The First Movie To Adapt A Michael Crichton Novel Is A G-Rated Sci-Fi Classic

Michael Crichton's involvement in the film industry is defined by far more than just as a director for "Westworld" and "Runaway" — an '80s sci-fi flop with Tom Selleck and Gene Simmons – or as the creator of the hit TV show, "ER." As an author, 14 of his novels have been adapted into movies, including "Jurassic Park," "Congo," "The Terminal Man," and the 1998 sci-fi mystery starring Dustin Hoffman and Sharon Stone, "Sphere." Before any of these films, though, the very first attempt at bringing a Michael Crichton novel to the big screen was a G-rated sci-fi thriller that is held in high regard today.

"The Andromeda Strain" stars Arthur Hill, James Olson, Kate Reid, and David Wayne as a group of scientists tasked with identifying and stopping a microscopic extraterrestrial contagion. The 1971 techno-thriller holds a 68% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer, and a 72% audience rating on its Popcornmeter. Letterboxd users awarded it an average rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, and IMDb members gave it an average score of 7.2/10. 

Upon its initial release, critics were mixed on its sluggish pacing and static setting. "Despite all the drama of the situation... nothing very exciting goes on in 'The Andromeda Strain,'" The New York Times' Roger Greenspun wrote in a March 1971 review. "Since nobody greatly feels or acts, we are left with the drama of people tensely sitting around in chairs, twisting dials and watching TV monitors." Others, like Roger Ebert, praised it for its production design and entertainment value. 

Robert Wise's adaptation of the Michael Crichton novel "The Andromeda Strain" may have had a lukewarm response back in the day, but modern audiences have taken a liking to the film for its careful, detail-oriented approach to its subject matter. Some might argue it's now a '70s sci-fi movie everyone needs to watch at least once. "It is meticulous where others are careless," Letterboxd user ScreeningNotes wrote in a September 2014 review. "It is science fiction heavy on science and light on fiction. It's not perfect, and occasionally the painstaking approach takes too many pains and drifts towards tedium, but it is certainly exceptional for its careful diligence and studious rigor."

Though adult viewers may especially enjoy watching "The Andromeda Strain" nowadays, parents hoping to introduce their kids to the sci-fi genre may want to think twice before choosing it as their introductory feature. The MPAA was known for being much more liberal with granting the G rating to movies back in the day – thus giving mature features like "True Grit" a designation which now implies family-friendly content. While its light rating may seem friendly on its exterior, Common Sense Media rated it two out of five stars on its Parents' Guide for instances of violence, peril, and adult language.