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Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Play trailer 1:49 Poster for Close Encounters of the Third Kind PG Released Nov 16, 1977 2h 15m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 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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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 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review Ann B I hope you show more classics. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/12/22 Full Review thiago s Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é mais ou menos, esse filme não é tão interessante, fala sobre ets que passam pelos ruas, e outra locais mesmo com pessoas por perto, aí tira o clima de tensão do filme, no final todas as pessoas desaparecidas retornam e o et aparece e depois vai embora, o ruim do filme é que poderia ser um pouco mais tenso e também um pouco de suspense, e fazer o et sair da nave, olhar para o humano e depois ir em embora sem ele aparecer o filme todo eu acho meio ruim. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/03/25 Full Review Mike P One of my fav movies where Spielberg shows how he can spin a story out and direct it with special effects that were the best of their time. The surprise discoveries by scientists and that memorable encounter at the rail line crossing followed by the chase, the build up during the movie leading to that night time setting help bring some unforgettable moments. Just the ending leaves you feeling that the effects just started to run out of steam - I still give it a 5 star rating afterall its almost fifty years old! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/26/25 Full Review Audience Member I gotta give Speilberg alot of credit for the dazzling visuals his fascination with beings from another planet is uncanny the amount of craftmanship for the scope of 'Close Encounters' shows this is one of his finest achievements in film as far as showing what the world would react to a close encounter but damn it the only thing that disappointed me the most was the build-up we never get to see the actual aliens until the 2 hr mark, come on Speilberg! not bad but you just gotta be patient with it Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/25 Full Review Mr G Very cheesy by todays standards, but all Sci-Fi movies in the 70's were cheesy. Some may see it as slow and boring but the point was the story, the mental and physical journey of the protagonist, the build up to the end. This is a thought provoking drama that had aliens in it but they were not "the" story, with limited action, no laser fire, no fighting, no end of the world invasion. Was a contrast to the original Star Wars movie of the same year. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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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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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, EMI Films, Julia Phillips and Michael Phillips Productions
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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