Close Encounters of the Third Kind

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind

PG

Released Nov 16, 1977

2h 15m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

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114 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

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.

Apr 3, 2024

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

["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.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 3, 2024

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Andrew Sarris

Village Voice

Simply a thoughtless exercise in instant self-gratification. Actually, I felt sorry for this muddled movie with its childlike vulnerability.

Apr 3, 2024

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

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

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 15, 2025

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David Dugas

United Press International

If it doesn't quite match "2001" for cerebral elegance, it nevertheless is far grander than Spielberg's previous movie, Jaws, and vastly more absorbing than Star Wars.

Apr 3, 2024

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John Huddy

Miami Herald

The Steven Spielberg movie, instinctively or otherwise, is well timed. It is definitely a movie of the 1970s, for a people disgusted, bewildered -- and lost.

Apr 3, 2024

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REBECCA KAISER

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/14/22

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Ann B

I hope you show more classics.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/12/22

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Audience Member

A Masterpiece of Composition.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/03/25

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Darrin N

Everything about this movie is amazing

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/15/25

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Joel H

I thought I had seen Close Encounters of the Third Kind before, but maybe I hadn’t. Most of this film was new to me, so I must have only seen a handful of scenes. It’s not Spielberg’s best. There’s definitely some artistry and emotion to it, but parts of this movie drag on too long and characters make decisions that don’t feel logical or genuine. Richard Dreyfuss does a convincing job of playing someone driven by an unknown force, and some of the visual effects are still awe-inspiring, but overall, I don’t see why Close Encounters of the Third Kind resonated so well with audiences of the time.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/08/25

Full Review

Audience Member

This is one of the most stupid, miserably bad sci-fi movie I have ever seen. Terrible script, poor dramaturgy spilled with some everyday Murican dumbness.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/15/25

Full Review

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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

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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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