When I was a kid, I was the only one on the block who watched Carl Sagan's Cosmos diligently. While it was boring even given my interest in cosmology, there were moments which really enthralled me and captured my attention.
Contact comes close to being a perfect movie.
It has action, effects, a great story, realistic science-fiction, and some great acting. Mingled in with all this is a power-play from many ends, those wanting to make the first contact, those wanting to use the technology for their own ends, and those fearful of the technology. Every aspect of the movie is brought out excellently, from Arroway's initial interception of the alien signal to her travel through a wormhole and encountering aliens, which is done in the best manner possible. There are some breathtaking visuals. The acting by most of the characters is great.