Actors from the movie "Contagion" were asked to create a PSA about the coronavirus.
photo: Warner Brothers Entertainment

This 2011 pandemic movie is scarily relatable to what's going on right now, and it's been climbing the charts on iTunes. 

It would seem people are tuning in to the most frightening of possibilities, as apocalyptic, outbreak-style films are rising in the charts on Netflix, iTunes, and more. Contagion is the most popular option, and the most realistic. 

That sparked an idea from those at Columbia Public Health, who got the cast to record a few public service announcements about the spread of the coronavirus. Other celebrities are voicing their opinions and raising awareness about the virus as well. 


The entire cast helped spread legitimate facts about the virus, and how to control it. 

In the one-minute clip, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, and Jennifer Ehle gave a summary of facts and tips for stopping the spread of the coronavirus. "Until we have a vaccine or a cure, we need to be that for each other," Ehle said. Winslet concluded, "Starting now." 

Even watching the trailer, it's clear how relatable the film is to our current situation. 

The trailer and film are both frightening examples of just how bad a pandemic could get. While this film doesn't turn to science fiction, it relies on the quiet fear of realism. The empty airports, city streets, and abandoned locations feel very relatable to what our world is currently going through. 

Matt Damon's PSA was all about listening to COVID-19 experts and social distancing. 

There has been so much confusion surrounding the virus, and the only truly reliable sources out there are public health officials and the CDC. Don't listen to rumors spread on social media, and be informed.

Damon assured viewers that even though this is a new virus, our world has seen new viruses before. The best way to get over the spread and curve is by social distancing — staying home and when out only for essential tasks, staying six-feet away from another person. 

Kate Winslet talked all things hand-washing. 

"Wash your hands like your life depends on it," Winslet said. It couldn't be a truer statement, and Winslet learned in preparation for her role in the film that it is what truly kills viruses and protects from pandemics. Winslet explained the science behind washing your hands and how it literally rids your body of any viruses. 

Laurence Fishburne explained the best way to stop the spread of the virus. 

Fishburne referenced a scene in the movie that explained the tradition of hand shaking. Now, the best way to protect ourselves is by staying away from one another and not shaking hands. "A pandemic means that the virus is everywhere, but it won't be every place at the same time," Fishburne said. Most everyone will know someone who will get sick, and the virus will infect many more people before it's over. 

Marion Cotillard asked viewers to make the choice to stay home. 

Cotillard, who lives in France, explained that there are two different futures for America: one in which we listen to public officials, or one in which we ignore them. The choice is clear, and staying away from one another and being home will eventually stop the spread of the virus. Even though Contagion was about a fictional virus, COVID-19 is very real and requires help from everyone to stop the spread.