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Contact (1997)

PG  150 min  -  Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi   -  11 July 1997 (USA)
7.3
Your rating:
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Ratings: 7.3/10 from 98,395 users   Metascore: 62/100 
Reviews: 542 user | 139 critic | 22 from Metacritic.com

Dr. Ellie Arroway, after years of searching, finds conclusive radio proof of intelligent aliens, who send plans for a mysterious machine.

Director:

Robert Zemeckis

Writers:

Carl Sagan (novel), Carl Sagan (story), and 3 more credits »
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Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 16 nominations See more awards »

Related Videos

Contact -- Blu-Ray trailer for this science fiction film starring Jodie Foster Contact -- Dr. Ellie Arroway, after years of searching, finds conclusive radio proof of intelligent aliens, who send plans for a mysterious machine.
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jena Malone ...
David Morse ...
Jodie Foster ...
Geoffrey Blake ...
Fisher
William Fichtner ...
Sami Chester Sami Chester ...
Vernon (as SaMi Chester)
Timothy McNeil Timothy McNeil ...
Davio
Laura Elena Surillo Laura Elena Surillo ...
Cantina Woman
Matthew McConaughey ...
Tom Skerritt ...
Henry Strozier Henry Strozier ...
Minister
Michael Chaban Michael Chaban ...
Hadden Suit
Max Martini ...
Willie (as Maximilian Martini)
Larry King ...
Himself
Thomas Garner ...
Ian Broderick
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Storyline

Astronomer Dr. Ellie Arroway has long been interested in contact to faraway lands, a love fostered in her childhood by her father, Ted Arroway, who passed away when she was nine years old leaving her then orphaned. Her current work in monitoring for extraterrestrial life is based on that love and is in part an homage to her father. Ever since funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) was pulled on her work, which is referred to some, including her NSF superior David Drumlin, as more science fiction than science, Ellie, with a few of her rogue scientist colleagues, have looked for funding from where ever they could get it to continue their work. When Ellie and her colleagues hear chatter originating from the vicinity of the star Vega, Ellie feels vindicated. But that vindication is short lived when others, including politicians, the military, religious leaders and other scientists such as Drumlin... Written by Huggo  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Science | Alien | Scientist | Radio | Military  | See more »

Taglines:

A message from deep space. Who will be the first to go? A journey to the heart of the universe. See more »

Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some intense action, mild language and a scene of sensuality See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish | German (archive footage) | Russian

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Contacto See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$90,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$20,584,908 (USA) (13 July 1997) (1923 Screens)

Gross:

$171,120,329 (Worldwide) (1998)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

DTS  | Dolby Digital  | SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Argus Project, featuring 100+ radio telescopes, is named after a monster with a hundred eyes from Greek mythology. See more »

Goofs

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Ellie says to Palmer that her father died when she was 9. Yet later in the movie Mr. Hadden set her birth date to August 25th 1964, and her father's death to November 10th 1974, so she was 10 at the moment of his death. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Young Ellie: CQ, this is W9GFO. CQ, this is W9GFO here. Come back?
See more »


Soundtracks

"Semi-Charmed Life"
(uncredited)
Written by Stephan Jenkins
Performed by Third Eye Blind See more »