A deadly airborne virus finds its way into the USA and starts killing off people at an epidemic rate. Col. Sam Daniels' job is to stop the virus spreading from a small town, which must be quarantined, and to prevent an over reaction by the White House.
Acting
Hoffman vs. Sutherland's deliciously evil general—chefs kiss.
Practical Effects
Pre-CGI hazmat chaos that hits different post-2020.
Direction
Petersen squeezes maximum panic from every sneeze.
Director
Wolfgang Petersen
Dustin Hoffman
Sam Daniels
Rene Russo
Robby Keough
Morgan Freeman
General Billy Ford
Kevin Spacey
Casey Schuler
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Major Salt
Donald Sutherland
General Donald McClintock
Patrick Dempsey
Jimbo Scott
Zakes Mokae
Dr. Benjamin Iwabi
Malick Bowens
Dr. Raswani
Susan Lee Hoffman
Dr. Lisa Aronson
Benito Martinez
Dr. Julio Ruiz
Bruce Jarchow
Dr. Mascelli
Dale Dye
Colonel Briggs
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The film's fictional Motaba virus shares symptoms with Ebola, which was deliberately downplayed by studios fearing audience exodus. Irony unlocked.
Released in 1995, it became weirdly prophetic during COVID-19—suddenly everyone understood 'flatten the curve' and 'PPE shortage' as actual phrases, not movie tropes.
US
