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
Novel
Screenplay
Screenplay
Original Music Composer
Director of Photography
Editor
Producer
Producer
Casting
Costume Design
Hairstylist
Hairstylist
Key Makeup Artist
Makeup Artist
Second Second Assistant Director
Additional Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Assistant Sound Editor
Assistant Sound Editor
Assistant Sound Editor
Assistant Sound Editor
Assistant Sound Editor
Assistant Sound Editor
Cableman
Foley Artist
Foley Editor
Foley Editor
Foley Editor
Foley Mixer
24 Frame Playback
24 Frame Playback
Electrician
First Assistant Camera
First Assistant Camera
First Assistant Camera
Second Assistant Camera
Set Dresser
Pyrotechnician
3D Animator
3D Animator
3D Animator
Compositing Supervisor
Compositing Supervisor
CG Artist
CG Artist
CG Artist
CG Supervisor
CG Supervisor
Digital Compositor
Digital Compositor
Digital Compositor
VFX Director of Photography
Rotoscoping Artist
Rotoscoping Artist
Rotoscoping Artist
Rotoscoping Artist
Roto Supervisor
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor
Visual Effects Editor
Prosthetics
Craft Service
Production Design
Art Direction
Art Direction
Set Decoration
Hairstylist
Hairstylist
Hairstylist
Makeup Artist
Makeup Artist
Makeup Artist
Makeup Artist
Art Department Coordinator
Assistant Art Director
Assistant Art Director
Assistant Art Director
Construction Coordinator
Construction Foreman
Construction Foreman
Special Effects
Greensman
Greensman
Leadman
Set Designer
Set Designer
Set Designer
Set Designer
Set Designer
Set Designer
Set Designer
Supervising Sound Editor
Sound Effects Editor
Sound Effects Editor
Sound Effects Editor
Sound Effects Editor
Sound Designer
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Special Effects Coordinator
CG Supervisor
Visual Effects Producer
Visual Effects Producer
Visual Effects Producer
Sequence Supervisor
Sequence Supervisor
Visual Effects Producer
Sequence Supervisor
Sequence Supervisor
Visual Effects Supervisor
Sequence Supervisor
Visual Effects Editor
Visual Effects Supervisor
Visual Effects Supervisor
Visual Effects Editor
Visual Effects Editor
Visual Effects Supervisor
Visual Effects Supervisor
Stunt Coordinator
Camera Operator
Camera Operator
Camera Operator
Steadicam Operator
Steadicam Operator
Still Photographer
Still Photographer
Video Assist Operator
Video Assist Operator
Camera Technician
Rigging Grip
Costume Supervisor
Costume Supervisor
Set Costumer
Set Costumer
Set Costumer
Set Costumer
First Assistant Editor
First Assistant Editor
First Assistant Editor
Music Editor
Transportation Coordinator
Script Supervisor
Location Manager
Location Manager
Location Manager
Unit Publicist
Production Accountant
Dialect Coach
Associate Producer
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Associate Producer
Co-Producer
Special Effects Supervisor
Story
Transportation Captain
Art Department Assistant
Conceptual Design
Location Scout
Standby Painter
First Assistant Camera
Key Grip
Grip
Aerial Coordinator
Assistant Costume Designer
Key Hair Stylist
Prosthetic Makeup Artist
Carpenter
Digital Effects Supervisor
Driver
Production Controller
Production Office Coordinator
Projection
Propmaker
Set Medic
Set Production Assistant
Software Engineer
Sound Recordist
Stand In
Stunts
Technical Supervisor
Transportation Captain
Transportation Co-Captain
Unit Production Manager
Color Timer
Electrician
Gaffer
Casting Associate
Production Coordinator
Production Supervisor
Boom Operator
Assistant Sound Editor
Orchestrator
Production Sound Mixer
24 Frame Playback
3D Artist
Digital Compositors
Visual Effects Coordinator
Visual Effects Art Director
Additional Editing
Mechanical Designer
Unit Manager
Story
Co-Producer
Dialogue Editor
Property Master
Second Unit Director
First Assistant Director
Dialogue Editor
Dialogue Editor
Supervising ADR Editor
ADR Editor
Storyboard Artist
Costume Illustrator
Costumer
Key Costumer
Tailor
Second Assistant Director
Second Second Assistant Director
Assistant Property Master
Concept Artist
Conceptual Illustrator
Graphic Designer
Set Buyer
Swing
Title Designer
ADR Mixer
Assistant Dialogue Editor
First Assistant Sound Editor
Foley Artist
Foley Mixer
Special Effects Assistant
Special Effects Technician
Additional Visual Effects
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor
Visual Effects Compositor
Visual Effects Editor
Visual Effects Production Manager
Assistant Camera
Best Boy Grip
Dolly Grip
Second Assistant Camera
Additional Casting
Casting Coordinator
Assistant Editor
Digital Color Timer
Negative Cutter
Assistant Location Manager
Location Assistant
Assistant Accountant
Assistant Chief Lighting Technician
Chief Lighting Technician
Compositing Supervisor
Digital Effects Producer
Matchmove Supervisor
Production Assistant
Production Secretary
Rotoscoping Artist
Second Assistant Accountant
Temp Sound Editor
Travel Coordinator
Stunts
Stunts
Stunts
Stunts
Second Assistant Director
Sound Recordist