Even the more plausible virus movies do tend to have exaggerated threats and danger, of course.

COVID-19 was and is bad, but perhaps not deadly to the extent of most Hollywood viruses.

It uses the virus premise to explore unexpectedscience-fictionareas but remains a compelling watch all the same.

Virus Movies pre-2020

It’s also notable for having one ofBrad Pitt’smost unusual (and one of his best) performances.

Well, they’re technically zombies.

‘Outbreak’ (1995)

Outbreakis essentiallyContagionmade for a1990saudience.

Bryan Cranston, Laurence Fishburne, and Jennifer Ehle standing together in Contagion

Image via Warner Bros.

RECends up being something of a zombie film, thereby becoming a less realistic virus movie.

NEXT:‘Summer of Soul’ and 7 Great Concert Films for Anyone Who Misses Live Music

Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt in ‘12 Monkeys’

Image via Universal Pictures

28 Days + 28 Weeks Later

outbreak-dustin-hoffman-social

Image via Warner Bros.

REC (2007)

Andromeda Strain (1971)

Virus_ The End (1980)

Movie

28 Days Later