Parents' Guide to

Contact

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Thoughtful adaptation of Sagan novel; violence, peril.

Movie PG 1997 150 minutes
Contact Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 14+

Based on 8 parent reviews

davispittman
davispittman Adult
July 5, 2017
age 11+

Very engaging and thought provoking

Contact starring Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey truly is a very engaging, thought provoking and entertaining film. If you like science fiction, then you will absolutely adore this movie, but really truth be told, even if you aren't a huge science fiction fan, you'll most likely still love this movie, because it's just an all around well made piece of cinema. As far as possibly objectionable content goes, there is some fairly mild language, one bedroom scene, and really that's about it. If you're a religious individual, then you may object to fosters character not believing in god. I highly suggest it overall. Kids 11 and older should be ok.
mauriciob1
mauriciob1 Adult
December 21, 2015
age 12+

Real Science - not an action movie

This is one of the favorite movies of scientists friends of mine. This is not an action film and not your typical sci fi. Mostly a science drama and a great film to show kids what real science is like and what scientists really do and the battles they fight. The main character is a female scientist and a very inspiring character, especially for girls: a woman that finds in science a way to overcome personal tragedies and that is driven and focused in her quest for truth. Questionable stuff - People curse a lot. Also there is a scene where a couple is in bed, no nudity shown. They are not married. Also note that this is a film that questions religiosity and the hero is an atheist. This is a central issue in the film. Maybe this is important for you. My 9 year old loved it. But we don`t care about cursing and the single intimacy scene is not a problem at all. But I understand most people care about this so I am recommending it for 12 year olds...
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What's the Story?

Devastated by the loss of her parents at the tender age of 8, Ellie (Jodie Foster) yearns for contact with extraterrestrials, but shies away from contact with anyone on earth. Having been hurt by feeling, she relies entirely on science, on what can be proven. After a one-night-stand with Palmer Joss (Matthew McConaughey), a charismatic divinity school drop-out, she leaves, to continue to listen for whispers from the universe, despite short-sighted bureaucrats who cut her funding. When she finally hears something, the government steps in. The message is to build a machine, apparently to be used to go to the source of the message. Joss turns up as an advisor to the President who is assigned to the panel that will select the person who will make the trip. He does not believe that Earth should be represented by an atheist. And he does not want to lose Ellie again. Ultimately, she does make the trip, and finds that she is profoundly changed by it. She finds herself asking others to believe what she says without evidence, on the basis of faith.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8 ):
Kids say (7 ):

Based on the late Carl Sagan's novel about a young scientist's efforts to make contact with intelligent life beyond our world, CONTACT is a thoughtful movie. It also provides a good opportunity to discuss how we know what we know, whether on the basis of faith or on what we can prove.

Sagan, a scientist who consulted on the space program and hosted public television programs about the universe, raised important questions about the connection (and sometimes obstacles) between science, business, politics, and notions of God. If he does a better job of asking them than answering them, that is at least consistent with the scientists' creed that the only sin is to be afraid to ask the right questions -- and to be open-minded about the answers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether the reactions of the people to evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence are what they would expect. Why do some people object so strongly to communicating with creatures outside our world? What do scientists think about God and what do theologians think of science? What is the role of government?

  • Quite often, those trying to teach a lesson or impart a way of viewing the world will use story to present their beliefs. The characters in stories like these are made to be the living embodiments of an idea: capitalism, communism, objectivism, idealism, cynicism, heroism, cowardice, etc. What aspects of humanity do these individual characters embody in this movie? Did the movie's overall messages seem relevant to our world, or did the messages seem forced or conveniently made to work in order to prove the message valid?

  • Movies in which humanity meets extraterrestrial beings have been around almost as long as movies have been shown in theaters. Why does this story have such a profound appeal?

  • How do the characters embody perseverance and curiosity?

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