Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Close Encounters' most iconic bits (the theme, the mashed-potato sculpture, etc.) have been so thoroughly absorbed into the culture that it's easy to forget that its treatment of aliens as peaceful beings rather than warmongering monsters was somewhat groundbreaking in 1977.
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Movie Info
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Cast
as Roy Neary
as Jillian Guiler
as Ronnie Neary
as Claude Lacombe
as David Laughlin
as Project leader
as Wild Bill
as Farmer
as Barry Guiler
as Brad Neary
as Sylvia Neary
as Toby Neary
as Robert
as Team Leader
as Major Benchley
as Jean Claude
as M.P.
as Highway Patrolman
as Larry Butler
as Implantee
as Implantee
as Ike
as Hawker
as Ohio Tolls
as ARP Project Member
as Returnee #1 Flt. 19
as Returnee #2 Flt. 19
as Air Traffic Controller
as Air Traffic
as Federale
as Federale
as Federale
as Radio Telescope Team
as Radio Telescope Team
as Special Leader
as Special Forces
as Special Forces
as Dirty Tricks #1
as Dirty Tricks #2
as Dirty Tricks #3
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Critic Reviews for Close Encounters of the Third Kind
All Critics (52) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (50) | Rotten (2) | DVD (17)
To get to the bottom line with minimum delay, Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a terrific movie, with every possibility of equaling the box office popularity of Star Wars.
Spielberg's greatest work.
[Spielberg's] new movie is richer and more ambitious than Jaws, and it reaches the viewer at a far more profound level than Star Wars.
It must weather some bummy mid-passage exposition, but the movie survive its flaws triumphantly, evolving into a uniquely transporting filmgoing spectacle.
One of the great moviegoing experiences.
This is dopey Hollywood mysticism all right, but thanks to considerable craft and showmanship, it packs an undeniable punch.
Audience Reviews for Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Spielberg's classic UFO film is the blueprint for the barely used naive, optimistic alien encounter genre. The reason why very few movies after this one even went this direction and rather blew up the White House instead is simply that it can't get any better than this. Starting out wonderfully mysteriously and disturbing, sometimes even scary, the film soon concentrates on Dreyfuss' character's own approach to the things he saw on the night sky and his visions to culminate in nothing less than the biggest Christmas three ball of movie history. This film simply combines all the assets of Spielberg's early work perfectly. Even the special effects still look pretty good 30 years later, maybe excluding the aliens. And John Williams' melody went down in pop culture history. A masterpiece.
Super Reviewer
This sci-fi classic has aged well, the graphics still look great by today's standards. But the story was slow and the characters unmemorable.
Super Reviewer
An enchanting film with great special effects, yet I feel reluctant to regard the aliens as peaceful and awe-inspiring since they do abduct people, even children - and it is also hard to accept the protagonist's selfish decision at the end without any concern for his family.
Super Reviewer
Close Encounters of the Third Kind Quotes
| Roy Neary: | You can't fool us by agreeing with us. |
| Toby Neary: | Dad, after this can we throw dirt in MY window? |
| Farmer: | [at press conference to discuss UFOs] I saw Bigfoot once! [everyone in thr room reacts. The Farmer stands up] 1951! It made a sound that I would not want to hear twice in my life. [sits down] |
| Jillian Guiler: | [on the police inquiring about her missing son] They asked me if I'd seen any strangers in the neighborhood. |
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