Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Name: Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama
Released: November 16, 1977
Duration: 135 min
Rating: 90
Cast: François Truffaut, Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr

1977

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 10 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 257 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 257 Ratings

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Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: November 16, 1977 | PG

Starring: François Truffaut, Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr

Summary: Power repairman Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) has an extraordinary encounter with a strange spacecraft while out on a call. Recurring visions of a mountain fuel an increasing obsession that drives him to an emotional breaking point. Desperate to understand what he has experienced, he finds an ally in Jillian (Melinda Dillon), a single motherPower repairman Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) has an extraordinary encounter with a strange spacecraft while out on a call. Recurring visions of a mountain fuel an increasing obsession that drives him to an emotional breaking point. Desperate to understand what he has experienced, he finds an ally in Jillian (Melinda Dillon), a single mother who believes her son has been abducted by the aliens. Meanwhile an international group of scientists led by French expert Claude Lacombe (Francois Truffaut) search for a breakthrough in human-alien communication. Their collective quest culminates in a remote Wyoming rendezvous and an event of unequalled importance in all of human history. [Sony Pictures]… Expand

Director: Steven Spielberg

Genre(s): Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 135 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Arthur Knight

The visuals here...are never less than stunning in their impact, yet always seem well within the realm of possibility. It is also to Spielberg's credit, however, that despite all of this visual opulence, his actors are never dwarfed. Read full review

100

James Berardinelli

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is unquestionably a great movie. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

It's one of the great moviegoing experiences. Read full review

Gary Arnold

It must weather some bummy mid-passage exposition, but the movie survives its flaws triumphantly, evolving into a uniquely transporting filmgoing spectacle. Read full review

Vincent Canby

Steven Spielberg's giant, spectacular Close Encounters of the Third Kind...is the best—the most elaborate—1950's science fiction movie ever made, a work that borrows its narrative shape and its concerns from those earlier films, but enhances them with what looks like the latest developments in movie and space technology. Read full review

Charles Champlin

It is a warm celebration, positive and pleasurable. The humor is folksy and slapstick rather than cerebral, as if to confirm that our encounter is with a populist vehicle. Read full review

A.D. Murphy

Steven Spielberg's film climaxes in final 35 minutes with an almost ethereal confrontation with life forms from another world; the first 100 minutes, however, are somewhat redundant in exposition and irritating in tone. Read full review

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User Reviews

eva3si0n

Oct 3, 2021

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a great film from Steven Spielberg. One of the best UFO movies. A very rare case when contact with UFOs is not invasion or aggression. A great good story about contact with another intelligent being. Classics that will be relevant for a very long time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

nestoryavith

Aug 27, 2017

The movie that made everyone fall in love with space and aliens. Amazing and beautiful story telling makes this movie one of the best the ever was. A legendary classic

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

geewah

Jan 31, 2021

One of the best from 1977 and one of Spielberg's more cereberal movies.
A slow burn sci-fi drama, that has a refreshingly positive take on UFO's and life beyond our own planet.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Jul 1, 2014

A truly great achievement. The special effects are absolutely stunning, they are extravagent and perfectly executed. It is amazing to think this film came out in 1977 with effects like these. In terms of special effects, it is hard to think of too many films that have better ones than CloseA truly great achievement. The special effects are absolutely stunning, they are extravagent and perfectly executed. It is amazing to think this film came out in 1977 with effects like these. In terms of special effects, it is hard to think of too many films that have better ones than Close Encounters of the Third Kind does. On top of that, the film is extremely fun and thrilling to watch. Around every turn is another thrill ride that does not stop until the film is over. The sense of wonder as you watch what unfolds and then the sense of wonder in all of the characters makes this a truly magical experience. With this one, Spielberg truly proves his skill when it comes to science fiction, as well as making his films a ton of fun. His direction of this one is impeccable and I am still struggling to wrap my head around the fact that this film is almost 40 years old with effects like these. A true cinematic achievement.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

daviddelnorte23

Jan 18, 2018

De las mejores películas de Spielberg y una de las mayores obras maestras de la ciencia ficción. Claramente inspiró a películas como 'The Arrival'. Este es el Spielberg que me gusta ver.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Habibiehakim

Jun 18, 2021

7.5/10
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind is failed to make me interested on what's going on for 2 hours and 15 minutes, but it still fills with great performance and amazing visual effects, the movie is adventuring himself without thinking to invite the audience, and that's cause me lost7.5/10
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind is failed to make me interested on what's going on for 2 hours and 15 minutes, but it still fills with great performance and amazing visual effects, the movie is adventuring himself without thinking to invite the audience, and that's cause me lost interested sometimes and just follow wherever they go, overall Close Encounters Of The Third Kind is still a fun and cool sci-fi movie, it might be not Spielberg's best but it still worth watching.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

obenbenol1988

Aug 4, 2016

The film was technically ahead of its time but Spielberg's story writing not better than an amateur. It could have been an interesting film if Spielberg didn't fill the plot with unnecessary scenes. He should have tried to create better connections between the events and characters. SomeThe film was technically ahead of its time but Spielberg's story writing not better than an amateur. It could have been an interesting film if Spielberg didn't fill the plot with unnecessary scenes. He should have tried to create better connections between the events and characters. Some scene goes one forever and then story jumps into a completely different scene. Spielberg doesn't want to answer many question about the aliens ,thing it would make the film sophisticates.However it fails that intellectual touch in 2001:Space Odyssey.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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