be as silly and self-important as bad '50s sci-fi. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Contact, directed by Robert Zemeckis, may be too long, too self-important and too "Gump"-like to be completely satisfying. But it contains elements that are so striking they pretty much redeem the film. Read full review

Rita Kempley

In some ways, Contact is just like the universe: big, star-bright and seemingly endless. Not to mention that it begins with a big bang, gradually falls into a lull and finally succumbs to entropy. Read full review

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User Reviews

SteveP.

Jun 22, 2006

Contact was great. To those who said it was not so good you are wrong. Jodie was great in the film even though she did overact a bit.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

MooP.

Sep 23, 2005

I am amazed at how many critics got this movie so wrong. To be sure, the movie had the ambitious task of condensing Sagan's intelligent and realistic novel of the interplay of science, religion, and politics into bite-sized morsel. But it does so very effectively, without being I am amazed at how many critics got this movie so wrong. To be sure, the movie had the ambitious task of condensing Sagan's intelligent and realistic novel of the interplay of science, religion, and politics into bite-sized morsel. But it does so very effectively, without being pandering, self-important, or pretentious. The movie sets out some clear questions and lets the viewer take away what they want from the accessible dialogue and the somewhat ambigous events at the end. Lost on most critics is something that makes the movie (and the novel) almost unqiue in the realm of Sci-F: it is one of the most realistic and in-depth portrayals of a scientist and how science intersects with the 'real world'. The character of Ellie is one of my favorites of all time. She is also an excellent role model for girls at a time when women are still underrepresented in the sciences. I give Sagans' book my highest recommendation, and this movie the highest score for doing such an effective job in conveying many of the book's ideas while maintaining an intriguing storyline.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful

detBits

Apr 7, 2012

This movie hit pretty close to home in a lot of different parts. Great acting, good cast, and excellent CG, especially for the time. Was in awe the entire time, now one of my favorite movies ever.

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

jonslow

Feb 16, 2019

Amazing movie. Gripping and captivating from start to end. Incredible CGI in most parts especially for a 90s movie. Really underrated. Had a couple parts with pretty questionable CGI, including one key part, but the movie is still so good it survives beyond it. Must-watch!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ATsushi

May 30, 2016

Bringing philosophical discussions and curious, Contact has a copy photograph, good character development and, as a good science fiction, many discussions after the credits roll.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Tokyochuchu

Feb 2, 2013

Contact is a unique and thought provoking sci-fi delight. The only downside to this movie is the unsatisfying conclusion and the notion that some of it's themes are not explored fully enough (the whole religion versus science debate surely has more meat to it). Still, Contact makes forContact is a unique and thought provoking sci-fi delight. The only downside to this movie is the unsatisfying conclusion and the notion that some of it's themes are not explored fully enough (the whole religion versus science debate surely has more meat to it). Still, Contact makes for excellent viewing that is bound to rouse the inner nerd in all of us!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SSH83

Nov 12, 2016

Arrival (2016) reminded me of this movie. Equally ignorant. "Science is faith based. It's just about what you believe." If agree with that statement, you will probably enjoy this movie. Otherwise, don't watch this garbage (or watch it for laughs).

1 of 7 users found this helpful16

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70	#70 Best Movie of 1997
21	#21 Most Discussed Movie of 1997
2	#2 Most Shared Movie of 1997