Outbreak

Name: Outbreak
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Released: March 10, 1995
Duration: 127 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Morgan Freeman, Rene Russo

1995

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings

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6.6

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6.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings

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Outbreak

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: March 10, 1995 | R

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Morgan Freeman, Rene Russo

Summary: An Army doctor races to find a serum for a deadly virus in order to save a California town and its residents. The military wants to destroy it all to contain the disease. Can it really happen here?

Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 127 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

In the end this is Hoffman's movie, and it's refreshing, finally, to see him not as an oddball or eccentric but as a decent, capable guy who is ultimately a lot more intense than most people. Read full review

Steve Persall

Outbreak is an expert what-if nightmare, albeit occasionally tempered by conventional distractions. [10 Mar 1995, p.2B]

Jay Boyar

Outbreak is sharp, sometimes-exploitative entertainment that does its job with great efficiency. Read full review

Steven Rea

No amount of accomplished acting and directorial skill can conceal the fundamental silliness of Outbreak's storyline, its inconsistencies, and the miraculous coincidences necessitated by its plot. [10 Mar 1995, p.3]

James Berardinelli

This movie is an entertaining and sometimes wildly-exhilarating ride. Read full review

Jay Carr

it's an OK genre movie, providing an honest quota of scares and carried by Hoffman's way of alternating stoniness and warmth as the guy in the anticontamination suit. [10 Mar 1995, p.49]

Rick Groen

After a great start, Wolfgang Petersen's intelligent medical thriller is infected by some nasty germs, resulting in the all-too-common Actionitis. [10 Mar 1995]

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User Reviews

Kai82

Oct 21, 2020

A remarkable and strangely forgotten thriller about a virus outbreak in the USA. Years before the main story there is a virus outbreak in a small village in Zaire in Africa. Two US army virologist visit the village and leave after taking blood samples. Shortly after the village is eradicatedA remarkable and strangely forgotten thriller about a virus outbreak in the USA. Years before the main story there is a virus outbreak in a small village in Zaire in Africa. Two US army virologist visit the village and leave after taking blood samples. Shortly after the village is eradicated by an airstrike. After a jump to current time Col. Sam Daniels played by Dustin Hoffman is investigating a virus outbreak in the same region. After he returned to the USA his superior Gen. Billy Ford played by legendary Morgan Freeman quickly delegates him to other tasks while there is an outbreak in the USA of a strange illness. This is just the beginning of an enjoyable and intense story. It is a cat and mouse game on several levels. It has got twists and something like an all-star cast. Lets start with Dustin Hoffman who is a well acclaimed actor and delivers. There is Morgan Freeman and the statement that there is no bad movie with him. I agree and he is as always excellent. Together with Rene Russo, Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Spacy, Patrick Dempsey and Cuba Gooding jr there is one of the strongest cast you can imagine. The acting is good and there is no misstep. The acting and story improve each other and go hand in hand. The twist and especially the ending make the film memorable. It is relative scientifically accurate for a Hollywood movie but tropes and action has to be included to be more mainstream or interesting. If you want something really accurate you should watch “The Andromeda Strain from 1971 (Have not seen the newer one). It is scientifically accurate but because of this a contender for boredom for many. What questions me is why this movie is forgotten. Even in my circle of friends that watched it in cinema and thought it was one of the best movies in that year forgot that it existed. It was a financial success as far as I know and many critics praised it. Overall you have and immersive and engaging movie with great actors. Worth rewatching and should be remembered. Remark: The used bomb really exist and is a terrible weapon. It creates an aerosol that is widespread and shortly after ignited. It creates an area of depression as the oxygen is removed (and that damages lungs even outside the explosion area). It is horrible what we humans invented to kill other humans.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Steven1981

Mar 22, 2020

Outbreak is quite simply a film about some virus or contagious disease which originally came from a monkey I think and people are looking for a cure. An airborne killer virus that's spreading faster than butter on a slice of toast with everyone turning up dead or sick. Bombs are dropped onOutbreak is quite simply a film about some virus or contagious disease which originally came from a monkey I think and people are looking for a cure. An airborne killer virus that's spreading faster than butter on a slice of toast with everyone turning up dead or sick. Bombs are dropped on those who are sick, infected or carrying this horrible virus in order to stop the spread of the disease which seems a bit cruel instead of curing them just blow them to bits lol... Outbreak is a disaster, drama type thriller and stars Rene Russo, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Spacey, Morgan Freeman and Donald Sutherland and was made in 1995 which was a fairly decent era for movies since Species and Assassins were dropped in 1995 which I liked because they are good movies. The acting in Outbreak is okay and pretty much all the actors and characters are likeable especially Rene Russo and the films pretty decent and overall entertaining.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Rcavey92212

