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Contagion

Play trailer 2:24 Poster for Contagion PG-13 2011 1h 46m Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
85% Tomatometer 279 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
When Beth Emhoff returns to Minnesota from a Hong Kong business trip, she attributes the malaise she feels to jet lag. However, two days later, Beth is dead, and doctors tell her shocked husband that they have no idea what killed her. Soon, many others start to exhibit the same symptoms, and a global pandemic explodes. Doctors try to contain the lethal microbe, but society begins to collapse as a blogger fans the flames of paranoia.

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Contagion

Contagion

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Critics Consensus

Tense, tightly plotted, and bolstered by a stellar cast, Contagion is an exceptionally smart -- and scary -- disaster movie.

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Critics Reviews

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Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online 09/08/2017
B+
A bit of a mixed bag at times, its overall well developed character sketches and good performances will certainly keep the attention of moviegoers and no doubt increase DVD sales (as well as, perhaps, sales of Purell). Go to Full Review
Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 01/27/2012
3/4
It took me a good hour after seeing it for the hair on my arms to relax and the sweat on my brow to dissipate, and if something like this ever did happen, I shudder to contemplate the societal ramifications. Go to Full Review
Monica Castillo Dig Boston 01/09/2012
As disaster celeb-loaded disaster movies go, it could have been a lot worse. Go to Full Review
Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson Jul 18
4/5
"Contagion" is at its best as an examination on the realistic levels of fear and paranoia that would strike our world if a disease came around that all of our Purell and flu shots couldn't beat. Go to Full Review
Sukanya Verma Rediff.com 08/27/2024
The thriller has acquired the realism of a documentary. Go to Full Review
Ray Pride Newcity 07/04/2024
9/10
A corker of dread... Accepting of the possibility, plausibility and even certainty of massive social tremors and upheavals. Flu, weather, warming, water: [it] could have taken flight from any of these... delicate filaments of global commerce, Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Tyson D. @Spudsprout 2d (Overall Rating: 3.83/5) (Very Good) --- (Cinematography/Atmosphere: 3.5/5) The atmosphere was extremely believable, this was not visually ground breaking but was good enough. --- (Storyline/Plot: 4.5/5) The story told from start to finish was well paced and believable. It is scary the similarities that we saw almost a decade later with our own pandemic. --- (Acting: 4/5) Well acted movie in many regards. No real standout performances but just solid all around. --- (Character Quality: 4/5) Every character was believable and well written. Every character had their own self motivations for doing what they did. --- (Entertainment Value: 3/5) Not meant to be an exciting film and there were definitely slow parts that were required to set up tension. Perfect length for what it was. --- (Expectations vs. Reality: 4/5) I had not seen this since covid, the similarities are very eerie. It is wild how relevant this movie has remained since releasing. See more Henry D @Henry_Domke 5d It is remarkable how closely Contagion anticipated aspects of the COVID pandemic a decade later. Apart from the rather absurd kidnapping subplot, it felt believable throughout. The film is highly informative without becoming didactic, and it remained enjoyable and surprisingly fresh on this, our third viewing. The costumes and makeup were realistic. The music was mostly incidental, and the cinematography was competent rather than stylish, but the film was effective based on the fine acting and strong story. See more David D. @FrostyXP May 13 This movie is under rated, the story is very good. Very close to what happen in 2020 See more Findley S @findleygsmith May 12 It was a well done film by Soderbergh. Depicted cleverly and predicted the pandemic almost to a tee. Watching this post-Coronavirus is an interesting experience and perhaps insightful into human nature. At times, I was rather bored. It was cut with clinical precision, but kind of felt like a montage form a documentary. Matt Damon excelled in his role, as per usual. Overall, a pleasant viewing for anyone looking for a hyperrealistic movie with the essence of a zombie-movie without the zombies. See more Todor Y @Phantom961 Apr 21 A decent movie, but not that interesting. See more Ian S @RT48225084 Jan 5 One of Soderbergh's best movies and very prescient predicting a future pandemic. Well acted with a good cast. Extra disturbing watching it again post the Covid outbreak. See more Read all reviews
Contagion

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Movie Info

Synopsis When Beth Emhoff returns to Minnesota from a Hong Kong business trip, she attributes the malaise she feels to jet lag. However, two days later, Beth is dead, and doctors tell her shocked husband that they have no idea what killed her. Soon, many others start to exhibit the same symptoms, and a global pandemic explodes. Doctors try to contain the lethal microbe, but society begins to collapse as a blogger fans the flames of paranoia.
Director
Steven Soderbergh
Producer
Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, Gregory Jacobs
Screenwriter
Scott Z. Burns
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Double Feature Films, Gregory Jacobs
Rating
PG-13 (Some Language|Disturbing Content)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 9, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 6, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$75.6M
Runtime
1h 46m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital