Sphere

Play trailer

Sphere

PG-13

1998

2h 13m

Sci-Fi

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

12%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

38%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

When psychologist Norman Goodman (Dustin Hoffman) wrote a report for the government on how to deal with extraterrestrial life forces, he didn't expect his recommendations to be used. Now that a secret government agency is investigating what may be an alien spaceship that has been discovered partially buried on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, Norman finds that the plan he outlined is being put into effect and that the team he named in his report has been assembled.

Critics Consensus

Sphere features an A-level cast working with B-grade material, with a story seen previously in superior science-fiction films.

Read Critics Reviews

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

01/08/2018

Ultimately, the explanation we've been waiting for turns out to be just that: an explanation.

Go to Full Review

Todd McCarthy

Variety

08/05/2008

An empty shell.

Go to Full Review

Derek Adams

Time Out

06/24/2006

Three major stars being involved, it all wraps up happily but implausibly.

Go to Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Feb 10

2.5/5

It starts out interestingly enough, but weak direction and sloppy editing drag this Crichton adaptation all the way down to the ocean floor.

Go to Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

Feb 5

2.5/5

This Michael Crichton adaptation starts well, but between the insufferable title cards and the poor treatment of women and mental illness, Sphere overstays its welcome. A slog

Go to Full Review

Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

01/19/2023

B-

An undersea, sci-fi, paranoid thriller which packs tension but cannot release the powerful payoff we have a right to expect.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

thiago S

@Thiagostone Mar 27

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

See more

Blackbird B

@RT47702091 Dec 9

The worst movie I have ever seen. EVER. It is a vast waste of time and resources. The writing is absolutely horrific and the directing is almost as bad if not worse, since the guy didn't even try to save the movie at all. These people should be put in prison for wasting everyone's time. I feel bad for the actors since usually they are excellent...but this film gave them zero hope of making it watchable at all. This movie functions better as a torture device than work of art. It's almost as if they had a similar script as event horizon but just made it worse. 80 million dollars wasted on helping people waste their lives. I am actually quitting watching movies because of this garbage.

See more

Craig A.

@craigalfredo99 Nov 30

I love movies like this. Abyss, Event Horizon… they are Scripts that fall off the beaten path a little bit, but are genuine and well worth a watch

See more

Noel L

@RT15930389 Nov 6

This film is like 2001: A Space Odyssey meets The Abyss. But take away the level of quality

See more

Daniel N

@RT24087858 Sep 21

Slow burning and feels its age but is worth a watch.

See more

Mark C

@RT70907647 Aug 17

What a waste of 3 great actors! The book should never have been published and movie never made. Hodgepodge of scenes with no meaningful content. Acting was good but even these incredible actors could not save this movie. If there was ever a movie that should have hit the trash early and often this was it. No real science and not much thought went into this disaster!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Barry Levinson

Director

Dustin Hoffman

Dr. Norman Goodman

Sharon Stone

Dr. Beth Halperin

Samuel L. Jackson

Dr. Harry Adams

Peter Coyote

Captain Harold C. Barnes

Liev Schreiber

Dr. Ted Fielding

Gattaca

82%

87%

Gattaca

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Gattaca

Red Planet

14%

28%

Red Planet

Watchlist

The 6th Day

40%

33%

The 6th Day

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The 6th Day

Lost in Space

27%

24%

Lost in Space

Watchlist

Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace

18%

12%

Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

When psychologist Norman Goodman (Dustin Hoffman) wrote a report for the government on how to deal with extraterrestrial life forces, he didn't expect his recommendations to be used. Now that a secret government agency is investigating what may be an alien spaceship that has been discovered partially buried on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, Norman finds that the plan he outlined is being put into effect and that the team he named in his report has been assembled.

Director: Barry Levinson
Producer: Michael Crichton, Barry Levinson, Andrew Wald
Screenwriter: Michael Crichton, Kurt Wimmer, Stephen Hauser, Paul Attanasio
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Punch Productions, Constant c Productions, Baltimore Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Startling Images|Sci-Fi Action)
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 13, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $37.0M
Runtime: 2h 13m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, DTS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now