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Phenomenon

  • 1996
  • PG
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
88K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,431
457
John Travolta and Kyra Sedgwick in Phenomenon (1996)
An ordinary man sees a bright light descend from the sky, and discovers he now has super-intelligence and telekinesis.
Play trailer2:44
3 Videos
99 Photos
DramaFantasyRomanceSci-Fi

A small-town Everyman becomes a telekinetic genius.A small-town Everyman becomes a telekinetic genius.A small-town Everyman becomes a telekinetic genius.

  • Director
    • Jon Turteltaub
  • Writer
    • Gerald Di Pego
  • Stars
    • John Travolta
    • Kyra Sedgwick
    • Forest Whitaker
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    88K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,431
    457
    • Director
      • Jon Turteltaub
    • Writer
      • Gerald Di Pego
    • Stars
      • John Travolta
      • Kyra Sedgwick
      • Forest Whitaker
    • 165User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
    • 42Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 8 nominations total

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:44
    Official Trailer
    Phenomenon: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:05
    Phenomenon: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Phenomenon: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:05
    Phenomenon: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Phenomenon: 15th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:14
    Phenomenon: 15th Anniversary Edition

    Photos98

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 94
    View Poster

    Top cast55

    Edit
    John Travolta
    John Travolta
    • George Malley
    Kyra Sedgwick
    Kyra Sedgwick
    • Lace Pennamin
    Forest Whitaker
    Forest Whitaker
    • Nate Pope
    Robert Duvall
    Robert Duvall
    • Doc
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    • Professor Ringold
    Richard Kiley
    Richard Kiley
    • Dr. Wellin
    David Gallagher
    David Gallagher
    • Al
    Ashley Buccille
    Ashley Buccille
    • Glory
    Tony Genaro
    Tony Genaro
    • Tito
    Sean O'Bryan
    Sean O'Bryan
    • Banes
    Michael Milhoan
    Michael Milhoan
    • Jimmy
    Troy Evans
    Troy Evans
    • Roger
    Bruce A. Young
    Bruce A. Young
    • Jack Hatch
    • (as Bruce Young)
    Vyto Ruginis
    Vyto Ruginis
    • Ted Rhome
    Brent Spiner
    Brent Spiner
    • Dr. Bob
    Elisabeth Nunziato
    Elisabeth Nunziato
    • Ella
    Ellen Geer
    Ellen Geer
    • Bonnie
    James Keane
    James Keane
    • Pete the Cop
    • Director
      • Jon Turteltaub
    • Writer
      • Gerald Di Pego
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews165

    6.587.5K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    9jhazelett72

    An Inspiration!

    An ex-girlfriend talked me into seeing this movie, and I am happy she did. In my opinion, John Travolta deserved at least a nomination for an Oscar here, if not the award itself. The story was decent, but the performances of Travolta, Forest Whitaker, Robert Duvall, and Kyra Sedgwick made me care about what was happening on the screen. By no means is this a romantic comedy. It's romantic, probably the most romantic film I have seen in a long time. The reason for that is simple...it's real. In most movies you see the main characters sleep together within a day at the most, which rarely happens with two people who are really in love. True love has to take time and effort, which is exactly what you see here. Travolta's George is patient, but not because he wants to be. If you're a romantic at heart you will understand and relate to him, and you will hope for his success as you would for your own. Without giving anything away, I will tell you that the ending is sad, but also heartwarming. George has his "experience" for no other reason than to suggest what we as humans can become. Phenomenon is a story about our potential, the good and bad things that can happen to us if we achieve it. We could only be so lucky, and watching the movie is a good start. I give it 8 out of 10 stars.
    myklrichter

    Travolta and Duval at their finest.....

    This movie was, without a doubt, one of the finest ever made in a long, long time. I was expecting ti to take a sci-fi route with abductions and vulcan mind-melds...but the ending and explanation for George's predicament are not only plausable but heart-breaking. You cannot help but feel for a like George Malley. I didn't buy into too much of the hyseria surrounding the townsfolk as it seemed a little "tacked on"...but the performances by Travolta, Duval, Kyra Sedgwick and Forrest Whitaker made up for any shortcomings and plot holes. I have watched this movie time and time again and the combination of true emotional drama and a beautiful score nearly bring me to tears everytime. 9 out of 10.
    7=G=

    Sometimes you just gotta go with it

    "Phenomenon" is about a small town auto mechanic (Travolta) who experiences something he can only describe as being "light" and suddenly has peculiar powers such as being able to learn to speak Portuguese in 20 minutes or understanding Dianetics. At issue is, will these powers, which make him the object of fear and awe by the townsfolk, help of hurt his chances with his reluctant love interest (Sedgwick). An pleasant little folksy, Mayberry RFDish flick, "Phenomenon" sticks to the people story and doesn't go off into sci-fi-land as it conjures up the warm and fuzzies, takes a romantic turn with the best haircut & shave since "Wrestling Ernest Hemingway", and tries hard to deliver a message about what's important in life. Yes, the film gets a little sugary sweet but...okay, it gets a lot sugary sweet...but, if you go with it and don't fight it you'll be assured of a pleasant three star watch. Good stuff for sentimentalists. (B)
    10a16a16k

    One of my all-time favorites.

