Close Encounters of the Third Kind

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1:49

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

PG,

1977,

2h 15m,

Sci-Fi

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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

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

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

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Communicating with the Mothership

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Who Are You People?

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Contact

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Roy's First UFO Encounter

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Chasing the UFOs

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

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Watchlist

91%

118 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

100,000+ Ratings

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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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

Apr 3, 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

Apr 3, 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

Apr 3, 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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Stephen A. Russell

ScreenHub

Jun 15, 2026

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.

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Sebastian Zavala Kahn

Me gusta el cine

Jun 8, 2026

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].

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Sep 12, 2025

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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Mar 8, 2019

This movie is a classic and was a huge part to the growth of imagination as a child and in to being an adult.

Abraham R

Mar 2, 2019

Roy Neary, an electric lineman, watches how his quiet and ordinary daily life turns upside down after a close encounter with a UFO. 40 years after the film's release, the only thing that's aged is me.This film simply combines all the assets of Spielberg's early work perfectly. And John Williams' melody went down in pop culture history. Close Encounters of the Third Kind is deeply humane sci-fi exploring male obsession, cosmic mysticism, and music.

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Mar 2, 2019

good movie nothing really like it

Dec 23, 2018

My all time favorite film since the first time I saw it in '77.

Anakin G

Dec 15, 2018

An astonishing achievement in cinematography for director Steven Spielberg, "Close Encounters" is an ambitiously absorbing, thought-provoking sci-fi film that was awarded eight Oscar nominations despite slow pacing and a mind-boggling conclusion.

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Albus S

Nov 22, 2018

I know for a fact that Iâ(TM)m in the minority, but I honestly found it hard to lock into this film. The performances are wonderful, and the beats of this film are memorable. But the plot as a cohesive unit is somewhat dry, and the ending seemed needed, yet weak. The score is beautiful, however, and overall it is a memorable film.

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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

Now Playing

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

1:42

Now Playing

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Communicating with the Mothership

2:11

Now Playing

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Who Are You People?

2:05

Now Playing

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Contact

2:11

Now Playing

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Roy's First UFO Encounter

2:10

Now Playing

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Official Clip - Chasing the UFOs

2:05

Now Playing

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

2:09

Now Playing

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Trailer 1

1:49

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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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