Close Encounters of the Third Kind

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind

PG

1977

2h 15m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

116 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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Critics Consensus

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Jul 6

4/4

Tying various mysterious vessel disappearances into an alien abduction plot, Spielberg’s first screenplay for a studio film is also his best, exploring obsession and human curiosity through the lens of alien conspiracies and government secrecy.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

01/15/2025

3.5/4

...an epic, ambitious piece of work that effectively captures the viewer’s interest and attention right from the get-go...

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Sarah

Sep 27

Have always loved this movie. Richard Dreyfuss is the best.

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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

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Ann B

04/12/2022

I hope you show more classics.

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David H

@DavidQHarris 6d

I loved this movie when it first came out. I was a teenager at the time. I watched it again just recently and was disappointed to find that it has not aged well. I did enjoy watching it again, but it just didn't grab this time the way it had back then.

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Jason H

Jan 21

Stay away from the "Special Edition" and you're good to go.

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Alan T

@Yuchen Dec 31

Maybe it's a standard in terms of pacing back in the 70s. But watching this in the 2020s is rather slow and the good part was close to the end. Interesting concept though.

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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

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Roy's Mashed Potatoes

2:13

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Roy Leaves

1:42

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?

2:05

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Contact

2:11

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

2:05

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - The UFOs Surround the House

2:09

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Trailer 1

1:49

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 40th Anniversary Trailer

2:24

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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)

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