The Andromeda Strain

1971 131 min ★ 7.0 Science Fiction, Thriller, Drama

When virtually all of the residents of Piedmont, New Mexico, are found dead after the return to Earth of a space satellite, the head of the US Air Force's Project Scoop declares an emergency. A group of eminent scientists led by Dr. Jeremy Stone scramble to a secure laboratory and try to first isolate the life form while determining why two people from Piedmont - an old alcoholic and a six-month-old baby - survived. The scientists methodically study the alien life form unaware that it has already mutated and presents a far greater danger in the lab, which is equipped with a nuclear self-destruct device designed to prevent the escape of dangerous biological agents.

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Cast

Arthur Hill

Dr. Jeremy Stone

David Wayne

Dr. Charles Dutton

James Olson

Dr. Mark Hall

Kate Reid

Dr. Ruth Leavitt

Paula Kelly

Karen Anson

George Mitchell

Jackson

Ramon Bieri

Major Manchek

Peter Hobbs

General Sparks

Kermit Murdock

Dr. Robertson

Richard O'Brien

Grimes

Details

Director

Robert Wise

Screenplay

Nelson Gidding

Tagline

"The picture runs 130 minutes... The story covers 96 of the most critical hours in man's history... The suspense will last through your lifetime!"

Status

Released

Original Language

EN

Budget

$6,500,000

Revenue

$12,376,563

Production

Robert Wise Productions

Reviews

J

John Chard

December 29, 2018

★ 8/10

Frighteningly absorbing piece of fiction that's fused with fact. A satellite from the SCOOP project has crashed into the desert town of Piedmont, the SCOOP project basically entails that the satellite scoops outer space for any alien micro-organisms. After the crash all the residents of Piedmont are killed with the exception of a baby and an old gentleman booze hound. Mankind is on the verge of...

C

CinemaSerf

March 22, 2026

★ 7/10

When most of the population of a New Mexico town are found dead, scientists are quickly on the scene and discover that there appears to be some sort of lethal pathogen on the loose. Is it natural? A virus? From here or from outer space after a satellite recently crashed nearby? Well fortunately, Uncle Sam has a state of the art facility buried deep underground with five levels of sanitized securit...