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IMDbPro

Phenomenon

  • 19961996
  • PGPG
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
79K
YOUR RATING
John Travolta and Kyra Sedgwick in Phenomenon (1996)
An ordinary man sees a bright light descend from the sky, and discovers he now has super-intelligence and telekinesis.
Play trailer2:44
3 Videos
72 Photos
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
  • Romance
An ordinary man sees a bright light descend from the sky, and discovers he now has super-intelligence and telekinesis.An ordinary man sees a bright light descend from the sky, and discovers he now has super-intelligence and telekinesis.An ordinary man sees a bright light descend from the sky, and discovers he now has super-intelligence and telekinesis.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
79K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jon Turteltaub
  • Writer
    • Gerald Di Pego
  • Stars
    • John Travolta
    • Kyra Sedgwick
    • Forest Whitaker
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jon Turteltaub
  • Writer
    • Gerald Di Pego
  • Stars
    • John Travolta
    • Kyra Sedgwick
    • Forest Whitaker
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 146User reviews
    • 53Critic reviews
    • 41Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 8 nominations

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:44
    Official Trailer
    Phenomenon: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:05
    Phenomenon: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Phenomenon: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:14
    Phenomenon: 15th Anniversary Edition

    Photos72

    Ashley Buccille in Phenomenon (1996)
    Jon Turteltaub in Phenomenon (1996)
    Jon Turteltaub in Phenomenon (1996)
    John Travolta and Jon Turteltaub in Phenomenon (1996)
    John Travolta and Robert Duvall in Phenomenon (1996)
    John Travolta in Phenomenon (1996)
    John Travolta and Kyra Sedgwick in Phenomenon (1996)
    John Travolta in Phenomenon (1996)
    John Travolta in Phenomenon (1996)
    John Travolta in Phenomenon (1996)
    John Travolta in Phenomenon (1996)
    John Travolta in Phenomenon (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Travolta
    John Travolta
    • George Malleyas George Malley
    Kyra Sedgwick
    Kyra Sedgwick
    • Lace Pennaminas Lace Pennamin
    Forest Whitaker
    Forest Whitaker
    • Nate Popeas Nate Pope
    Robert Duvall
    Robert Duvall
    • Docas Doc
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    • Professor Ringoldas Professor Ringold
    Richard Kiley
    Richard Kiley
    • Dr. Wellinas Dr. Wellin
    David Gallagher
    David Gallagher
    • Alas Al
    Ashley Buccille
    Ashley Buccille
    • Gloryas Glory
    Tony Genaro
    Tony Genaro
    • Titoas Tito
    Sean O'Bryan
    Sean O'Bryan
    • Banesas Banes
    Michael Milhoan
    Michael Milhoan
    • Jimmyas Jimmy
    Troy Evans
    Troy Evans
    • Rogeras Roger
    Bruce A. Young
    Bruce A. Young
    • Jack Hatchas Jack Hatch
    • (as Bruce Young)
    Vyto Ruginis
    Vyto Ruginis
    • Ted Rhomeas Ted Rhome
    Brent Spiner
    Brent Spiner
    • Dr. Bobas Dr. Bob
    Elisabeth Nunziato
    Elisabeth Nunziato
    • Ellaas Ella
    Ellen Geer
    Ellen Geer
    • Bonnieas Bonnie
    James Keane
    James Keane
    • Pete the Copas Pete the Cop
    • Director
      • Jon Turteltaub
    • Writer
      • Gerald Di Pego
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Old town Auburn, California was used for the scenes in town. Most of the businesses are still in operation, and thrive off of the tourism generated by the movie to this day. Auburn is also the birthplace of Kane Hodder who played Jason Voorhees in one of the Friday the 13th movies.
    • Goofs
      Early in the film, George talks to the two children who are in their mother's pick-up truck parked on the street, with the boy sitting in the driver's seat pretending he's driving. George asks the boy to "Pop the hood", which is followed by the sound of the hood latch being released as though the boy did indeed release the hood from the driver's position. This is impossible, as vehicles of that pick-up truck's vintage (late '50's) did not have hood releases located inside the vehicle. Instead, the hood release lever was activated by reaching through the grill on the front of the vehicle.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: All right, I'll start the questions, and I'll be timing your responses, and we'll be recording. Any questions?

      George Malley: What's your first name?

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: Uh, my first name is Bob.

      [George reaches across the wide table to shake hands]

      George Malley: Shoot, Bob.

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: Right. Name as many mammals as you can in 60 seconds. Ready? Go.

      [Starts stopwatch]

      George Malley: Hmm. 60 seconds. Well, how would you like that? How about alphabetical? Aardvark, baboon, caribou, dolphin, eohippus, fox, gorilla, hyena, ibex, jackal, kangaroo, lion, marmoset, Newfoundland, ocelot, panda, rat, sloth, tiger, unicorn, varmint, whale, yak, zebra. Now "varmint" is a stretch; so is "Newfoundland" (that's a dog breed); "unicorn" is mythical; "eohippus" is prehistoric. But you weren't being very specific, now, were you, Bob?

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: [pauses, then stops watch and laughs] Well! Ahh, I'll, uh - I'll try to be more specific. You ready for the next one?

      George Malley: Shoot.

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: Answer as quickly as you can... how old is a person born in 1928?

      [starts stopwatch]

      George Malley: Man or a woman?

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: [stops stopwatch and pauses] Why?

      George Malley: Specifics, Bob.

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: Okay, one more time. How old is a MAN born in 1928?

      [starts stopwatch]

      George Malley: Still alive?

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: [stops watch, pauses, nods] If a man is born in 1928, and he's still alive, how old is he?

      [starts stopwatch]

      George Malley: What month?

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: [stops stopwatch] If a man was born October 3rd, 1928, and he's still alive, how old is he?

      [starts stopwatch]

      George Malley: What time?

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: [stops stopwatch] 10 o'clock... PM!

      [starts stopwatch]

      George Malley: Where?

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: [stops stopwatch; now impatient] Anywhere!

      George Malley: Well, let's get specific, Bob! I mean, if the guy's still alive, born in California, October 3rd, 1928, 10 PM, he's 67 years, 9 months, 22 days, 14 hours, and...

      [takes Bob's hand to see his wristwatch]

      George Malley: ... and 12 minutes. If he was born in New York, he's 3 hours older, now isn't he?

    • Alternate versions
      ABC network television version features alternate/new footage not present in the theatrical and home video releases.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Striptease/Cold Fever/The Nutty Professor/A Perfect Candidate/Maybe, Maybe Not (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Love Child
      Written by R. Dean Taylor (as R.D. Taylor), Frank Wilson (as F. Wilson), Pam Sawyer (as P. Sawyer) and Deke Richards (as D. Lussier)

      Performed by Diana Ross & The Supremes

      Courtesy of Motown Records Company, L.P.

      By arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Licensing

    User reviews146

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    One of my all-time favorites.
    This movie doesn't get the credit that it deserves. Travolta's speech at the end of the movie to the doctor is incredible. Rarely do I ever see a movie that acknowledges the value of a single human life like this movie does. Most movies glorify sacrifice. This movie glorifies life. I highly recommend it.
    helpful•178
    23
    • a16a16k
    • Mar 12, 2000

    FAQ1

    • Why didn't George Malley read all the neurobiology books he could, to invent a procedure to save himself?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 3, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • Portuguese
    • Also known as
      • Fenómeno
    • Filming locations
      • Auburn, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Touchstone Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $32,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $104,636,382
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $16,158,901
      • Jul 7, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $152,036,382
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 3 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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    John Travolta and Kyra Sedgwick in Phenomenon (1996)
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