Dr. Ellie Arroway, an astronomer, has spent her career searching for extraterrestrial life, inspired by her father's love for space. After funding for her project, SETI, is cut off, Ellie and her colleagues scramble to find alternative funding. When they detect strange signals from Vega, Ellie's work gains attention from politicians, the military, and rival scientists. However, with the help of an anonymous millionaire, S.R. Hadden, Ellie's project takes a new turn, deepening her quest for answers.

Contact
A renowned astrobiologist makes a groundbreaking discovery of extraterrestrial radio signals, leading her to collaborate with a mysterious alien entity by sharing plans for a revolutionary device.