Outbreak

1995

Outbreak

Critics Consensus

A frustratingly uneven all-star disaster drama, Outbreak ultimately proves only mildly contagious and leaves few lasting side effects.

57%

TOMATOMETER

Reviews Counted: 44

56%
liked it

Audience Score

User Ratings: 104,810

TOMATOMETER

N/A
All Critics | Top Critics
Average Rating: N/A
Reviews Count: 0
Fresh: 0
Rotten: 0

AUDIENCE SCORE

56%
Average Rating: 3.1/5

You may have noticed some of the recent changes we have made. To read more about what we’ve been working on behind the scenes, please check out our new RT Product Blog here.


Want to See

Add Rating
My Rating    

Outbreak Photos

View All Photos

Movie Info

A handful of scientists struggle to prevent the destruction of a small town -- and possibly the entire country -- in this suspense drama. In the mid-1960s, a deadly virus is discovered in Zaire that wipes out an entire village in 24 hours. Government researchers are brought in to investigate, but the military opts to destroy the village rather than risk further infection. Thirty years later, Sam Daniels (Dustin Hoffman), an expert on contagious diseases, is called in when the virus re-emerges in Africa. A monkey carrying the bug is smuggled into the U.S., and a suburban California town soon begins to succumb to the illness. Sam scrambles to find an antidote with the help of his ex-wife Robby (Rene Russo), a Center for Disease Control researcher, and their colleague Casey (Kevin Spacey), while Gen. McClintock (Donald Sutherland) has his own reasons for wanting to use bombs to contain the epidemic, and Army surgeon Gen. Ford (Morgan Freeman) is caught in the middle. Outbreak was produced in the hopes of beating the film version of Richard Preston's bestseller The Hot Zone (about a real-life epidemic) into theaters; script problems shelved The Hot Zone, and Outbreak had the infectious disease market to itself. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Watch it now

Cast

Rene Russo
as Robby Keough
Dustin Hoffman
as Sam Daniels
Morgan Freeman
as General Billy Ford
Kevin Spacey
as Casey Schuler
Donald Sutherland
as General Donald McClintock
Cuba Gooding Jr.
as Major Salt
Patrick Dempsey
as Jimbo Scott
Joe Don Baker
Daniel Chodos
as Rudy Alvarez
Leland Hayward III
as Henry Seward
Susan Lee Hoffman
as Dr. Lisa Aronson
Benito Martinez
as Dr. Julio Ruiz
Bruce Jarchow
as Dr. Mascelli
Zakes Mokae
as Dr. Benjamin Iwabi
Daniel Chodes
as Rudy Alvarez
Malick Bowens
as Dr. Raswani
Dale Dye
as Colonel Briggs
Kara Keough
as Sarah Jeffries
Gina Menza
as Mrs. Jeffries
Mathew Saks
as Sergeant Wolf
Per Didrik Fasmer
as Mr. Jeffries
Michelle Joyner
as Sherry Mauldin
Donald Forrest
as Mack Mauldin
Julie Pierce
as Erica Mauldin
Tim Ransom
as Tommy Hull
Michelle M. Miller
as Darla Hull
Dana Anderson
as Corinne
Patricia Place
as Mrs Foote
Maury Sterling
as Sandman One Pilot
Michael Emanuel
as Sandman One Co-Pilot
Lucas Dudley
as Viper One Pilot
Roberto Font
as Viper Two Pilot
Joseph Latimore
as Viper Two Co-Pilot
Michael Sottile
as Gunner Pilot
Ed Beechner
as Gunner
Matthew Saks
as Sergeant Wolf
Diana Bellamy
as Mrs. Pananides
Lance Kerwin
as American Mercenary
Brett Oliver
as Belgian Mercenary
Eric Mungai Nguku
as African Nurse
Jim Antonio
as Dr. Drew Reynolds
Larry Hine
as Young McClintock
Nickolas H. Marshall
as Young Ford
Douglas Hebron
as Ju-Ju Man
Jae Woo Lee
as Korean Captain
Derek Kim
as Seaman Chulso Lee
Bill Stevenson
as Biotest Guard
Kellie Overbey
as Alice
Dana Andersen
as Corinne
Patrica Place
as Mrs. Foote
Nicholas Pappone
as Little Boy on Plane
Traci Odom
as Little Boy's Mother
Herbert Jefferson Jr.
as Boston Doctor
Thomas Crawford
as Boston Doctor
Buzz Barbee
as Boston Doctor
Jenna Byrne
as Tracy
Brian Reddy
as Tracy's Father
Ina Romeo
as Mrs. Logan
Teresa Velarde
as Nurse Emma
Jane Jenkins
as Nurse Jane
Carmela Rappazzo
as Hospital Receptionist
Kurt A. Boesen
as Mayor Gaddis
Jack Rader
as Police Chief Fowler
Robert Rigamonte
as County Health Official
Mimi Doyka
as Frightened Mother
C. Jack Robinson
as Biotest Manager
Robert Alan Beuth
as George Armistead
Gordon Michaels
as Man in LIne
Peter Looney
as White House Counsel
Conrad Bachmann
as California Governor
Cary J. Pitts
as Anchorman
Cynthia Harrison
as Co-anchor
Marcus Hennessy
as Station Manager
Albert Owens
as Broadcast Director
David Silverbrand
as TV Reporter
Julie Araskog
as Janet Adams
Frank Rositani
as Senator Rosales
George Christy
as Senator
Bruce Isacson
as Jaffe
Marilyn Brandt
as Ford's Secretary
Philip Handy
as Sergeant Meyer
J.T. Walsh
as White House Chief of Staff (uncredited)
J.J. Chaback
as Nurse Jane
Mark Brown
as Officer
View All

