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Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Play trailer 1:49 Poster for Close Encounters of the Third Kind PG 1977 2h 15m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
91% Tomatometer 118 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Science fiction adventure about a group of people who attempt to contact alien intelligence. Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) witnesses an unidentified flying object, and even has a "sunburn" from its bright lights to prove it. Roy refuses to accept an explanation for what he saw and is prepared to give up his life to pursue the truth about UFOs.
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Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

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Critics Consensus

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is deeply humane sci-fi exploring male obsession, cosmic mysticism, and music.

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Critics Reviews

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Bruce McCabe Boston Globe 04/03/2024
This is a revolutionary film. It's revolutionary in the sense that it suggests, as few films have, the extraordinary sensory potential of the medium. Go to Full Review Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune 04/03/2024
3.5/4
["Close Encounters"] attempts to conquer fear of the unknown with love. Maybe the movies will begin to lead us away from their early '70s nightmare visions to a new, more benign fantasy world. As a filmgoer sated with violence, I'm ready. Go to Full Review Andrew Sarris Village Voice 04/03/2024
Simply a thoughtless exercise in instant self-gratification. Actually, I felt sorry for this muddled movie with its childlike vulnerability. Go to Full Review Stephen A. Russell ScreenHub Jun 15
The magnificent film’s enduring place in cinematic history is surely down to Spielberg’s canny reckoning that third kind encounters work best viewed ... through everyday folks caught up in the starry-eyed spectacle. Go to Full Review Sebastian Zavala Kahn Me gusta el cine Jun 8
4/5
It is a unique experience; somewhat strange, quite cold, at times disturbing, but generally optimistic about what might happen if we were to make contact with extraterrestrials. [Full review in Spanish]. Go to Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Sep 12
4/5
Leave it to Stephen Spielberg to deliver a movie about aliens where the aliens themselves are the least interesting part of the experience. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Chris T Jun 23 After almost 50 years it stands up so well See more Sarah Sep 27 Have always loved this movie. Richard Dreyfuss is the best. See more REBECCA KAISER 04/14/2022 Forgot how much I liked that movie! Speilberg at his best!! I took my grandkids 11 and 6 they both fell asleep for the last 10 minutes!!! I tried to wake them but they were out!! I promised them we would find the movie and watch it again so they could see the ending! EPIC See more Ann B 04/12/2022 I hope you show more classics. See more Richard L @KaneLives 5d Coming off of 'Disclosure Day', this feels a lot like an earlier take on it, which can't help but feel a little more stunted, a little more overacted, a little more dragging. But for the time (10 whole years before I was even born), it must've been groundbreaking. I can see how this humanist, instead of sensationalist, approach connected with audiences and really - and I mean really - made them believe. See more Chris S @Janomi Jul 20 Close Encounters of the Third Kind is excellent because Steven Spielberg makes the unknown feel mysterious, frightening, and beautiful all at once. The movie is not about aliens as monsters; it is about obsession, curiosity, communication, and the possibility that something beyond us is reaching out. The visual storytelling is unforgettable. The blinding lights, glowing roads, ships moving through the sky, mashed potato mountain, and massive reveal at Devil’s Tower give the movie a dreamlike quality, as if ordinary life is slowly being overtaken by something miraculous. John Williams’ score is essential, especially the five-note theme, which turns music into a language between humans and extraterrestrial life. Richard Dreyfuss also does strong work showing Roy Neary’s growing obsession. Roy’s behavior becomes selfish and destructive, and the family damage could carry more weight, but the film remains thoughtful, wondrous, and deeply memorable. See more Read all reviews
Close Encounters of the Third Kind

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Cast & Crew

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Steven Spielberg

Director

Richard Dreyfuss

Roy Neary

François Truffaut

Claude Lacombe

Teri Garr

Ronnie Neary

Melinda Dillon

Jillian Guiler

Cary Guffey

Barry Guiler

Movie Clips

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Roy's Mashed Potatoes Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Roy's Mashed Potatoes 2:13 Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Roy Leaves Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Roy Leaves 1:42 Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Communicating with the Mothership Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Communicating with the Mothership 2:11 Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Who Are You People? Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Who Are You People? 2:05 Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Contact Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Contact 2:11 Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Roy's First UFO Encounter Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Roy's First UFO Encounter 2:10 Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Chasing the UFOs Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Chasing the UFOs 2:05 Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - The UFOs Surround the House Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - The UFOs Surround the House 2:09 View more videos

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Trailer 1 Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Trailer 1 1:49 Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 40th Anniversary Trailer Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 40th Anniversary Trailer 2:24 View more videos
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Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) A scene from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." A scene from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." A scene from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." A scene from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." A scene from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Science fiction adventure about a group of people who attempt to contact alien intelligence. Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) witnesses an unidentified flying object, and even has a "sunburn" from its bright lights to prove it. Roy refuses to accept an explanation for what he saw and is prepared to give up his life to pursue the truth about UFOs.
Director
Steven Spielberg
Producer
Julia Phillips, Michael Phillips
Screenwriter
Steven Spielberg
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia Pictures, Julia Phillips and Michael Phillips Productions, EMI Films
Rating
PG
Genre
Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 16, 1977, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jul 7, 2024
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.1M
Runtime
2h 15m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)