Since the last pandemic swept the world, movies about viruses have resonated more deeply. This is especially true for “Contagion,” the 2011 drama that could have foreshadowed COVID-19 and is currently trending on Apple TV+ in the United States.
The film drew inspiration from real-life events such as the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak and the 2009 flu pandemic. Director Steven Soderbergh collaborated with representatives from the World Health Organization, as well as medical experts like W. Ian Lipkin and Larry Brilliant, to ensure accuracy in its portrayal.
Cinematically, “Contagion” received high praise for its use of the multi-narrative “hyperlink cinema” style, a trademark of Soderbergh’s work. This technique depicts interconnected and complex narrative structures that intertwine the characters’ stories.
‘Contagion’ became the No. 6 movie on Apple TV+ US
Medical disaster films are among the most challenging yet compelling to watch. Therefore, it’s no surprise that “Contagion” has risen to become the sixth most-watched movie on Apple TV+ in the United States, despite being released over a decade ago.
Kate Winslet in “Contagion”. (Source: IMDb)
Remarkably, it has surpassed “Napoleon,” one of the top titles in the streamer’s catalog, and is currently in a close competition to overtake “Kingsman: The Secret Service” for the fifth spot.
The film centers on Beth Emhoff, who returns from a business trip to Hong Kong unaware that she has little time left to live. Infected with a deadly virus, she becomes a carrier that will eventually threaten millions of lives.
The cast is truly star-studded, featuring Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Elliott Gould, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, and Kate Winslet, among others.
Unlike other pandemic-inspired films that focus primarily on the horror of the virus, such as “World War Z,” Soderbergh’s work in “Contagion” was praised for its portrayal of the societal responses during the early stages of a pandemic. Each character embodies a different archetype that emerges in such crises, adding depth and realism to the narrative.
