Phenomenon (1996)

An ordinary man sees a bright light descend from the sky, and discovers he now has super-intelligence and telekinesis.

Director:

Jon Turteltaub

Writer:

Gerald Di Pego (as Gerald Dipego)

Stars:

John Travolta, Kyra Sedgwick, Forest Whitaker

7 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Travolta	...	George Malley
Kyra Sedgwick	...	Lace Pennamin
Forest Whitaker	...	Nate Pope
Robert Duvall	...	Doc Brunder
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Prof. John Ringold
Richard Kiley	...	Dr. Wellin
David Gallagher	...	Al Pennamin
Ashley Buccille	...	Glory Pennamin
Tony Genaro	...	Tito
Sean O'Bryan	...	Banes
Michael Milhoan	...	Jimmy
Troy Evans	...	Roger
Bruce A. Young	...	FBI Agent Jack Hatch (as Bruce Young)
Vyto Ruginis	...	Ted Rhome
Brent Spiner	...	Dr. Bob Niedorf

Storyline

John Travolta plays George Malley, who owns the local auto repair shop in a small California town. After celebrating his birthday with friends at the local bar/hang-out, George heads for home. He pauses to watch a strange light in the sky, then collapses for a few seconds in the middle of the deserted street. In the days and weeks that follow, George finds his IQ and consciousness expanding dramatically, and develops telekinetic abilities. Despite his attempts to explain what has happened to him, with just a very few exceptions, most of the local townspeople treat the "new" George as a freak. His state of isolation becomes even more pronounced when his new-found abilities allow him to correctly predict an earthquake, and outside authorities become interested in what's happened to him.

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Plot Keywords:

telekinesis | genius | psionic power | brain tumor | terminal illness | 

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Taglines:

Some things in life just can't be explained.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and mild sensuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 July 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fenomen

Filming Locations:

Petaluma, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$32,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$16,200,000, 7 July 1996, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$104,636,382

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$152,036,382

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (FotoKem)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

[20:40] Nate Pope (Forest Whitaker) is an amateur radio operator with the call sign "WB6QLF". QLF is amateur shorthand for "I am sending with my left foot", a reference to someone whose Morse Code sending skill is very bad. This is normally sent as a question "QLF?" meaning "Are you sending with your left foot?" to an operator who is very difficult to understand in Morse. WB6QLF is a real call sign belonging to a Charles B. Roblin of Victorville, California. There is also a QSL card in the background, with the call sign "K6KAP". This is a real amateur ("ham") radio call sign that belongs to Mach Myovich of Merced, California. Much of the radio equipment shown in the movie was purchased from the Ham Radio Outlet store that he was managing in Oakland, California.

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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.

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Quotes

Lace Pennamin: So, let me ask you something, George. When a man comes over with a basket full of tomatoes, what is he expecting? Dinner?
George Malley: Nah, no, no. Just hoping.

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Alternate Versions

NBC network television version features alternate/new footage not present in the theatrical and home video releases.

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Connections

Spoofed in Seinfeld: The Abstinence (1996)

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Soundtracks

Dance With Life
Written by Bernie Taupin and Martin Page
Performed by Bryan Ferry

User Reviews

This will forever be my favorite John Travolta movie!

This movie shows John Travolta at his best. I think his performance here should have been nominated for an Oscar. What a lovely, powerful film. It's a paean to all the geeks in the world. George is clearly beloved by his fellow residents, but after he sees THE LIGHT, he becomes a misfit because of the changes in him. Those changes mean he becomes an insider, a stranger in a strange land. He becomes even more precious than he had been in the first 11 minutes of the film. He is at once bewildered and amazed at the changes in him. He is fascinated by every aspect of the world, and the viewer goes willingly on the journey with him. I have probably seen this movie ten times since its release in 1996. I will always regard this film as my favorite John Travolta movie and my favorite Kyra Sedgwick movie.