"Contagion" is a 2011 American medical disaster thriller film directed by Steven Soderbergh.
The film follows the rapid spread of a highly contagious virus transmitted by respiratory droplets and fomites, and the attempts by medical researchers and public health officials to identify and contain the disease. The ensemble cast includes Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Elliott Gould, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle, Sanaa Lathan, and Gwyneth Paltrow.
The film explores themes of identity, power, and social change, particularly in the context of the "Great Experiment." It highlights examples of political cronyism, platitudes, and rigid thinking, as well as the heroism of federal bureaucrats. The story also delves into the complexities of responding to a pandemic, including the tensions between freedom and order. The film's narrative is driven by the interconnected stories of various characters, including a WHO team, a CDC scientist, and a grieving mother, as they navigate the crisis.
The film was inspired by real-life outbreaks such as the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak and the 2009 flu pandemic. Principal photography started in Hong Kong in September 2010 and continued in several locations until February 2011. The film premiered at the 68th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2011, and was theatrically released on September 9, 2011. Critics praised the film for its narrative and performances, as did scientists for its accuracy.
The film received renewed popularity in 2020 due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. By March 2020, it was the seventh-most-popular film on iTunes and had average daily visits on piracy websites increase by 5,609 percent. The cast reunited through an infomercial-type public service announcement in partnership with the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in March 2020.