A movie adaptation of a legendary sci-fi novel is on TV today

The film is from the writer of Jurassic Park, Twister and Westworld.

Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park, Twister, Westworld), the film revolves around a US research satellite carrying a deadly extraterrestrial microscopic organism that crashes into a small town in Arizona.

A group of top scientists are quickly assembled in an effort to identify and contain the lethal stowaway before it "spreads everywhere".

The Andromeda Strain is noteworthy for being Crichton's first novel under his own name.

Rapturously received upon release, the 1969 book established Crichton as a respected novelist and science-fiction writer.

The novel has also been credited with helping to create the "techno-thriller" genre.

Two years after the book's release came the movie adaptation, directed by Robert Wise (The Sound of Music, West Side Story) and starring Arthur Hill (Harper, The Killer Elite).

The film earned decent reviews and was a minor box office success before becoming a cult favourite, even getting a TV remake in 2008.

The 1971 version of The Andromeda Strain is airing today on Film4 at 4pm. It will also be available to stream on Channel 4's website after it plays on TV.

Ready or Not - Film4 - 9pm

With this horror thriller's sequel, titled Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (which we wrote about here), out in cinemas this week, what better time to check out the original?

Cabaret / New York, New York - BBC Four - 9pm / 11pm

A Liza Minnelli double bill.

What Women Want - Comedy Central - 9pm

A cocky, chauvinistic advertising executive (Mel Gibson) magically acquires the ability to hear what women are thinking in this rom-com from director Nancy Meyers (Something's Gotta Give).

Johnny Mnemonic - Sky Sci-Fi - 9pm

Keanu Reeves plays a man with an overloaded brain implant designed to store information in this ’90s cyberpunk action movie.

King Arthur - Legend - 9pm

The 2004 version of the King Arthur tale, with Clive Owen as the titular folk hero.

Who Dares Wins - Legend Xtra - 9pm

An '80s British action thriller about the SAS.

A Fistful of Dollars - Sky Arts - 10pm

This classic Western is Clint Eastwood's first outing as "The Man with No Name".

He would follow up on it with the sequels For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Kill Bill: Volume 2 - ITV4 - 10pm

The second part of Quentin Tarantino's terrific martial arts epic.

Men - Film4 - 10.50pm

The nerve-jangling, surrealist 2022 horror from writer-director Alex Garland (Annihilation, Ex Machina).

It stars Ireland's most recent Oscar winner, Jessie Buckley, as a young woman being terrorised by a group of men in the British countryside who all look the same (played by Rory Kinnear).

Escape From New York - Legend - 11.35pm

Legendary director John Carpenter’s brilliant sci-fi action flick about a near-future where Manhattan in New York has been converted into a maximum security prison to address a 400% increase in crime.

A prisoner (Kurt Russell) must locate and escort the US President (Donald Pleasence) off the dangerous island when his plane crashes there.