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IMDbPro

Phenomenon

  • 19961996
  • PGPG
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
81K
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
DramaFantasyRomance
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
81K
YOUR RATING
    • Jon Turteltaub
    • Gerald Di Pego
  • Stars
    • John Travolta
    • Kyra Sedgwick
    • Forest Whitaker
    • Jon Turteltaub
    • 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

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:44
    Watch Official Trailer
    Phenomenon: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:05
    Watch Phenomenon: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Phenomenon: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:14
    Watch 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 Malley
    Kyra Sedgwick
    Kyra Sedgwick
    • Lace Pennamin
    Forest Whitaker
    Forest Whitaker
    • Nate Pope
    Robert Duvall
    Robert Duvall
    • Doc
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    • Professor Ringold
    Richard Kiley
    Richard Kiley
    • Dr. Wellin
    David Gallagher
    David Gallagher
    • Al
    Ashley Buccille
    Ashley Buccille
    • Glory
    Tony Genaro
    Tony Genaro
    • Tito
    Sean O'Bryan
    Sean O'Bryan
    • Banes
    Michael Milhoan
    Michael Milhoan
    • Jimmy
    Troy Evans
    Troy Evans
    • Roger
    Bruce A. Young
    Bruce A. Young
    • Jack Hatch
    • (as Bruce Young)
    Vyto Ruginis
    Vyto Ruginis
    • Ted Rhome
    Brent Spiner
    Brent Spiner
    • Dr. Bob
    Elisabeth Nunziato
    Elisabeth Nunziato
    • Ella
    Ellen Geer
    Ellen Geer
    • Bonnie
    James Keane
    James Keane
    • Pete the Cop
      • Jon Turteltaub
      • Gerald Di Pego
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Assuming the man in Dr. Bob Niedorf's (Brent Spiner's) question is from California, then the question is answered at 12:12 p.m. on July 26, 1996.
    • 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
    Review
    Featured review
    A Phenomenal Experience.
    An ordinary small-town man (John Travolta) sees a flash of light in the sky one night and then starts to experience super-intelligence and telekinesis. Soon he is changing everyone's life for the better (most notably love interest Kyra Sedgwick, town doctor Robert Duvall and best friend Forest Whitaker). Slyly funny and innovative at first and then impressively dramatic and thought-provoking, "Phenomenon" is an effective picture that comes through because of good performances across the board and smart screen-writing. Travolta and Duvall are excellent together and they share the spotlight in the venture. Under-rated production that should be given a try. It is one of those films that will cause your emotions to come shining through. 4 stars out of 5.
    helpful•66
    11
    • tfrizzell
    • Jun 23, 2004

    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)
      • United States
      • English
      • Spanish
      • Portuguese
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Auburn, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Touchstone Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 3 minutes
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS

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    John Travolta and Kyra Sedgwick in Phenomenon (1996)
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