Phenomenon

1996 Directed by Jon Turteltaub

Some things in life just can't be explained.

An ordinary man sees a bright light descend from the sky, and discovers he now has super-intelligence and telekinesis.

John Travolta Kyra Sedgwick Forest Whitaker Robert Duvall Jeffrey DeMunn Richard Kiley David Gallagher Ashley Buccille Tony Genaro Sean O'Bryan Troy Evans Bruce A. Young Vyto Ruginis Brent Spiner Susan Merson Michael Milhoan Elisabeth Nunziato Ellen Geer Beth Kennedy Richard Gross

Alternative Title

Algo Extraordinario Más Allá del Amor

fantasy science fiction drama romance

123 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Tim McClelland ★★★½

I love seeing how George utilizes his new gifts. Scenes where he moves things with his mind, how he learned Portuguese in 20 minutes, or how he predicted the earthquake. Those are the best moments of this film. The love story is fine, but everything else about the movie is better. I've always enjoyed the film though.
Review by Grooveman ★½ 3

Would of been way better if LL Cool J was in this.
Review by Pube ★★ 2

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

I couldn't help but wonder if some guy wrote a really smart screenplay showing how manic depression works and studio execs turned it into this dumb movie. Travolta is manic, then he isn't, then he dies. Sounds like mental illness to me. Oh yeah, also, spoilers.
Review by megan ★½

one star for brent spiner
Review by A. J. Black ★★½ 6

The mid-90's saw a career renaissance for John Travolta after many years in the Hollywood wilderness, thanks in no small part to his iconic turn in Pulp Fiction, but for every Face/Off there was also a Broken Arrow dragging him back down. Phenomenon is decidedly more of the latter than the former unfortunately, Jon Turtletaub's romantic drama existing on the fringes of the fantastical, indeed on the fringes of being interesting, without ever fully getting there. Travolta keeps this one grounded and amiably likeable, but he nor the director can move it out of first gear.
It's about as all-American as a movie can get, Phenomenon. Taking place in a wholesome, Little House on the Prairie small farmers town surrounded…
Review by Blaze the Action Junkie ★★★½ 2

Another mid-90's Travolta romance, one that I'd consider to be one of his better films from the decade. Robert Duvall and Forest Whitaker have fantastic performances and add a genuine feel to this touching sci-fi dramance. Like my previous watch, Michael, this is another '96 Travolta film that shines a light on the preciousness on life through a fantastic short-lived miracle-creating character. It also hosts a relevant theme of the general public's fear of someone different, no matter how special or what miracles that person can bring about. I'm not ashamed to say that I like this one, and likewise I'm not ashamed to suggest this one as one of the most unique films with a hugely positive message to…
Review by Connor Carey ★★½

Nothing all that bad just pretty mediocre and definitely nothing very memorable in the long run. I liked the premise but it didn't do a whole lot with it and the third act tonal shift was a bit odd. Still though Travolta is great as is the rest of the really strong supporting cast but it's pretty much the definition of a middle of the road movie.
Review by HHREVIEW ★★½

The perfect representation of Scientology is a brain tumor
Review by Kate Doyle ★★★★

Ok sorry for party rocking, I was fully prepared to hate watch this and actually? I fucking liked it. Sue me. I miss the cloying sincerity of the 90s! I miss the sharp, generic perma-autumn of idyllic fictional farmtowns! I miss stories with one character who is the local zucchini farmer, package delivery guy and drive time radio DJ, just to streamline the script! Sock it to me!
I could do without the super insistent score, and truly anyone on earth would be better than Travolta in this role, but damn if it doesn’t commit to a bizzare premise without a hint of irony. Was this the last of the real ones? Goddamit.
Review by Nathan Rabin ★½

Forgotbuster!
Review by Kaliofthedolls ★★★★★

Came for UFO/telekinesis/magic and got a love story with floating paper clips but what did I really expect from a 90s Travolta flick? I queued this after seeing The Fanatic and it did have it's charm. I just hate romances so much I have to fast-forward when that stuff goes on. #dyingalone and all.
Review by Alex ★★★

Interesting drama with a good story, John Travolta is good here and I found the film to be quite entertaining and better than expected. Travolta is a so-so actor who at times can give a great performance, here he’s quite good in the part and the plot has something special to offer. I didn’t expect the film to be this interesting. But it was one of those films that was quite underrated and was better than what I initially thought it was going to be. John Travolta has better films, but this is still an entertaining film with a good plot and interesting performances. Phenomenon is entertaining and relies on its cast do overcome its limitations. Overall, he film is…

Recent reviews

Review by Mgoughyy ★★★½

I didn't know true intimacy until I witnessed the haircut/ shave scene. jheeezeee
Review by Micaela ★

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

John Travolta

Edit: It’s interesting how so many things happen in this movie. For example: john Travolta learns Portuguese in 20 min, reads a lot of books because he is super intelligent, and also dies in a dramatic way yet it still feels like nothing happened. Dang it 😔
Review by Easton James ★★★

It was okay
Review by Tim McClelland ★★★½

I love seeing how George utilizes his new gifts. Scenes where he moves things with his mind, how he learned Portuguese in 20 minutes, or how he predicted the earthquake. Those are the best moments of this film. The love story is fine, but everything else about the movie is better. I've always enjoyed the film though.
Review by Josh Sale ★★★

FBI:
“This man could be a code cracking genius, we should test him. “
Travolta:
“Shoot away”
FBI
“If a man is born in 1928 how old would he be today”?
Also Travolta weirdly dances with his dog in this.
This is such a 90s film, I liked it.
Review by BelleDelfino ★★½

Boring and without focus. Presents a sci-fi concept but does little of interest with it in favor of being a romantic drama. Laaaame.
Review by Remiel ★★★

More than enough scenes with good ideas to sell the premise, to make the film worth a watch, even if it loses steam in places and doesn’t quite achieve the catharsis it wants to have.
Review by Connor ★★

First half is fun, 90s Travolta beefcake fun but second half is depressing and pointless. NOT RECOMMENDED
Review by mello ★★★

John is very attractive during the first half of this movie.....hair is normal, no weird voices, and his character is charming. 2nd half is where it gets kinda....ummmm.....weird. Still trying to figure out what the “point” of the movie was, but it was pretty good overall.
Review by Michelle Solis ★★★★

Phenomenon
Review by Ryan Jacobson

watched
Review by Nate ★★★

Something about this movie always makes me cry.