Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.
Amy Adams Louise Banks
Jeremy Renner Ian Donnelly
Forest Whitaker Colonel Weber
Michael Stuhlbarg Agent Halpern
Mark O'Brien Captain Marks
Tzi Ma General Shang
Abigail Pniowsky 8-Year-Old Hannah
Julia Scarlett Dan 12-Year-Old Hannah
Jadyn Malone 6-Year-Old Hannah
Frank Schorpion Dr. Kettler
Lucas Chartier-Dessert Private Lasky
Christian Jadah Private Combs
Lucy Van Oldenbarneveld CNAC Anchor
Andrew Shaver Environmental Tech
Pat Kiely Environmental Tech
Sonia Vigneault Dr. J. Bydwell
Mark Camacho Richard Riley
Sabrina Reeves Press Secretary
Julian Casey Australian Scientist
Tony Robinow British Scientist
Larry Day CIA Officer Dan Ryder
Matthew Willson Preacher
Ruth Chiang Chinese Scientist
Russell Yuen Chinese Scientist
Sergiy Marchenko Russian Officer
Anana Rydvald Swedish Scientist
Bineyam Girma Sudan Representative
Abdelghafour Elaaziz African Representative
Abdul Ayoola Sierra Leone Representative
Alex M. Yeuh Japanese Minister
Daniel Esteban Venezuelan Representative
Albert Kwan Chinese Man
Brittany Teo Student with Smartphone
Joe Cobden Cryptographer
Lorne Brass Cryptographer
Genevieve Sirois Cryptographer
Victor Andres Trelles Turgeon Science Team Member
Michael Nangreaves Science Team Member
Reda Guerinik Communications Operator
Adrien Benn Communications Operator
Sasha Samar Communications Operator
Kathleen Stavert Communications Operator
Kattia Thony Nurse
Leisa Reid Nurse
Brent Skagford Lieutenant
Gurdeep Ahluwalia Soldier
Shawn Campbell TV Anchor
Brian Dunstan TV Anchor
Dan Duran TV Anchor
Lori Graham TV Anchor
Orla Johannes TV Anchor
John Sanford Moore TV Anchor
Sangita Patel TV Anchor
Hal Roberts TV Anchor
Camille Ross TV Anchor
Ola Sturik TV Anchor
Tammie Sutherland TV Anchor
Max Walker TV Anchor
Marc-André Goulet Motion Capture Heptapod
Paul-Antoine Taillefer Motion Capture Heptapod
Martin Jr Pelletier Motion Capture Heptapod
Carmela Nozza Guizzo 4-Year-Old Hannah (uncredited)
Robert D. Morais Master Sergeant Douglas (uncredited)
Mustafa Haidari Foreign Correspondent (uncredited)
Philippe Hartmann Halpern's Deputy Director (uncredited)
Laurean Adrian Parau US Army Major (uncredited)
Nathaly Thibault Gala Guest (uncredited)
Leslie Baker Middle Aged Woman (uncredited)
Dave Campbell Soldier (uncredited)
Alexander Da Mota Venezuelan Military (uncredited)
Akul Dang Pakistani Scientist (uncredited)
Frank Fiola Soldier (uncredited)