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.
Ellie Arroway
Palmer Joss
Michael Kitz
S. R. Hadden
David Drumlin
Kent
Ted Arroway
Rachel Constantine
Fisher
Willie
Richard Rank
Joseph
Mission Director
Young Ellie
Vernon
Davio
Cantina Woman
Minister
Larry King
Ian Broderick
KOB-TV Reporter
Jeremy Roth
Senator Valencia
Donna Kelley
Leon Harris
Claire Shipman
Middle Eastern Anchor
Japanese Anchor
Latina Anchor
Tabitha Soren
Geraldo Rivera
British Anchor
Jay Leno
Natalie Allen
Robert D. Novak
Geraldine A. Ferraro
Ann Druyan
Kathleen Kennedy
Decryption Hacker
Decryption Expert
Major Domo
Chairman of Joint Chiefs
Joint Chief
Jill Dougherty
Drumlin Aide
John Holliman
Bobbie Battista
Dee Dee Myers
Bryant Gumbel
Linden Soles
Major Russell
Major Russell's Son
Major Russell's Daughter
French Committee Member
Dr. Patel
British Committee Member
NASA Public Relations
NASA Technician
Voice of NASA (voice)
Mechanical
Electrical
Dynamics
Communications
Pad Leader
Security
Controller #8
New VLA Technician
Russian Cosmonaut
Scientist
Project Official
Mission Doctor
Japanese Ensign
Bernard Shaw
Japanese Tech #1
Japanese Tech #2
Life Support
Dynamics #2
Woman Senator
Reporter #5
Reporter #6
School Boy
White House Official (uncredited)
NASA Controller #2 (uncredited)
Four-Star General (uncredited)
Senate Observer (uncredited)
Robert Hand (uncredited)
Scientist (uncredited)
White House Official (uncredited)
Press Reporter (uncredited)
Protester (uncredited)
Supporter (uncredited)
Hadden Suit (uncredited)
President's Secretary (uncredited)
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Ailing Believer (uncredited)
Philanthropy Bureaucrat (uncredited)
Factory Worker (uncredited)
IMC Police Officer (uncredited)
Monk (uncredited)
Pedestrian (uncredited)
Controller (uncredited)
TV Interviewer (uncredited)
Astronaut (uncredited)
Pod Systems Control (uncredited)
Puerto Rican Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Press Secretary (uncredited)
Kitz's Aide (uncredited)
Reporter (uncredited)
Family Exchange (uncredited)
Ellie's Attorney (uncredited)
Oval Office Secretary (uncredited)
Police Officer (uncredited)
Senator (uncredited)
Ailing Believer (uncredited)
Security Guard (uncredited)
Senate Hearing (uncredited)
Ailing Believer (uncredited)
Photographer (uncredited)
Army Officer (uncredited)
Senate Hearing Attendee (uncredited)
News Reporter (uncredited)
Reporter (uncredited)
Religious Zealot (uncredited)
Protester (uncredited)
Believer #1 (uncredited)
Extra (uncredited)
Director
Screenplay
Original Music Composer
Novel
Producer
Director of Photography
Costume Design
Screenplay
Producer
Casting
Editor
Assistant Sound Editor
Cableman
Hairstylist
Makeup Artist
Assistant Sound Editor
Foley Editor
Foley Editor
24 Frame Playback
Additional Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Assistant Sound Editor
24 Frame Playback
Assistant Sound Editor
Second Assistant Camera
Hairstylist
First Assistant Camera
Foley Artist
Foley Mixer
First Assistant Camera
Key Makeup Artist
Second Second Assistant Director
Assistant Sound Editor
Assistant Sound Editor
Foley Editor
Electrician
First Assistant Camera
CG Artist
CG Artist
Rotoscoping Artist
Digital Compositor
Rotoscoping Artist
Roto Supervisor
Visual Effects Editor
Set Dresser
Digital Compositor
3D Animator
Rotoscoping Artist
Pyrotechnician
Digital Compositor
3D Animator
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor
Compositing Supervisor
3D Animator
CG Artist
CG Supervisor
CG Supervisor
VFX Director of Photography
Compositing Supervisor
Rotoscoping Artist
Prosthetics
Craft Service
Set Designer
Art Department Coordinator
Assistant Art Director
Set Designer
Sound Effects Editor
Art Direction
Sequence Supervisor
Sequence Supervisor
Visual Effects Supervisor
Steadicam Operator
