Is Contact appropriate for children?

# Contact - Parental Guide A thought-provoking sci-fi drama about a scientist who receives an alien radio signal and must decide whether to make first contact. With no violence, language, or sexual content, it's generally safe for older children, though the complex themes about science versus faith and existential questions may work better for ages 10+.

What age is Contact suitable for?

Our verdict for Contact is: Generally safe. See the age grid on this page for specific recommendations by age group.

Is Contact safe for children? | ScreenWise Parent Guide

Content breakdown

🔫

Violence

Mild

🗣️

Language / Profanity

None

🔞

Sexual Content

None

👻

Horror / Scary

None

About this movie

Type

Movie

Released

1997

Rating

Genre

Drama, Science Fiction, Mystery

Synopsis

A radio astronomer receives the first extraterrestrial radio signal ever picked up on Earth. As the world powers scramble to decipher the message and decide upon a course of action, she must make some difficult decisions between her beliefs, the truth, and reality.

Cast

Jodie Foster

Ellie Arroway

Matthew McConaughey

Palmer Joss

James Woods

Michael Kitz

John Hurt

S. R. Hadden

Full cast on IMDb ›

Age suitability

Under 6

Not yet

Ages 6–8

With parent

Ages 9–12

Yes

Ages 13+

Yes

Where to watch

🎬 Find on Amazon

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Parents also checked

The Shawshank Redemption

Not recommended

Forrest Gump

Not recommended

Ratings based on MPAA/TV classification and TMDB metadata. Updated March 2026.
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