Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysBest Of 2023Holiday PicksSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Contact

  • 1997
  • Tous publics
  • 2h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
289K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,744
188
Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey in Contact (1997)
Blu-Ray trailer for this science fiction film starring Jodie Foster
Play trailer0:32
2 Videos
88 Photos
DramaMysterySci-Fi

Dr. Ellie Arroway, after years of searching, finds conclusive radio proof of extraterrestrial intelligence, sending plans for a mysterious machine.Dr. Ellie Arroway, after years of searching, finds conclusive radio proof of extraterrestrial intelligence, sending plans for a mysterious machine.Dr. Ellie Arroway, after years of searching, finds conclusive radio proof of extraterrestrial intelligence, sending plans for a mysterious machine.

  • Director
    • Robert Zemeckis
  • Writers
    • James V. Hart
    • Michael Goldenberg
    • Carl Sagan
  • Stars
    • Jodie Foster
    • Matthew McConaughey
    • Tom Skerritt
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    289K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,744
    188
    • Director
      • Robert Zemeckis
    • Writers
      • James V. Hart
      • Michael Goldenberg
      • Carl Sagan
    • Stars
      • Jodie Foster
      • Matthew McConaughey
      • Tom Skerritt
    • 802User reviews
    • 131Critic reviews
    • 62Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 14 wins & 32 nominations total

    Videos2

    Contact
    Trailer 0:32
    Watch Contact
    Contact
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Contact

    Photos88

    Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey in Contact (1997)
    Jodie Foster in Contact (1997)
    Jodie Foster in Contact (1997)
    Jodie Foster in Contact (1997)
    Jodie Foster in Contact (1997)
    Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey in Contact (1997)
    Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey in Contact (1997)
    Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey in Contact (1997)
    Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey in Contact (1997)
    Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey in Contact (1997)
    Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey in Contact (1997)
    Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, and Jena Malone in Contact (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jodie Foster
    Jodie Foster
    • Ellie Arroway
    Matthew McConaughey
    Matthew McConaughey
    • Palmer Joss
    Tom Skerritt
    Tom Skerritt
    • David Drumlin
    John Hurt
    John Hurt
    • S.R. Hadden
    Jena Malone
    Jena Malone
    • Young Ellie
    David Morse
    David Morse
    • Ted Arroway
    Geoffrey Blake
    Geoffrey Blake
    • Fisher
    William Fichtner
    William Fichtner
    • Kent
    Sami Chester
    • Vernon
    • (as SaMi Chester)
    Timothy McNeil
    Timothy McNeil
    • Davio
    Laura Elena Surillo
    • Cantina Woman
    Henry Strozier
    Henry Strozier
    • Minister
    Max Martini
    Max Martini
    • Willie
    • (as Maximilian Martini)
    Larry King
    Larry King
    • Larry King
    Thomas Garner
    Thomas Garner
    • Ian Broderick
    Conroy Chino
    • KOB-TV Reporter
    Dan Gifford
    Dan Gifford
    • Jeremy Roth
    James Woods
    James Woods
    • Michael Kitz
    • Director
      • Robert Zemeckis
    • Writers
      • James V. Hart
      • Michael Goldenberg
      • Carl Sagan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The remark made throughout the movie by different characters, that if humans were the only life in the universe, it would "be a terrible waste of space", is a famous quote by author Carl Sagan. It references a statement by the Scottish essayist Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), considering the potential worlds of other stars; "A sad spectacle. If they be inhabited, what a scope for misery and folly. If they be not inhabited, what a waste of space."
    • Goofs
      Walkie-talkies and cell phones are not allowed near a radio telescope array. They would overpower the array, making it useless.
    • Quotes

      Alien: You're an interesting species. An interesting mix. You're capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares. You feel so lost, so cut off, so alone, only you're not. See, in all our searching, the only thing we've found that makes the emptiness bearable, is each other.

    • Crazy credits
      "For Carl"
    • Connections
      Edited into Zaum - Andare a parare: Lo spazio dell'orbita (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Who Needs Wings to Fly
      Written by Dominic Frontiere and Sid Wayne

    User reviews802

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    No film has moved me more than this one, ever
    This, for me, is a masterpiece. I have enjoyed it more with each viewing.

    Carl Sagan was a great man. He promoted science in the way it should be, portraying the profound mysteriousness of our universe with humility, and without dogma. In his book, the Demon-Haunted World, he quoted Einstein:

    "All our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike -- and yet it is the most precious thing we have".

    Contact conveys this simple message in a subtle yet immensely powerful way. The performances are some of the most compelling I have seen, particularly by Jodie Foster and David Morse.

    Just magnificent.
    helpful•477
    100
    • SteveHevetS
    • Nov 5, 2004

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Women in Science Fiction

    Women in Science Fiction

    Whether they are exploring the stars, escaping dystopias, or making the world a better place, these women are what science fiction is all about.
    See the gallery
    Production art
    Photos

    FAQ25

    • How long is Contact?Powered by Alexa
    • What is 'Contact' about?
    • Is 'Contact' based on a book?
    • Where is Vega?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 17, 1997 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Warner Bros. (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • German
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Sự Thật Che Giấu
    • Filming locations
      • Arecibo Observatory, Arecibo, Puerto Rico(large radio telescope)
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • South Side Amusement Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $90,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $100,920,329
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $20,584,908
      • Jul 13, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $171,120,329
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Production art
    List
    December Picks: All the Best Movies and Shows
    See our picks
    Production art
    List
    New and Upcoming Sequels, Prequels, and Spin-Offs
    Add these to your Watchlist
    Still frame
    List
    The Top 10 Most Popular Indian Theatrical Movies
    See the list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.