Phenomenon is a 1996 American romantic fantasy drama film directed by Jon Turteltaub, written by Gerald Di Pego, in which an amiable, small-town everyman is inexplicably transformed into a genius with telekinetic powers.

It stars John Travolta, Kyra Sedgwick, Forest Whitaker, Robert Duvall, and Jeffrey DeMunn.

After celebrating his 37th birthday at a bar with his best friend, Nate, and father figure, Doc Brunder, he sees a ball of shining bright white lights in the sky, which grows closer until it hits him with a loud bang, knocking him down.

When Doc is called to aid a sick Portuguese man, George learns the language in minutes and helps translate.

While visiting him, George decodes and responds to a signal, though Nate asks him to forget about it, fearful they might be picking up information from a nearby air force base.

The townsfolk become wary, but George finds support from Doc, Nate and from a growing relationship with Lace, and her children, Al and Glory.

He breaks more codes, then astounds Dr. Nierdof by answering a series of difficult quizzes and exams, and shows him his telekinesis.

Returning to the local bar, George becomes frustrated with friends' questions about his abilities, and he causes a large mirror to break via telekinesis.

Dr. Wellin determines there is only a 1-in-500 chance of survival, but wants to proceed with an invasive operation solely to do research on George's living brain.

According to screenwriter Gerald Di Pego, the philosophy of Zen influenced the conception of George's tapping of his mind's potential.

"[7] Janet Maslin of The New York Times, complimented the concept but said "during the grimness of the film's final half hour, jaws may drop.