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Phenomenon (1996)

tomatometer

17

Average Rating: 5.5/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 5

No consensus yet.

audience

62

liked it
Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 93,291

My Rating

Movie Info

Director Jon Turteltaub followed up the hit While You Were Sleeping (1995) with this fantasy similar to Charly (1968) and a film from the previous year, Powder (1994). John Travolta stars as George Malley, a humble mechanic in a rural California town. On his 37th birthday, George celebrates at a pub with friends Nate (Forest Whitaker) and Doc (Robert Duvall), the local physician. When he steps outside, George observes a bright light in the sky that knocks him briefly unconscious. When he

Jan 15, 2002

Cast

All Critics (47) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (16) | DVD (3)

Works best if you can switch off your brain. Those who can will reach weepy nirvana. Those who can't will find this sticky-sweet wallow a bit, well, dumb.

January 1, 2000 Comment
USA Today
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Gentle tearjerker about sudden mental superpowers.

December 15, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

Flawed story, but compelling story does hook one.

October 16, 2004 Comment

Pretty lame Scientology type stuff.

July 21, 2004 Comments (2)
Juicy Cerebellum

Bittersweet.

July 26, 2003 Comment
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

Touching supernatural thriller that works thanks to compelling performances from its stars.

May 2, 2003 Comment

New Age crap

March 7, 2003 Comment
Aisle Seat
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Phenomenon

There are a few movies out there where something out-of-the-ordinary causes the hero to become a genius. It always seems to be a temporary phenomenon. This movie is no exception to the rule. I did not mind it - somehow it is a satisfying movie - perhaps the wish that one can solve all the world's ills.

June 10, 2011
Redlats

Super Reviewer

Sad and depressing, but hadmany heartwarming scenes. But really? Tumor superpowers.

February 27, 2011
DreamExtractor
Brad Wright

Super Reviewer

    1. George Malley: I'm what everyone can be. Anyone can get here. I'm the possibility. What I'm talking about is the human spirit. That's the challenge. That's the voyage. That's the expedition.
    – Submitted by Akil H (7 months ago)
    1. George Malley: Will you love me for the rest of my life?
    2. Lace Pennamin: No, I 'll love you for the rest of mine.
    – Submitted by Akil H (7 months ago)

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