Drama / Science Fiction / Mystery /

Score: 74.3%( 4702 votes )

Overview: 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.

Cast:

Jodie Foster
Ellie Arroway

Matthew McConaughey
Palmer Joss

James Woods
Michael Kitz

John Hurt
S. R. Hadden

Tom Skerritt
David Drumlin

William Fichtner
Kent

David Morse
Ted Arroway

Angela Bassett
Rachel Constantine

Geoffrey Blake
Fisher

Max Martini
Willie

Rob Lowe
Richard Rank

Jake Busey
Joseph

Tucker Smallwood
Mission Director

Jena Malone
Young Ellie

Sami Chester
Vernon

Timothy McNeil
Davio

Laura Elena Surillo
Cantina Woman

Henry Strozier
Minister

Larry King
Larry King

Thomas Garner
Ian Broderick

Conroy Chino
KOB-TV Reporter

Dan Gifford
Jeremy Roth

Vance Valencia
Senator Valencia

Donna Kelley
Donna Kelley

Leon Harris
Leon Harris

Claire Shipman
Claire Shipman

Behrooz Afrakhan
Middle Eastern Anchor

Saemi Nakamura
Japanese Anchor

Maria Celeste Arraras
Latina Anchor

Tabitha Soren
Tabitha Soren

Geraldo Rivera
Geraldo Rivera

Ian Whitcomb
British Anchor

Jay Leno
Jay Leno

Natalie Allen
Natalie Allen

Robert D. Novak
Robert D. Novak

Geraldine A. Ferraro
Geraldine A. Ferraro

Ann Druyan
Ann Druyan

Kathleen Kennedy
Kathleen Kennedy

Michael Albala
Decryption Hacker

Ned Netterville
Decryption Expert

Leo Lee
Major Domo

William Jordan
Chairman of Joint Chiefs

David St. James
Joint Chief

Jill Dougherty
Jill Dougherty

Haynes Brooke
Drumlin Aide

John Holliman
John Holliman

Bobbie Battista
Bobbie Battista

Dee Dee Myers
Dee Dee Myers

Bryant Gumbel
Bryant Gumbel

Linden Soles
Linden Soles

Steven Ford
Major Russell

Alexander Zemeckis
Major Russell's Son

Janie Peterson
Major Russell's Daughter

Philippe Bergeron
French Committee Member

Jennifer Balgobin
Dr. Patel

Anthony Hamilton
British Committee Member

Rebecca T. Beucler
NASA Public Relations

Marc Macaulay
NASA Technician

Pamela Wilsey
Voice of NASA (voice)

Jeffery Thomas Johnson
Mechanical

Yuji Okumoto
Electrical

Gerry Griffin
Dynamics

Brian Alston
Communications

Rob Elk
Pad Leader

Mark Thomason
Security

José Rey
Controller #8

Todd Patrick Breaugh
New VLA Technician

Alex Veadov
Russian Cosmonaut

Alice Kushida
Scientist

Robin Gammell
Project Official

Richardson Morse
Mission Doctor

Seiji Okamura
Japanese Ensign

Bernard Shaw
Bernard Shaw

Mak Takano
Japanese Tech #1

Hiroshi Tom Tanaka
Japanese Tech #2

Catherine Dao
Life Support

Kristoffer Ryan Winters
Dynamics #2

Valorie Armstrong
Woman Senator

Jim Hild
Reporter #5

William L. Thomas
Reporter #6

Diego Montoya
School Boy

Jonathan Adler
White House Official (uncredited)

Robert Aguilar Jr.
NASA Controller #2 (uncredited)

Mark Bailey
Four-Star General (uncredited)

Matt Bennett
Senate Observer (uncredited)

Tony Boldi
Robert Hand (uncredited)

Christopher Boyer
Scientist (uncredited)

Christine Brady
White House Official (uncredited)

Ray Buffer
Press Reporter (uncredited)

Mark Byrne
Protester (uncredited)

Candice T. Cain
Supporter (uncredited)

Michael Chaban
Hadden Suit (uncredited)

Aixa Clemente
President's Secretary (uncredited)

Bill Clinton
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Derrick Damions
Ailing Believer (uncredited)

Elaina Erika Davis
Philanthropy Bureaucrat (uncredited)

Joey Dente
Factory Worker (uncredited)

Michael Egan
IMC Police Officer (uncredited)

Jeff Elmore
Monk (uncredited)

Pamela Fischer
Pedestrian (uncredited)

Carl Gilliard
Controller (uncredited)

William B. Kaplan
TV Interviewer (uncredited)

Boris Lee Krutonog
Astronaut (uncredited)

Ming Lo
Pod Systems Control (uncredited)

Sunshine Logroño
Puerto Rican Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Denise Loveday
Press Secretary (uncredited)

Neal Matarazzo
Kitz's Aide (uncredited)

Bill Miller
Reporter (uncredited)

Molly Mueller
Family Exchange (uncredited)

Paul L. Nolan
Ellie's Attorney (uncredited)

Marisa Petroro
Oval Office Secretary (uncredited)

Errica Poindexter
Police Officer (uncredited)

J.A. Preston
Senator (uncredited)

Frank Principe
Ailing Believer (uncredited)

Billy Quinn
Security Guard (uncredited)

Thomas Reid
Senate Hearing (uncredited)

Leo Rogstad
Ailing Believer (uncredited)

Russell Sanderlin Sr.
Photographer (uncredited)

Frank Silva
Army Officer (uncredited)

John A. Taylor
Senate Hearing Attendee (uncredited)

Todd Thompson
News Reporter (uncredited)

Cenk Uygur
Reporter (uncredited)

Holly Cross Vagley
Religious Zealot (uncredited)

Eric Alan Wendell
Protester (uncredited)

Delaney Williams
Believer #1 (uncredited)

Gregory L. Williams
Extra (uncredited)