By Andrew Jones Matt Damon’s one of the most underrated, 2011 movie, Contagion, is suddenly trending again, and this time it’s taking over streaming. According to Flixpatrol, the pandemic thriller has gone viral on HBO Max in the US, climbing to the 4th most-watched spot as of September 27. It seems, viewers are recalling the film, more than a decade later, because of how it predicted the future.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh, which stars Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, and Kate Winslet, Contagion tells the story of a deadly virus on the rise, causing panic, and desperation for a cure. Following its release, the film earned $136M at the global box office (via Box Office Mojo), and later became a chilling prediction of the terrifying COVID-19 pandemic.
The table contains basic details on Contagion:
Contagion and Its Real-Life Parallels: A Deadly Virus and Misinformation on the Rise
When Contagion came out in 2011, many people thought it was just another sci-fi thriller, focusing on medical advancements in the face of panic and adversary. But the film showed much more than a deadly virus. It painted a picture of how society could break apart when fear and panic take over. Which FYI we later experienced firsthand when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world.
Matt Damon’s movie showed us empty streets, closed shops, and people putting themselves first, even when the whole world needed unity. And while it initially felt selfish and exaggerated for the sake of theatrics, it later proved to be accurate about human nature. Because when the pandemic truly hit us, Contagion
This, surprisingly, made the film frightening, but it is also strangely hopeful. Because in the end, scientists manage to develop a vaccine, and even though many people die, humanity does not collapse completely. Unlike many disaster films, Damon’s 2011 movie does not show the end of the world. Instead, focuses on how fragile but also how strong people can be during a crisis.
Meanwhile, another theme discussed in the film is misinformation. Jude Law’s character is seen spreading false cures and wild theories that many desperate people believe. This feels very real in today’s internet age, where fake news spreads as fast as any virus. So, the movie reminds us that fear and lies can be just as dangerous as the illness itself. And that’s what makes Contagion so relevant, even 14 years later.
Matt Damon Spoke About Predicting the Future at the Peak of the COVID Pandemic
Almost a decade after Contagion’s release, when COVID-19 hit the world in 2020, people were immediately taken back to the film. Even Matt Damon himself addressed his movie and noted the similarities. Speaking with radio station Spin 1038, Damon shared how the movie was based on real science and advice from top health experts.
For him, that’s what made the story feel so true years later. The actor mentioned how the team behind the film based the whole plot on one simple question that they asked experts: what would happen if a new virus spread? And so, eventually, film is built on answers that were based on expert predictions.
Anybody who says you couldn’t predict this – I mean, just look at ‘Contagion’. Ten years ago, we made a movie just by talking to experts and asking them ‘How would this look? And how would it go down?’ So it’s upsetting.
The whole thing is tragic and sad… I think at least now, we know what to do and we won’t look at people like they’re crazy when they tell us to go sit at home and wash our hands, and socially distance.
That’s why the masks, quarantines, vaccines, and social distancing shown in the movie looked almost identical to what the world went through during COVID-19. During the interview, Matt Damon also shared how tragic it felt to see fiction turn into reality. But he believed the movie gave people one important lesson: we should listen to experts.
Share your opinions on how real Contagion feels in the post-COVID era.
Contagion is currently streaming in the US on HBO Max.