Mar 18, 2020

Is there a movie more fitting now of being revisited. I've always loved outbreak although it's an eco thriller there are so many elements of it that feel like a genre film. In fact it sort of reminds of the blob remake in some ways. Dustin Hoffman (Tootsie), Rene Russo (Thor), Morgan FreemanIs there a movie more fitting now of being revisited. I've always loved outbreak although it's an eco thriller there are so many elements of it that feel like a genre film. In fact it sort of reminds of the blob remake in some ways. Dustin Hoffman (Tootsie), Rene Russo (Thor), Morgan Freeman (Bucket List), Donald Sutherland ( Hunger Games), Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire) and Patrick Dempsey (Scream 3) head a solid cast as a virus breaks in a small town because of a cute little, smuggled monkey. The army doctors and CDC race against time as the town begins to die out as the government has alternate options. The movie us thrilling, edge of your seat popcorn entertainment. It's fun but easily relatable because of the solid performances and intelligent screenplay. Unlike our current state as of now the film offers a positive solution that we are all hoping for.

Budget: $50m
Domestic Box Office: $68m
Worldwide Box Office: $190m

4.25/5… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MattBrady99

Aug 24, 2020

Wow, I cannot believe most of the cast in this movie have been cancelled.

Anywhere...'Outbreak' is terrifying, especially right now. I mean, just step outside and you will think you are in a movie. I found it eerie how some scenes echo what is happening right now, such as: Lockdown andWow, I cannot believe most of the cast in this movie have been cancelled.

Anywhere...'Outbreak' is terrifying, especially right now. I mean, just step outside and you will think you are in a movie. I found it eerie how some scenes echo what is happening right now, such as: Lockdown and people refusing to follow health and safety measures. The performances from the main cast helped sell that sense of fear, even though the movie at times does lean back into Hollywood fluff. If only happy endings do exist.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Dec 11, 2018

Peterson's empty threats fails to scare its characters revolving around it let alone put an entire world on the verge of annihilation.

Outbreak Peterson's empty threats fails to scare its characters revolving around it let alone put an entire world on the verge of annihilation. Driven withPeterson's empty threats fails to scare its characters revolving around it let alone put an entire world on the verge of annihilation.

Outbreak

Peterson's empty threats fails to scare its characters revolving around it let alone put an entire world on the verge of annihilation. Driven with similar concept, years later Soderbergh itself took charge over such a tale and he too failed on delivering this cautionary tale with any whatsoever flow. Ironically, carrying the tracks of the disease they didn't have much of a big challenge to be fluent but what sticks this wheel from spinning are the characters that it was supposed to map out. Whenever dealing with such a script that takes you over different territories, the characters that comes in to pass the torch forward, ought to have an arc or at least have the potential to leave an impression, but this seems a far fetched concept in here.

Amidst all these disappointments, surprisingly its middle act is a nail biting enthralling drama, from flipping the courts to close calls and from unexpected revelations to an exhilarating chase sequences. And before you know it, that stage is overridden by spoiled dull thrills that are taken for granted along with numb emotions that clearly doesn't go as anticipated. Hoffman as the savior that cracks every pattern and codes is convincing along with Spacey as surprisingly a positive character that still is somehow difficult to digest.

