Virus

Play trailer

Virus

R

1999

1h 39m

Sci-Fi

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

15%

Tomatometer

48 Reviews

23%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Caught in a typhoon, a tugboat commanded by Robert Everton (Donald Sutherland) comes across a mysterious near-deserted ship. Excited to find a vessel that could be sold for as much as $30 million, Everton and his crew board and prepare to move the craft, despite the warnings of sole survivor Nadia Vinogradova (Joanna Pacula). When a malevolent alien presence begins killing off the crew, navigator Kit Foster (Jamie Lee Curtis) tries to convince the rest of them to leave before it's too late.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Despite its great special effects, this movie's predictability greatly undermines its intensity.

Read Critics Reviews

Philip Strick

Sight & Sound

Jul 6, 2010

Virus makes another loud and colourful case for the special-effects epidemic.

Go to Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Jul 6, 2010

C-

Your average winter cold follows a less predictable course.

Go to Full Review

Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

Apr 25, 2007

Until the diverting special effects take center stage, this story, about an alien intelligence that builds an army out of flesh and metal, pathetically exploits genre conventions without generating self-reference, camp, or thrills.

Go to Full Review

Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Jun 18, 2026

2.5/5

While hardly the catastrophe it might have seemed on first blush (or to Jamie Lee Curtis years later), "Virus" does not capitalize on its considerably creative creature designs to make you care if anyone lives OR dies.

Go to Full Review

Paul Lê

Bloody Disgusting

Jan 15, 2025

3/5

Appreciators of horror and sci-fi pulp, however, can still admire the loud and flashy delivery, the array of special effects, and perhaps most of all, unique creature designs that have only gotten creepier with time.

Go to Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Sep 25, 2020

6/10

It's no classic, but it's a fun little science-fiction horror film with creative creature effects and several noteworthy ideas - despite all the monster movie clichés.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Ruel M

@Rmannette 1 day ago

A nice fusion of sci-fi and horror with some pretty impressive fx that age decently while very much providing the feel of the era. Additionally, the 90s mix of different ethnicities makes it a more diverse than other similar movies while many of the side-characters are also sympathetic. The real failing is what burned it on release and that is the trajectory of the plot is EXTREMELY predictable. It would have been awesome to see if youd never seen a movie like it before but the pacing was as predictable as a clock. Its not that the writing is bad either (though there whole Alien virus is undercooked) but it is a bit generic. Really though thats its only real failing and so if youre a fan of this genre and have seen tons of movies like it then its worth the watch because let's be honest a lot of movies are really predictable. Maybe not as easily as this one but when the special effects are so cool and the si-fi horror mix up is mildly unique then its a decent watch for its style.

See more

B P

@Bradster69 Sep 14, 2026

Not Bad, but Not My Favorite

See more

Robert P

@Superbad Sep 9, 2026

Virus is not a good movie!

See more

nick s

@Nick_S Feb 12, 2026

Special effects were great. Overall not a bad watch for an action flick. But it's no classic. The acting was mediocre, which probably wasn't helped by all the cliche characters & weak lines. It just needed better direction

See more

Metehan Ç

@Han12737373 Aug 28, 2025

Predictable storyline but in 1999, cgi and robot design very good.

See more

Sebastian L

@RT53077800 Jul 25, 2025

Virus is a VFX fest with lots of amazing praticals and great shots, and the idea is interesting enough. Unfortunately the production breaks its legs stumbling over Bruno's weak directing and too much of the script seem randomly put together. There is potential and with a competent director this could have been a true cult classic.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

John Bruno

Director

Jamie Lee Curtis

Kit Foster

William Baldwin

Steve Baker

Donald Sutherland

Capt. Robert Everton

Joanna Pacula

Nadia Vinogradova

Marshall Bell

J.W. Woods Jr.

Virus: Official Clip - Tortured By a Killer Machine

3:38

Now Playing

Virus: Official Clip - Destroying Hardware

2:29

Now Playing

Virus: Official Clip - A Trigger Happy Surprise

1:39

Now Playing

Virus: Official Clip - You Are Virus

3:04

Now Playing

Virus: Official Clip - Robotic Friends

2:03

Now Playing

Virus: Official Clip - Tiny Terror in the Engine Room

1:32

Now Playing

Virus: Official Clip - Robot Factory

2:17

Now Playing

Virus: Official Clip - A Cyborg Captain

2:13

Now Playing

Virus: Official Clip - Space Station Power Surge

2:02

Now Playing

Virus: Official Clip - A New Life Form

1:35

Now Playing

View more videos

Deep Blue Sea

61%

40%

Deep Blue Sea

Watchlist

Fortress 2: Re-Entry

0%

21%

Fortress 2: Re-Entry

Watchlist

The Puppet Masters

33%

33%

The Puppet Masters

Watchlist

eXistenZ

76%

69%

eXistenZ

Watchlist

Timecop

45%

39%

Timecop

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Timecop

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Caught in a typhoon, a tugboat commanded by Robert Everton (Donald Sutherland) comes across a mysterious near-deserted ship. Excited to find a vessel that could be sold for as much as $30 million, Everton and his crew board and prepare to move the craft, despite the warnings of sole survivor Nadia Vinogradova (Joanna Pacula). When a malevolent alien presence begins killing off the crew, navigator Kit Foster (Jamie Lee Curtis) tries to convince the rest of them to leave before it's too late.

Director: John Bruno
Producer: Gale Anne Hurd
Screenwriter: Chuck Pfarrer, Chuck Pfarrer, Dennis Feldman
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Valhalla Motion Pictures, Universal Pictures, Dark Horse Entertainment, Mutual Film Company, H2L Media Group
Rating: R
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 18, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.0M
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings