The Andromeda Strain (1971): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1971, The Andromeda Strain is a thriller and science fiction film directed by Robert Wise, running about 131 minutes. “The picture runs 130 minutes!... The story covers 96 of the most critical hours in man's history!... The suspense will last through your lifetime!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. When virtually all of the residents of Piedmont, New Mexico, are found dead after the return to Earth of a space satellite, the head of the US Air Force's Project Scoop declares an emergency. A group of eminent scientists led by Dr. Jeremy Stone scramble to a secure laboratory and try to first isolate the life form while determining why two people from Piedmont - an old alcoholic and a six-month-old baby - survived. The scientists methodically study the alien life form unaware that it has already mutated and presents a far greater danger in the lab, which is equipped with a nuclear self-destruct device designed to prevent the escape of dangerous biological agents.

Who’s in it. The Andromeda Strain stars Arthur Hill as Dr. Jeremy Stone, David Wayne as Dr. Charles Dutton, James Olson as Dr. Mark Hall and Kate Reid as Dr. Ruth Leavitt, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, The Andromeda Strain has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $12.4M at the box office.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on YouTube TV and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Andromeda Strain page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Andromeda Strain tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.