News & Interviews for Outbreak

Angelina Jolie Visiting "Sin City"?
Critical Consensus: "Poseidon" Sinks, "Luck" Is Lacking
View All

Critic Reviews for Outbreak

All Critics (44) | Top Critics (11)

View All Critic Reviews (44)

Audience Reviews for Outbreak

Haunting, exciting and so much better than you'd first believe. What's even more astounding though, is the impressive number of crème de la crème actors found within the cast. With huge stars like Morgan Freeman, Dustin Hoffman, Donald Sutherland and Kevin Spacey, it certainly takes the trophy for one of the best ensembles ever assembled in Hollywood history. Script-wise it may not offer anything special, but it's got such perfect pacing and amazing suspense, that any blemishes in the dialogue are easily forgiven. It also helps that I'm a big fan of these type of "disaster movies", which were so wonderfully frequent during the 90's. This is actually the fourth time I've watched this film, but the first time I've written a review on it. And it wouldn't surprise me if I see it again in a couple of years or so. Because there's an excess of movie magic in here that is always worth coming back to.

Mike S
Mike S

Super Reviewer

Sam Daniels: If one of them have it then ten of them will have it and if one of them leave Cedar Creek then we're in deep fucking shit... we're already in deep fucking shit!  "Try to remain calm." In Outbreak, a phenomenal cast brings to life a horrific situation. There is a airborne virus that has made its way into the United States. As of now, it remains in one city, but if anybody who has it gets out, the whole country could be at jeopardy. Now it is the job of agencies, doctors and the military to keep it all under control at any cost.  Like a lot of these movies, there's a bad guy that is on America's side. So now everyone who has to fight off the disease, also has to stop him from carrying out his plan. This gives the movie some extra intrigue, but also some really predictable situations. As suspenseful as the movie is, it could have been much more. Good thing the situation is actually realistic and highly terrifying, so no matter what there is always going to be a sense of suspense.  There are a lot of these types of movies out there. Just this year Black Death and Contagion were released. This is one of the more entertaining ones I have seen and it is actually quite well done. Sure it has its problems; predictability being number 1, but it ridiculously entertaining. A lot of the entertainment comes from a huge and big names cast. The cast features Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Cuba Gooding Jr., Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey and Donald Sutherland. Yeah, that's pretty damn good. It isn't as awesome is it could have been. It could have been scarier and it could have been much better. But for its genre, it is a definite standout. Now I need to see Contagion.

Melvin White
Melvin White

Super Reviewer

This exciting epidemic thriller has quite a lot to offer: an outstanding cast of great names, great cinematography by Ballhaus and direction by Petersen and a thrilling plot that doesn't leave you much space to catch your breath, even has quite a few decent action scenes to offer. There may be logic flaws and plot holes, but it all flows so perfectly and entertains so well, that you don't really notice until later viewings. Especially the showdown makes you squirm in your seat and sends shivers down your spine. Great entertainment.

Jens S.
Jens S.

Super Reviewer

½

I really really amazed by how many stars played in this movie, it's great to see that... Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, Cuba Gooding Jr., Patrick Dempsey, and Donald Sutherland, all of them in a movie?? I never imagined that... The story itself just usual like the other movies that tells about the end of the world... And the ending itself just standard, a little disappointing I think, because it just looks like this movie just want the main character not dead, they're not telling how the other people that sick can be cured so easily like that... But overall, I should give a thumbs up to Wolfgang Petersen for having so many stars, especially Oscar winners, in this movie...

Sanjaya 丘耀文
Sanjaya 丘耀文

Super Reviewer

View All

Outbreak Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

News & Features