Contact
Astronomer Dr. Ellie Arroway has long been interested in contact to faraway lands, a love fostered in her childhood by her father, Ted Arroway (David Morse), who died when she was nine-years-old, leaving her orphaned. Her current work in monitoring for extraterrestrial life is based on that love and is in part an homage to her father. Ever since funding from the National Science Foundation (N.S.F.) was pulled on her work, which is referred to some, including her N.S.F. superior David Drumlin (Tom Skerritt), as more science fiction than science, Ellie, with a few of her rogue scientist colleagues, have looked for funding from where ever they could get it to continue their work. When Ellie and her colleagues hear chatter originating from the vicinity of the star Vega, Ellie feels vindicated. But that vindication is short lived when others, including politicians, the military, religious leaders, and other scientists, such as Drumlin, try to take over her work. When the messages received from space are decoded, the project takes on a whole new dimension, which strengthens for Ellie the quest for the truth. Thrown into the mix are the unknown person who has up until now funded most of Ellie's work and what his motivations are, and Palmer Joss (Matthew McConaughey), a renowned author and theologian, who despite their fundamental differences in outlook, is mutually attracted to Ellie, that attraction based in part on intellect and their common goal of wanting to know the truth.
Working with a significant budget of $90.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $171.1M in global revenue (+90% profit margin).
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 15 wins & 32 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Contact (1997) exemplifies deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Robert Zemeckis's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 30 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Ellie listens to her radio, making contact with distant stations. Her father encourages her curiosity about reaching farther. Establishes Ellie's lifelong quest for connection and her relationship with her father before his death.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 18 minutes when Drumlin defunds Ellie's SETI project at Arecibo. She loses her position and must find alternative funding, forcing her to leave and fight for her life's work. The disruption that propels her into the struggle of Act 2.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 36 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Ellie detects the Vega signal - a clear, repeating extraterrestrial transmission. She chooses to verify and announce it rather than hide the discovery. This active choice commits her irreversibly to the public arena and transforms her from obscure researcher to center of global attention., moving from reaction to action.
At 76 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Drumlin is selected as the Machine's passenger instead of Ellie. False defeat: she loses everything she worked for. The stakes raise dramatically - she's no longer the hero of the story. TheSelection Committee chooses faith-professing Drumlin over atheist Ellie, forcing her to confront her beliefs., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 112 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The Machine is destroyed, Drumlin is dead, and the project appears finished. Ellie stands in the wreckage of humanity's best chance for contact. This is her "all is lost" moment - literal death (Drumlin), metaphorical death (the dream), and apparent victory of fear over hope. The whiff of death permeates the scene., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 119 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Hadden reveals the secret second Machine built by the Japanese in Hokkaido. New information that changes everything. Ellie synthesizes her scientific skills with the wisdom gained from Palmer and the journey - she's ready to take a leap of faith. She boards the pod for the journey., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Contact's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Contact against these established plot points, we can identify how Robert Zemeckis utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Contact within the drama genre.
Robert Zemeckis's Structural Approach
Among the 19 Robert Zemeckis films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Contact represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Robert Zemeckis filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Robert Zemeckis analyses, see Flight, What Lies Beneath and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Ellie listens to her radio, making contact with distant stations. Her father encourages her curiosity about reaching farther. Establishes Ellie's lifelong quest for connection and her relationship with her father before his death.
Theme
Palmer Joss asks Ellie at the cocktail party: "Did you love your father?" followed by discussion of proof, faith, and whether she believes humanity is alone in the universe. States the central theme of faith versus empirical evidence.
Worldbuilding
Ellie works at Arecibo Observatory searching for extraterrestrial signals. Establishes her dedication to SETI, her isolation from romantic relationships, her conflict with Drumlin over funding, and her scientific philosophy. Meeting Palmer shows the worldview she must eventually reconcile.
Disruption
Drumlin defunds Ellie's SETI project at Arecibo. She loses her position and must find alternative funding, forcing her to leave and fight for her life's work. The disruption that propels her into the struggle of Act 2.
Resistance
Ellie secures private funding from Hadden Industries and sets up at VLA in New Mexico. She debates whether to continue her search despite professional ridicule. Four years pass as she persists in her work, isolated but determined. Preparation for the major commitment ahead.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ellie detects the Vega signal - a clear, repeating extraterrestrial transmission. She chooses to verify and announce it rather than hide the discovery. This active choice commits her irreversibly to the public arena and transforms her from obscure researcher to center of global attention.
Mirror World
Palmer Joss reappears as a spiritual advisor to the President, representing the faith-based perspective on the Contact. His presence introduces the thematic subplot: Ellie must eventually reconcile science and faith, logic and wonder. He embodies what she intellectually rejects but emotionally needs.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Contact: decoding the message, discovering the Machine blueprints, international collaboration building the device, debates about who should go. Ellie navigates celebrity, politics, and her rivalry with Drumlin. The promise of the premise - humanity preparing for first contact.
Midpoint
Drumlin is selected as the Machine's passenger instead of Ellie. False defeat: she loses everything she worked for. The stakes raise dramatically - she's no longer the hero of the story. TheSelection Committee chooses faith-professing Drumlin over atheist Ellie, forcing her to confront her beliefs.
Opposition
Ellie watches from the sidelines as Drumlin prepares for the journey. Religious extremist infiltrates and destroys the Machine in a suicide bombing, killing Drumlin. Ellie grieves the loss and the apparent end of the mission. Opposition intensifies as her dream seems dead and extremism appears to have won.
Collapse
The Machine is destroyed, Drumlin is dead, and the project appears finished. Ellie stands in the wreckage of humanity's best chance for contact. This is her "all is lost" moment - literal death (Drumlin), metaphorical death (the dream), and apparent victory of fear over hope. The whiff of death permeates the scene.
Crisis
Ellie processes the devastating loss. Dark night of the soul as she questions whether the search was worth the cost. Brief period of emotional darkness before Hadden's revelation provides new hope. She must find meaning in the tragedy before she can move forward.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Hadden reveals the secret second Machine built by the Japanese in Hokkaido. New information that changes everything. Ellie synthesizes her scientific skills with the wisdom gained from Palmer and the journey - she's ready to take a leap of faith. She boards the pod for the journey.
Synthesis
Ellie's journey through the wormhole to meet the alien presence (appearing as her father). She experiences transcendent contact, receives the message that humanity is not alone, and returns transformed. The finale includes her testimony before the committee, where she must defend an experience she cannot prove - requiring faith, not evidence.
Transformation
Ellie sits with children at the VLA, teaching them to listen to the cosmos, mirroring the opening image of young Ellie with her radio. She has transformed from the scientist who demanded proof to one who understands the value of faith and wonder. She now embodies both science and spiritual openness, having reconciled the central theme.