    This movie doesn't get the credit that it deserves. Travolta's speech at the end of the movie to the doctor is incredible. Rarely do I ever see a movie that acknowledges the value of a single human life like this movie does. Most movies glorify sacrifice. This movie glorifies life. I highly recommend it.
    tfrizzell

    A Phenomenal Experience.

    An ordinary small-town man (John Travolta) sees a flash of light in the sky one night and then starts to experience super-intelligence and telekinesis. Soon he is changing everyone's life for the better (most notably love interest Kyra Sedgwick, town doctor Robert Duvall and best friend Forest Whitaker). Slyly funny and innovative at first and then impressively dramatic and thought-provoking, "Phenomenon" is an effective picture that comes through because of good performances across the board and smart screen-writing. Travolta and Duvall are excellent together and they share the spotlight in the venture. Under-rated production that should be given a try. It is one of those films that will cause your emotions to come shining through. 4 stars out of 5.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Old town Auburn, California was used for the scenes in town. Most of the businesses are still in operation, and thrive off of the tourism generated by the movie to this day. Auburn is also the birthplace of Kane Hodder who played Jason Voorhees in the Friday the 13th movies.
    • Goofs
      When George uses the tape recorder to record the Morse code signals, there's no tape in the recorder.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: All right, I'll start the questions, and I'll be timing your responses, and we'll be recording. Any questions?

      George Malley: What's your first name?

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: Uh, my first name is Bob.

      [George reaches across the wide table to shake hands]

      George Malley: Shoot, Bob.

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: Right. Name as many mammals as you can in 60 seconds. Ready? Go.

      [Starts stopwatch]

      George Malley: Hmm. 60 seconds. Well, how would you like that? How about alphabetical? Aardvark, baboon, caribou, dolphin, eohippus, fox, gorilla, hyena, ibex, jackal, kangaroo, lion, marmoset, Newfoundland, ocelot, panda, rat, sloth, tiger, unicorn, varmint, whale, yak, zebra. Now "varmint" is a stretch; so is "Newfoundland" (that's a dog breed); "unicorn" is mythical; "eohippus" is prehistoric. But you weren't being very specific, now, were you, Bob?

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: [pauses, then stops watch and laughs] Well! Ahh, I'll, uh - I'll try to be more specific. You ready for the next one?

      George Malley: Shoot.

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: Answer as quickly as you can... how old is a person born in 1928?

      [starts stopwatch]

      George Malley: Man or a woman?

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: [stops stopwatch and pauses] Why?

      George Malley: Specifics, Bob.

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: Okay, one more time. How old is a MAN born in 1928?

      [starts stopwatch]

      George Malley: Still alive?

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: [stops watch, pauses, nods] If a man is born in 1928, and he's still alive, how old is he?

      [starts stopwatch]

      George Malley: What month?

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: [stops stopwatch] If a man was born October 3rd, 1928, and he's still alive, how old is he?

      [starts stopwatch]

      George Malley: What time?

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: [stops stopwatch] 10 o'clock... PM!

      [starts stopwatch]

      George Malley: Where?

      Dr. Bob Niedorf: [stops stopwatch; now impatient] Anywhere!

      George Malley: Well, let's get specific, Bob! I mean, if the guy's still alive, born in California, October 3rd, 1928, 10 PM, he's 67 years, 9 months, 22 days, 14 hours, and...

      [takes Bob's hand to see his wristwatch]

      George Malley: ... and 12 minutes. If he was born in New York, he's 3 hours older, now isn't he?

    • Alternate versions
      ABC network television version features alternate/new footage not present in the theatrical and home video releases.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Striptease/Cold Fever/The Nutty Professor/A Perfect Candidate/Maybe, Maybe Not (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Love Child
      Written by R. Dean Taylor (as R.D. Taylor), Frank Wilson (as F. Wilson), Pam Sawyer (as P. Sawyer) and Deke Richards (as D. Lussier)

      Performed by Diana Ross & The Supremes

      Courtesy of Motown Records Company, L.P.

      By arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Licensing

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Phenomenon?Powered by Alexa
    • Why didn't George Malley read all the neurobiology books he could, to invent a procedure to save himself?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 3, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • Portuguese
    • Also known as
      • Fenómeno
    • Filming locations
      • Auburn, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Touchstone Pictures
      • Michael Taylor Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $32,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $104,636,382
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $16,158,901
      • Jul 7, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $152,036,382
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 3m(123 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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