Freeman and Sutherland as the powerful selfish antagonist are your stereotypical one dimensional character alongwith Russo as a sort of love interest. But Cuba is the one that stands alone among all that cries, laughs, fears and rage of his in this crisis. His moving character and his impressive brotherhood equation with Hoffman is both heartwarming and charming. Outbreak, if anything, is a threat to the makers on their investment, to the actors on their talent that goes waste by, and audience that just can't spare the time for its mediocrity.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Jul 24, 2017

While Wolfgang Petersen may not be the best director of all-time, it is likely impossible to argue that his films are anything less than entertaining. A seemingly chaotic mess of incredibly premises, briefly strong realizations of those premises, and then a descent into cliches that place itWhile Wolfgang Petersen may not be the best director of all-time, it is likely impossible to argue that his films are anything less than entertaining. A seemingly chaotic mess of incredibly premises, briefly strong realizations of those premises, and then a descent into cliches that place it strongly in the time period in which it was released, watching a Petersen film is a unique experience. It is like going into a time capsule to see how people from that year really lived and how films were made. Enter Outbreak. A precursor to films such as Contagion, Outbreak is about the spread of a virus from Zaire to America that threatens to wipe out the country in a matter of 48 hours. With a man known for taking chances and going against orders while being rogue/insubordinate regularly, his wife who is divorcing him due to his off-the-cuff style, a goofy assistant who dies part way through, a gung ho newcomer ready to save the day but still too green to be essential, and a military general antagonist, Outbreak is such a mid-1990s film, it almost hurts to watch. Fortunately, under the guidance of Petersen, he turns this quintessentially 1990s slice of cinema into a largely thrilling and engaging enterprise in spite of its flaws.

In writing about Outbreak, it is nearly impossible to gloss over the incredible cast at hand. Starring Dustin Hoffman as Doctor and Colonel Sam Daniels, Morgan Freeman as his boss, Rene Russo as his wife, Kevin Spacey as his assistant, Cuba Gooding Jr. as another assistant, Donald Sutherland as a Major General and Freeman's boss, and Patrick Dempsey as the idiot that spreads the virus, Outbreak is a film with a truly stacked cast. Across the board, the group can get a bit hammy and over-the-top at times but is largely as reliable as one would anticipate. That is a great thing for Outbreak considering how bad the dialogue can often become. Stilted, awkward, and seemingly impossible to have roll off the tongue, this group of Academy Award nominee/winning and/or veteran actors really power through this sloppy script and breathe life into every line. Somehow, watching this bunch go through a sea of cliches, plot conveniences, bloat, and terrible dialogue, remains watchable because of who is acting it all out.

As with any Wolfgang Petersen film, Outbreak manages to really grab viewers by the scruff of the neck and entertain you at all turns. A thrilling experience, Outbreak's haunting and ominous presence with dire predictions around every corner makes for a truly engaging watch. Anchored by assured direction from Petersen who knows his way around a thriller and a typically solid score from James Newton Howard, Outbreak is a film that may be cliched and contrived, but never ceases to be anything less than an entertaining and exciting film. The highlight of this element largely comes in the lab as the team works to identify this virus. What is it? What does it do? What brought it here? What stops it? These are all questions the film has somewhat revealed prior to the doctors piecing it together, but watching them piece together the clues and study the virus is unexpectedly gripping. Petersen paces these scenes terrifically and sprinkles them freely throughout the film. Always ominous and filled with tension, these scenes are where the film really lives up to the potential of its premise and also where the actors are given the best material work with.

Had the film focused solely on this element, it would have been a far tighter and engaging experience. Unfortunately, the film is often quite bloated. While perhaps not that lengthy, there is a shot in Zaire where the camera focuses on a witch doctor doing some sort of ritual. Later, Colonel Daniels asks to speak with the witch doctor only to learn he cannot. The film never comes back to this issue, in spite of dedicating a shot and a specific line of dialogue to him that further called attention to his presence. While perhaps not the most crucial moment, it does hint at the fact that Outbreak could have used another pass through in the editing room. There is some fat to trim here that did little else than extend its running time. A dogfight scene over the forests of suburban California is another source of love handles on the film with Sutherland's Major General McClintock going a tad bit rogue. Overlong with horrifically bad special effects, the scene is both implausible (how could this ever actually happen?) and unnecessary. It is a shot in the arm of unearned and laughably implausible tension that never justifies its presence in the film.… Expand

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sidfalco

Jun 1, 2020

Ruined by Dustin Hoffman. No surprise it was his last major role, he is absolutely unbearable and his overacting, whining, obnoxious personality hasn't aged well at all.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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49	#49 Best Movie of 1995
43	#43 Most Discussed Movie of 1995
62	#62 Most Shared Movie of 1995