Costume Supervisor
Set Costumer
Location Manager
Production Accountant
Makeup Artist
Assistant Art Director
Hairstylist
Hairstylist
Construction Foreman
Leadman
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
CG Supervisor
Sequence Supervisor
Visual Effects Editor
Location Manager
Sound Effects Editor
Set Decoration
Makeup Artist
Construction Foreman
Greensman
Set Designer
Set Designer
Set Designer
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Sound Effects Editor
Visual Effects Producer
Visual Effects Supervisor
Visual Effects Editor
Camera Operator
Still Photographer
First Assistant Editor
Unit Publicist
Makeup Artist
Assistant Art Director
Visual Effects Editor
Camera Technician
Transportation Coordinator
Script Supervisor
Visual Effects Producer
Special Effects
Greensman
Visual Effects Producer
Visual Effects Supervisor
First Assistant Editor
First Assistant Editor
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Video Assist Operator
Production Design
Makeup Artist
Rigging Grip
Construction Coordinator
Set Designer
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Stunt Coordinator
Camera Operator
Costume Supervisor
Visual Effects Producer
Sequence Supervisor
Visual Effects Supervisor
Camera Operator
Set Costumer
Set Costumer
Set Costumer
Sound Effects Editor
Location Manager
Dialect Coach
Art Direction
Hairstylist
Set Designer
Video Assist Operator
Sequence Supervisor
Visual Effects Supervisor
Music Editor
Supervising Sound Editor
Sound Designer
Special Effects Coordinator
Steadicam Operator
Still Photographer
Executive Producer
Co-Producer
Executive Producer
Associate Producer
Associate Producer
Special Effects Supervisor
Story
Transportation Captain
Carpenter
First Assistant Camera
Propmaker
Transportation Captain
Art Department Assistant
Location Scout
Key Hair Stylist
Set Production Assistant
Digital Effects Supervisor
Production Office Coordinator
Software Engineer
Production Supervisor
Gaffer
Driver
Production Sound Mixer
Digital Compositors
Standby Painter
Prosthetic Makeup Artist
Technical Supervisor
Unit Production Manager
Casting Associate
Orchestrator
24 Frame Playback
Additional Editing
Projection
Color Timer
Production Coordinator
Key Grip
Production Controller
Sound Recordist
Electrician
Visual Effects Coordinator
Visual Effects Art Director
Assistant Costume Designer
Set Medic
Transportation Co-Captain
Mechanical Designer
Assistant Sound Editor
Unit Manager
Boom Operator
Conceptual Design
Grip
Aerial Coordinator
Stand In
Stunts
3D Artist
Co-Producer
Story
Property Master
Supervising ADR Editor
ADR Editor
First Assistant Director
Dialogue Editor
Dialogue Editor
Second Unit Director
Dialogue Editor
Storyboard Artist
Tailor
Foley Mixer
Visual Effects Production Manager
Casting Coordinator
Rotoscoping Artist
Second Assistant Accountant
Second Second Assistant Director
Assistant Property Master
Best Boy Grip
Assistant Editor
Second Assistant Director
Conceptual Illustrator
Graphic Designer
Second Assistant Camera
Digital Color Timer
Compositing Supervisor
Matchmove Supervisor
Costumer
Assistant Camera
Digital Effects Producer
Costume Illustrator
Concept Artist
Additional Visual Effects
Title Designer
First Assistant Sound Editor
Special Effects Technician
Assistant Dialogue Editor
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor
Location Assistant
Production Assistant
ADR Mixer
Travel Coordinator
Swing
Assistant Accountant
Temp Sound Editor
Special Effects Assistant
Visual Effects Compositor
Dolly Grip
Production Secretary
Additional Casting
Negative Cutter
Set Buyer
Chief Lighting Technician
Visual Effects Editor
Assistant Location Manager
Key Costumer
Foley Artist
Assistant Chief Lighting Technician
Second Assistant Director
Stunts
Stunts
Stunts
Stunts
Sound Recordist