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Contact
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Robert Zemeckis. With Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, James Woods.
7.5/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
A radio astronomer receives the first extraterrestrial radio signal ever picked up on Earth. As the world powers scramble to decipher the message and decide upon a course of action, she must make some difficult decisions between her beliefs, the truth, and reality.
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7.5/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTA radio astronomer receives the first extraterrestrial radio signal ever picked up on Earth. As the world powers scramble to decipher the message and decide upon a cou…
MAKE THE CALL
Does this belong in your night?
A decision, not a review. Choose the kind of night you want and keep your queue honest.
RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for Contact.
MoviHero lists July 11, 1997 as the release date for Contact. Robert Zemeckis is the listed director. The listed cast includes Jodie Foster as Ellie Arroway, Matthew McConaughey as Palmer Joss, James Woods as Michael Kitz, John Hurt as S. R. Hadden. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateJuly 11, 1997
GenresDrama · Science Fiction · Mystery
Runtime2h 30m
DirectorRobert Zemeckis
CastJodie Foster as Ellie Arroway, Matthew McConaughey as Palmer Joss, James Woods as Michael Kitz, John Hurt as S. R. Hadden
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is Contact right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
Contact runs 2h 30m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 3/10: a more patient pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 9/10. Consider saving this for a night when you can concentrate.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 5/10, suggesting a moderate emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with Contact. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 7.5/10 from 5,291 votes. Updated Nov 12, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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Your movie rating. Your audience score.
CHECK AVAILABILITY
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing3/10
Emotional Impact5/10
Mind-Bending9/10
Scary1/10
Violence2/10
Rewatchability7/10
Attention Required9/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about Contact
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“Random viewing but decided to finally watch after its been in my to-do bin for a while now.”
Viewer reaction
“Early on in Contact a character is introduced who goes by the name “Kent Clark,” and for the remainder of the film I simply could…”
Viewer reaction
“A film that gets more right than it gets wrong, in a friendly tribute to Carl Sagan.”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
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Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
PART OF A WATCH JOURNEY
