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Contagion
2011 106 min United States of America, United Arab Emirates PG-13 12+
★7.0
Drama, Thriller, Science Fiction
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Trailers
Description
As an epidemic of a lethal airborne virus - that kills within days - rapidly grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself.
Budget:
$60M
US Gross:
$75.66M
Worldwide:
$137.55M
Starring
Matt Damon
Actor
Kate Winslet
Actor
Jude Law
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2012
— Best Horror/Thriller Film
Key opinion
Contagion is a highly realistic, clinical pandemic thriller that eschews typical Hollywood spectacle in favor of a systematic look at societal collapse and medical response. While many viewers praise its grounded atmosphere and stellar ensemble cast, others criticize the film for being emotionally detached and lacking the intensity of a traditional thriller.
| Originality | The film succeeds in creating a visceral sense of dread through its commitment to grounded, realistic depictions of disease transmission and public health protocols. | |
| Acting | The sprawling, star-studded ensemble cast delivers solid, professional performances that anchor the complex, multi-layered narrative. | |
| Direction | Soderbergh’s cold, documentarian directorial style polarizes audiences: some find the clinical, unhurried pace engrossing, while others experience it as boring or emotionally vacant. | |
| Screenplay | The fragmented, vignette-style screenplay divides opinion; proponents appreciate the systematic scope, while detractors find it prevents meaningful character development and emotional connection. | |
| Pacing | The film’s refusal to lean into high-stakes action or explosive dramatic tension leaves viewers split, with some valuing the quiet realism and others feeling a lack of necessary stakes. |