SummaryAn uplifting story of an ordinary man transformed by extraordinary events. (BV Entertainment)
Directed By:Jon Turteltaub
Written By:Gerald Di Pego
Phenomenon
Metascore
Mixed or Average
42
User score
Generally Favorable
7.1
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
24% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
59% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
18% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
75
John Turteltaub directed the drama, which lapses into medical jargon and new-age clichés near the end, but it scores telling points with its respect for intelligence and optimistic view of human potential.
63
In a film that offers itself as a Gump-esque moral fable, Phenomenon could serve as a case study of When Smart Films Fail.
User score
Generally Favorable
61% Positive
33 Ratings
33 Ratings
30% Mixed
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
9% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
Oct 23, 2014
10
Opposing to the astonishingly acid critics review, to me, the story reflects deeply how fears (of being hurt in Kyra Sedgwick, of loving a father in her child when John Malley comes into their lives and he has the possibility of restoring the presence of a father, and his trauma for divorce abandoment drives him away from Malley, the isolation into fantasy of John's friend, who evades reality with Diana Ross not to confront his deep loneliness in terms of couple, social fears from the people when he becomes different...) can change our lives and keep us from relating to others, to love. Incredible actors, music, photography. Beautiful. Whoever focuses on the feasibility of the supernatural, did not understand the move. John Malleys dialogue with the doctor at the end, incredibly deep, therefore, not undertood by whoever is not able to go that deep into human experience in general. Only Travolta and Kyra Sedgewick could be the characters and Duvall the doctor and the friend...
Aug 20, 2024
7
One man gains super intelligence and superpowers. He uses them wisely. But he realizes he's suffering from brain cancer. He does his good deeds but then croaks.
50
Soft to the point of squishiness, Phenomenon is rescued from terminal bathos by Travolta's radiant conviction.
50
Put simply, this movie is dumb.
40
Well-meaning and convinced it has something of value to say, its "Reach Out and Touch Someone" sensibility ensures that all its satisfactions will prove hollow, and so they do.
40
A whopping wrong turn throws this lightweight, benign-looking movie terminally off course.
30
Still, well-intentioned sappiness is something we can deal with; the lack of any genuine dramatic conflict is a more damaging shortcoming.
Jan 7, 2023
6
I wasn't sold on his abilities enough though. Wasn't believable. Still a decent movie and sad.
Jan 11, 2012
6
Autant le dire tout de suite, PhÃnomène n'est pas un film mÃmorable. En effet, il est l'exemple type de la gentille comÃdie tout droit sortie des studios hollywoodiens qui flirte avec le fantastique pour attirer les spectateurs (en plus du casting, composà tout de même de John Travolta, Forest Whitaker, Robert Duvall...). Avec une mise en scène plate et une bande son trop poussÃe lors des sÃquences romantiques ou tristes, le film ne cache en aucun cas son statut de divertissement amÃricain. Mais il faut bien reconnaÃtre que PhÃnomène reste avant tout attachant. En premier lieu par ses personnages, assez bien interprÃtÃs; et par son histoire qui prend enfin de l'ampleur après une première partie axÃe sur la comÃdie orientÃe fantastique/science-fiction, grâce à un retournement de situation astucieux sur ce que vit le personnage de Travolta. Un film juste attachant et pas dÃsagrÃable à regarder.
Production Company:
- Touchstone Pictures
- Michael Taylor Productions
Release Date:Jul 3, 1996
Duration:2 h 3 m
Rating:PG
Tagline:Some things in life just can't be explained.
Awards
BMI Film & TV Awards
• 4 Wins & 4 Nominations
MTV Movie + TV Awards
• 3 Nominations
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
