The Andromeda Strain 1971
"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!"
Robert Wise's 1971 sci-fi thriller *The Andromeda Strain* unfolds as a chilling countdown of scientific urgency when a military satellite crashes near Piedmont, New Mexico, wiping out the town's population—except for an inebriated man and a newborn baby.
Director: Robert Wise
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Andromeda Strain (1971) about?
The film follows a team of scientists investigating a deadly extraterrestrial microorganism brought to Earth by a returning satellite. After a remote New Mexico town is wiped out, the team must isolate the pathogen while studying why two survivors—a drunkard and an infant—are immune.
Who directed The Andromeda Strain?
Robert Wise, an acclaimed director known for blending social themes with genre storytelling in films like *West Side Story* and *The Sound of Music*, helmed *The Andromeda Strain*.
Who stars in The Andromeda Strain?
The film features Arthur Hill as Dr. Jeremy Stone, David Wayne as Dr. Charles Dutton, James Olson as Dr. Mark Hall, Kate Reid as Dr. Ruth Leavitt, and Paula Kelly as Karen Anson.
Is The Andromeda Strain (1971) worth watching?
If you love classic sci-fi with palpable tension and cerebral depth, *The Andromeda Strain* delivers. Its slow-burn suspense and themes of scientific hubris make it a rewarding watch, even decades later. The film's atmospheric dread and smart dialogue hold up remarkably well.
How long is The Andromeda Strain?
The Andromeda Strain runs for 131 minutes, or just over two hours of gripping, methodical storytelling.
🎥 Trailer
About The Andromeda Strain (1971) — A gripping sci-fi thriller about an alien plague and human survival
Robert Wise's 1971 sci-fi thriller *The Andromeda Strain* unfolds as a chilling countdown of scientific urgency when a military satellite crashes near Piedmont, New Mexico, wiping out the town's population—except for an inebriated man and a newborn baby. A team of top scientists, led by the sharp-minded Dr. Jeremy Stone, races to a high-security underground lab to isolate the extraterrestrial microbe responsible. The film blends razor-sharp tension with philosophical questions about humanity's fragility, all wrapped in a stark, clinical atmosphere that lingers long after the credits roll.
As the team races against time to decode the microscopic killer's behavior, they confront ethical dilemmas and the terrifying possibility that Earth's defenses are no match for an organism from another world. Wise crafts a masterclass in suspense, grounding the high-stakes drama in meticulous detail and an eerie sense of isolation. With its taut pacing and thought-provoking themes, *The Andromeda Strain (1971)* remains a cornerstone of paranoid sci-fi cinema.
