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