Contact (1997)
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A SETI scientist discovers evidence of extraterrestrial life and is chosen to make first contact.
The story
Astronomer Dr. Ellie Arroway works at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, searching for signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life. After a funding cut, she moves her team to the Very Large Array in New Mexico. While there, she discovers a signal from the star Vega containing a sequence of prime numbers. The discovery leads to the detection of a complex data set that includes a video of a historical speech and, eventually, blueprints for a transportation device. As the project gains international attention and faces scrutiny from both the government and religious groups, Arroway must navigate the implications of a potential first contact with an alien civilization.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Dr. Ellie Arroway, a SETI scientist, discovers a signal from the star Vega containing prime numbers and a hidden data set. The data includes a video of a 1936 speech and blueprints for a machine capable of transporting a person to the source of the signal. After a terrorist attack destroys the first machine, a second is built in Japan. Arroway is selected to travel through it. During the journey, she experiences a vision of a beach where she meets an entity resembling her deceased father, who explains the aliens' intentions. Upon returning, her equipment records only static, leading to a public hearing where she must defend her experience as a matter of faith. The film explores the intersection of science and religion as the world reacts to the possibility of extrater life.
- First release year
- 1997
- Runtime (minutes)
- 150
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Robert Zemeckis
- Writers
- James V. Hart · screenplay; Michael Goldenberg · screenplay; Carl Sagan · story; Ann Druyan · story
- Cast and characters
- Jodie Foster · Dr. Eleanor "Ellie" Arroway; Matthew McConaughey · Palmer Joss; James Woods; Tom Skerritt; Angela Bassett; John Hurt
- Genres
- science fiction; drama
- Themes
- religion vs. science; existence of God; faith
- Tone and mood
- philosophical; serious
- Premise and plot tags
- first contact; extraterrestrial life; science fiction
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1985 novel by Carl Sagan
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews and was noted for its philosophical approach to the science fiction genre.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 69% · review count: 68 critics; Metacritic · score: 62 · scale: 100 · review count: 23 reviews
- Awards and nominations
- Hugo Award · Best Dramatic Presentation · win
- Production trivia
- The film features real footage from the news programs Larry King Live and Crossfire.; The opening sequence was the longest continuous computer-generated sequence in a live-action film at the time.; The film was dedicated to Carl Sagan, who died during production.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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