Dustin Hoffman,
Sharon Stone,
Samuel L. Jackson,
Peter Coyote,
Liev Schreiber
... see more 
Barry Levinson directed this $100+ million adaptation of Michael Crichton's science fiction novel about the investigation of a half-mile-long spacecraft sitting on the South Pacific ocean floor. Gover... read more
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Release Date: February 13, 1998
DVD Release Date: July 14, 1998
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Stats: 2,274 reviews
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (2,274)
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November 4, 2011fb7018436They seriously screwed up a great book.
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July 13, 2011I am really confused as to why "Sphere" has the reputation it has. Sure, it's narrative can get clunky but the film has some intriguing ideas. Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, Samuel L. Jackson, Liev Schreiber and Peter Coyote are all good here and the visuals and atmosphere are ess... read more
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September 19, 2010Why does everyone bash this movie so much? Granted that I'm an incurable sci-fi addict, and therefore more forgiving, but this film hardly deserves the bad reputation it has. Yes, it has its flaws (especially in its last 30 min) and it can be a little slow sometimes, but the plot... read more
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December 6, 2009When the military discover what they believe to be a spaceship at the bottom of the ocean they bring in Dr Norman Goodman who had once written a report on the protocol for an alien encounter. His report had named a team of experts ? this team is also assembled. The team descend t... read more
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October 7, 2009The story was really good and very interesting with many twists and turns. The special effects were very good and mostly unrecognisable except for the jellyfish scene. A great cast who gave great performances. I especially loved the set which looked very realistic and believable.
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September 21, 2009An enjoyable sci-fi adventure that has its faults but is generally entertaining.
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October 13, 2008Is it possible for something to be so derivative and lifeless that it actually becomes interesting by sheer force of "how the fuck did they manage this?"
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July 27, 2008I barely remember watching this snooze-fest. At least Sharon Stone still looked good in those days.
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Critic Reviews
August 5, 2008
Todd McCarthy, Variety
June 18, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
The ending, though emotionally satisfying, collapses under scrutiny. This lack of payoff is a real flaw in a film pitched to a discriminating sci-fi mentality. Full Review
April 12, 2002
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
Given its situational premise -- outer space goes underwater -- Sphere is filled with visual potential, yet Levinson can't tap it. He's just a whole lot more comfortable trying to tame the human softw... Full Review
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
As the umpteenth entrant in the We-Are-Not-Alone sweepstakes, Sphere feels awfully familiar because it is. Full Review
January 1, 2000
Janet Maslin, New York Times
While this is no quick-witted treat on a par with Mr. Levinson's Wag the Dog, it's a solid thriller with showy scientific overtones. Full Review
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Somewhere out there, maybe there's a small cadre of film-goers who will appreciate Sphere's dubious charms, but I'm not among them. Full Review
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The only excellence is in the acting, and even then the screenplay puts the characters through so many U-turns that dramatic momentum is impossible. Full Review
January 1, 2000
David Denby, New York Magazine
There are some things that humankind is just better off not knowing about. Full Review
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out
Three major stars being involved, it all wraps up happily but implausibly. Full Review
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Sphere
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