Contagion (2011)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Alexander D

  
  What makes CONTAGION so engaging is how understandable and crystal clear it is. I began watching, nervously expecting a film similar to Michael Crichton's 1960s novel The Andromeda Strain, a work about a plague that only a doctor of the medical field could possibly comprehend.… More
  What makes CONTAGION so engaging is how understandable and crystal clear it is. I began watching, nervously expecting a film similar to Michael Crichton's 1960s novel The Andromeda Strain, a work about a plague that only a doctor of the medical field could possibly comprehend. Instead, it seems more similar to Stephen King's 1970s novel The Stand, or its television mini-series adaptation, with a different sense of horror.

• Tim S

  
  Contagion is a film that I've been hearing about positively since its theatrical release and I decided to go out and rent it for the evening. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the film. What could have been a generic, by the numbers, Outbreak-type movie turns out to be… More
  Contagion is a film that I've been hearing about positively since its theatrical release and I decided to go out and rent it for the evening. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the film. What could have been a generic, by the numbers, Outbreak-type movie turns out to be a more clinical and much better made film than that. It has a lot of star power thanks to the directorial draw of Steven Soderbergh, including Matt Damon, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet and many, many others. The entire plot of the film is the arc of a viral outbreak from inception to cure, and a bit beyond. The film looks and sounds great (as is usally the case with Soderbergh's work), but it feels more akin to an HBO original movie to me than a major theatrical release. I also don't find it engaging enough to warrant seeing multiple times. I'm sure that seems odd of me saying given my rating, but it's one of those good movies that you don't particularly want to see more than once. Once the arc of the story is over, there's nothing so compelling to make me want to revisit again. I could eat those words, but that's what I was feeling at the end. There's some good performances, good score and some nice direction, but you might not want to see it again after seeing it once. Not that it's bad, it's just not that interesting. It's very much Traffic, but in a different situation. That's my take, anyway.

• Dan S

  
  A well-constructed ultra paranoid thriller concerning an epidemic outbreak and how the world handles it. With no lead character, the story has a lot of different ways it can go, and Steven Soderbergh goes all across the globe while giving us the bare minimum about his many characters.… More
  A well-constructed ultra paranoid thriller concerning an epidemic outbreak and how the world handles it. With no lead character, the story has a lot of different ways it can go, and Steven Soderbergh goes all across the globe while giving us the bare minimum about his many characters. The film still works as a whole, however, thanks to the scarily realistic atmosphere and outlook it possesses, a soundtrack eerily similar to "The Social Network" which has a lasting effect, and a stellar cast who come across as normal people just doing their best to survive a chaotic world overwrought with an incurable disease. Another minor piece that Soderbergh can add to his very decorated, versatile belt.

• Jameson W

  
  Really good! Jude Law is fantastic...

• Sophie B

  
  It seemed to go very fast and didn't really give much time for events to sink in. I get why they used such big names, however it really broke the realism and just reminded me that this was a film, not a reality. Very scary concept though.

• MisterYoda ?

  
  three stars...

• Nicki M

  
  Really enjoyed this - often don't with this genre. A lot of characters, but always found it easy to follow, nothing worse than an overly complex storyline. This one gets it just right. Will make you look twice at the person coughing next to you on the train!

• Albert K

  
  "Nothing spreads like fear"... that's right except the fear isn't conveyed to the audience in a way where the epidemic has a claustrophobic and isolating quality. Don't get me wrong, "Contagion" is expertly crafted with didactic, sharp dialogue, an… More
  "Nothing spreads like fear"... that's right except the fear isn't conveyed to the audience in a way where the epidemic has a claustrophobic and isolating quality. Don't get me wrong, "Contagion" is expertly crafted with didactic, sharp dialogue, an incredible ensemble, and stable direction. Kate Winslet? Matt Damon? Count me in... The story is absolutely compelling and engaging. The most realistic movie you're gonna face in terms of an epidemic. "Contagion" covers all spectrums of such a situation -- political, national security, depravity, the infected and non-infected. As the movie rolls on, it seamlessly swings its attention all over the place with a very steady-hand and level-headed approach. Unfortunately, the only time the gravity of the epidemic of it becoming an extermination of the human race is conveyed, is only when characters are uttering numbers and statistics of the atrocities or the audience's viewings of only a few of the key characters. Yes, of course we see depravity running its course through numerous unnamed and unknown characters but to witness the entirety of our world to be brought in humility through an exterminating virus without a great impact on emotion is a big gaping flaw. Call me heartless. I know there were plenty of key characters that were shown dealing with this virus, but as for the other millions of people that are affected? I'm not expecting a huge scale of people bowing down in tears and crying out to God, but I was expecting much more of a riveting impact on my senses and emotion. For some characters, like for instance the Emhoff family, there IS character development and emotions flying around... but on the other sectors of the story, not so much. Otherwise, "Contagion" was a highly engaging thriller that fails deliver the weight of the fear and emotions of a possible apocalyptic disease throughout the entire movie.

