Outbreak (1995)

Army doctors struggle to find a cure for a deadly virus spreading throughout a California town that was brought to America by an African monkey.

Director:

Wolfgang Petersen

Writers:

Laurence Dworet, Robert Roy Pool

Stars:

Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Morgan Freeman

5 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dustin Hoffman	...	Sam Daniels
Rene Russo	...	Robby Keough
Morgan Freeman	...	General Billy Ford
Kevin Spacey	...	Casey Schuler
Cuba Gooding Jr.	...	Major Salt
Donald Sutherland	...	General Donald McClintock
Patrick Dempsey	...	Jimbo Scott
Zakes Mokae	...	Dr. Benjamin Iwabi
Malick Bowens	...	Dr. Raswani
Susan Lee Hoffman	...	Dr. Lisa Aronson
Benito Martinez	...	Dr. Julio Ruiz
Bruce Jarchow	...	Dr. Mascelli
Leland Hayward III	...	Henry Seward
Daniel Chodos	...	Rudy Alvarez
Dale Dye	...	Colonel Briggs

Storyline

Colonel Dr. Sam Daniels has just divorced his wife Robby Keough, who works at the CDC. Out of the blue, he is assigned by his superior General Billy Ford to investigate a lethal disease in an African village with his crew formed by the scientist Casey Schuler and Major Dr. Salt. They are impressed by the disease and Colonel Daniels reports to General Ford his findings afraid of contamination in the USA. However General Ford tells that the disease kills so fast that would never reach their country. However, an African smuggled monkey carrier of the disease is brought to USA and the customs employee Jimbo Scott unsuccessfully tries to sell the animal. He releases the monkey in the woods and spreads the disease in the beginning of an outbreak in a small town in California. Now Colonel Daniels, his ex-wife and their teams must fight the invisible enemy while Colonel Daniels discovers dark secrets from his superior General Donald McClintock.

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Plot Keywords:

virus | epidemic | monkey | disease | quarantine | 

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Taglines:

This animal carries a deadly virus... and the greatest medical crisis in the world is about to happen.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

(At around twenty-six minutes) In the film, it is said that "Motaba" was more deadly than the "Ebola" virus. Then they show a picture of the "Motaba" virus. The virus shown in the photograph is a strain of Ebola.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 22 mins) When Salt looks out the window and notices the troops leaving town they are next to the MPH sign and marching down the street. When he looks out again, after about two minutes, the troops are still marching, but their position has not changed.

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Quotes

Sam Daniels: What did you do with the dogs? Don't tell me you put them in a kennel.
Robby Keough: What was I supposed to do, leave them tied to a tree with a 5 pound bag of kibble?
Sam Daniels: That's what you did to me.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movie Outbreaks (2014)

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Soundtracks

Days Of Wine And Roses
Written by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini
Performed by Michael Lang
Courtesy of Varèse Sarabande Records

User Reviews

Well Made Film

Outbreak (1995, Dir. Wolfgang Peterson)

It's 1967 and there's a deadly outbreak of 100% mortality rate virus in Motaba River Valley, Zaire. The Valley is destroyed to prevent the virus from spreading, but 27 years later, the virus finds its way over to the USA aboard a monkey. This time though, the virus has evolved and is now airborne, as Col. Sam Daniels (Hoffman) races to not only prevent a virus epidemic but to prevent the destruction of Cedar Creek by the corrupt Maj. Gen. Donald McClintock (Sutherland).

Great acting from its talented cast and superb storytelling make a well made film which hooks you into waiting for the final outcome. Story doesn't focus on the effects of the virus, but rather the hunt for the cure, which makes a far better film.

You want a hotshot scope-jockey, fine, but, frankly, I'm hurt. – Maj. Casey Schuler (Kevin Spacey)

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Korean French

Release Date:

10 March 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Outbreak

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,420,387, 12 March 1995

Gross USA:

$67,659,560

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$189,859,560

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Arnold Kopelson Productions, Punch Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1