• danny d

  
  this is a difficult film to make. one can either concentrate a ton on the virus and its cure to the detriment of the public chaos, or entirely on the chaos to the detriment of the science, or find a middle ground where a more total story is told but nothing is explored as well as it… More
  this is a difficult film to make. one can either concentrate a ton on the virus and its cure to the detriment of the public chaos, or entirely on the chaos to the detriment of the science, or find a middle ground where a more total story is told but nothing is explored as well as it should have been. none of these three options is completely satisfying, but with a global story about the death of millions there is no fully satisfying solution to the problem. i think soderbergh chose the best option in telling the broadest and most complete story possible, but because of this the film can be seen as simply touching the surface of all of its various angles. despite this, the acting was great from its amazing cast, and the story compelling enough to keep me very interested until the end. overall very good film.

• Cynthia S

  
  Definitely going down as one of Gwyneth's best roles...or at least the most memorable. This is an intelligent, well-done, well-acted, film about what might really occur if the population was infected by a deadly, incurable virus. I have to admit that it was quite interesting… More
  Definitely going down as one of Gwyneth's best roles...or at least the most memorable. This is an intelligent, well-done, well-acted, film about what might really occur if the population was infected by a deadly, incurable virus. I have to admit that it was quite interesting watching A list movie actors being killed off. Not something that you see every day. Good movie....

• Jeff "

  
  Contagion is a very engaging thriller about a virus that infects the world and causes death while health officials scramble to find a cure. Though Contagion isn't a straight forward horror flick, it elements of the genre, the film plays out more like a thriller, and for what it… More
  Contagion is a very engaging thriller about a virus that infects the world and causes death while health officials scramble to find a cure. Though Contagion isn't a straight forward horror flick, it elements of the genre, the film plays out more like a thriller, and for what it is; it succeeds at being an effective; chilling thriller. Director Steven Soderbergh directs yet another good film, and the cast he has at hand deliver strong performances. The film starts off with a bang, as everyone begins to be infected. I loved the tension and helplessness of the characters as they struggled through the ordeal, I felt it made the film more entertaining, and though these types of thriller horror films aren't anything new, Contagion still delivers something good on-screen. Though the film isn't a straight forward horror film, the situation that director Steven Soderbergh conveys on-screen is most certainly terrifying, and the helplessness of the characters intensified that aspect of the film. The cast here are wonderful, and each deliver something memorable to the screen. I was entertained by this film, and like I said the cast made it that much more enjoyable. In my opinion, I think that Steven Soderbergh is an overlooked talent, and though this isn't anything new, Soderbergh makes it constantly entertaining from start to finish. This is yet another strong film by an underrated director. If you enjoy thrillers or horror films that deal with virus outbreaks, then this is yet another entertaining film in the genre.

• Joe M

  
  Finally a realistic apocalyptic thriller. Forget zombies that would be mowed down by every redneck with a gun by nightfall. This shows in careful detail how society might unravel if another killer bug like the spanish flu of 1918 hits again.

• Melvin W

  
  Alan Krumwiede: Tell them what an R-not of two really means, doctor. Teach them some math, hmm?... No? I'll do it. On day one there were two people with it, and then there were four, and then it was sixteen and you think you've got it in front of you. But next it's two… More
  Alan Krumwiede: Tell them what an R-not of two really means, doctor. Teach them some math, hmm?... No? I'll do it. On day one there were two people with it, and then there were four, and then it was sixteen and you think you've got it in front of you. But next it's two hundred and fifty six and then it's sixty five thousand and it's behind you and above you and all around you. In thirty steps, it's a billion sick. Three months. It's a math problem you can do on a napkin. And that's where we're headed!  "Don't talk to anyone. Don't touch anyone." There's nothing like an epidemic movie to bring out a huge and talented cast. Contagion, much like Outbreak, has a handful of huge stars and a bunch of talented character actors. My personal favorite performance came from Jude Law as a freelance journalist who is out to expose the government for it's tactics when it comes to a vaccine. Other notable performances come from Matt Damon, Laurence Fishborne, Marion Cotillard, and Kate Winslet; but there are a variety of other good performances.  What you're getting yourself into with Contagion is the best epidemic film ever made. What this film does that others of the genre have not been able to do is capitalize on just how scary a story like this. This is the first time I have watched an epidemic movie and felt genuinely uneasy throughout. Soderbergh does such a good job in exposing a variety of details that would occur after an epidemic of this magnitude hit. It isn't all about the virus. There's the aftereffects. There's riots in the streets, lawlessness, border protection, and conspiracy for gain. The film goes deeper than the illness and that is what puts it over the top. When talking about the movie, you have to speak of the atmosphere. Soderbergh creates a terrifying feel for Contagion, with the help of some fantastic cinematography and a terrific score. When you put those details with Soderbergh's eye, it's going to be special. Soderbergh knows how to approach of single detail of this film. Leaving Day 1 for the end is brilliant, and the beginning works so well, that it sets the tone for the next hour and a half.  If something of this sort happened, I feel it would play out pretty much like this.  When looking at this genre, it's quite apparent that there aren't a lot of great movies that populate it. Well Contagion just set the bar at a whole new level. This is now the definitive Epidemic movie. Before this was made, I don't think you could state a definitive film in the genre because none of them were so far ahead of all the others. This one is. It's to the epidemic film, what Fast Times At Ridgemont High is to the high school movie.

• Red L

  
  Somewhat scary movie about the possibility and reaction of mankind to a new airborne disease. We follow some individual families as well as staff from CDC and WHO. Contagion involves social breakdown and profiteering and the research to find patient zero. All in all a pretty good… More
  Somewhat scary movie about the possibility and reaction of mankind to a new airborne disease. We follow some individual families as well as staff from CDC and WHO. Contagion involves social breakdown and profiteering and the research to find patient zero. All in all a pretty good movie. If you are squeamish, there are parts where you might want to shield your eyes.

• Mark W

  
  Director Steven Soderbergh is no stranger to switching a theme or two. If you look through the films he has delivered over the years - "Sex, Lies and Videotape", "Solaris", "Erin Brockovich", "Traffic", "Out of Sight" and… More
  Director Steven Soderbergh is no stranger to switching a theme or two. If you look through the films he has delivered over the years - "Sex, Lies and Videotape", "Solaris", "Erin Brockovich", "Traffic", "Out of Sight" and "Che" to name a few - you'll find it difficult to pigeonhole him to any particular genre. This is yet another change of direction from him. As an unknown and deadly virus spreads across the world, a man (Matt Damon) struggles to cope with it's tragic impact on his family and the death of his wife (Gwyneth Paltrow), while a World Health Organisation doctor (Marion Cotillard) seeks to find its source and the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (Laurence Fishburne and Kate Winslet) fight to contain the epidemic and make a vaccine. Meanwhile, a blogger (Jude Law) claims he knows the true cure... Surprisingly, there are very few of these types of films anymore. The premise is always a winner as it can genuinely strike fear into people but for one reason or another they never seem to reach the screen as much as they should. In 1995 director Wolfgang Petersen released the similarly themed "Outbreak" that dealt with an epidemic of deadly proportions. That film had a Gung-ho approach but the cruciality it had is exactly what this film lacks. Where Soderbergh falters is trying to squeeze in too much detail and not enough drama. His detail is impressively meticulous though which adds a frightening sense of realism but there's also a feeling of distance from the characters. Despite this, it strangely still manages to hold your attention and even on occasion, your breath. There is some fine acting on show from a first class ensemble - particularly Damon - but with all that's going on, the investment in the characters just isn't there, leaving the impressive cast slightly wasted. The premise is a gripping one though and it's horror in it's most frightening and realistic form. A bold attempt by Soderbergh and as a commentary on the fragility of our society, it's a winner but as entertainment it's lacks a sense of urgency.

• paul o

  
  Cliff Martinez created a score that blended with the cinematography so well that the mood was already set in the first 5 minutes. Its a simple plot that expands exponentially and is in someways a contemporary zombie film where infection is almost inescapable. Soderbergh brings back… More
  Cliff Martinez created a score that blended with the cinematography so well that the mood was already set in the first 5 minutes. Its a simple plot that expands exponentially and is in someways a contemporary zombie film where infection is almost inescapable. Soderbergh brings back his artsy roots as well with cool camera angles and an array of characters who show so much despite their minor screen time.

• familiar s

  
  No denying that it's a work of a genius (or, is there?), but a simplified version would have helped more. There are too many characters and too much is going on. While that helps keep you engaged, it eventually ends up serving as an overdose. The realistic touch is appreciable,… More
  No denying that it's a work of a genius (or, is there?), but a simplified version would have helped more. There are too many characters and too much is going on. While that helps keep you engaged, it eventually ends up serving as an overdose. The realistic touch is appreciable, but the complicated content and execution makes it an ignorable factor. Its main pitfall is that many people won't be able to catch everything in one sitting and that it might need another watch if you want to understand it in full. Nevertheless, you're likely to get the basics and won't feel up to going for another watch. Each of the actors does a nice job, but none of them has much screen space. Besides, the characters are molded in such a way that you'd hardly care for any of the characters.

• Candy R

  
  Good cast and plot but a new airborne disease that is spreading globally. It's a race against time to contain and produce a vaccine.

• Jennifer X

  
  I'm kind of stunned that Soderbergh managed to pull this one off, and even more stunned by how much I really, really liked it.

• Sam B

  
  Contagion features a ton of famous people, and each of them manage to give great performances, despite the lack of screen time each gets due to the ensemble script. These performances are held together by a pretty interesting story, but Contagion isn't like most thrillers;… More
  Contagion features a ton of famous people, and each of them manage to give great performances, despite the lack of screen time each gets due to the ensemble script. These performances are held together by a pretty interesting story, but Contagion isn't like most thrillers; instead of one connected storyline, you get many loosely-intertwined perspectives on a single devastating occurance. Rather than having audiences invest in one character or group, we are left to simply watch this frightening epidemic unfold. While this mean the movie generally lacks proper momentum because of the constantly switching characters, its still fascinating seeing how every character reacts to an event that nobody can control. The conclusion ends up trading in an exciting climax for a more boring, though realistic finale, yet Contagion, with all of its great direction and clear scripting, takes advantage of an inherently interesting, intense scenario and makes it a pleasure to watch.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings