Close Encounters of the Third Kind | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

90% Tomatometer 113 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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Close Encounters of the Third Kind | Rotten Tomatoes (1) 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 Close Encounters of the Third Kind | Rotten Tomatoes (2) 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 Close Encounters of the Third Kind | Rotten Tomatoes (3) 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 Close Encounters of the Third Kind | Rotten Tomatoes (4) 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 Close Encounters of the Third Kind | Rotten Tomatoes (5) 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 Close Encounters of the Third Kind | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Dorothy Smiljanich Tampa Bay Times Perhaps in this skeptical time, it is enough to know -- enough to wonder -- that a director and creator can still make a movie as awesome and visually satisfying as this one. Rated: 5/5 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 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/14/22 Full Review Ann B I hope you show more classics. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/12/22 Full Review Earl Could be one of the best of all time! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/22/24 Full Review Blobbo X Strangers friendly sometimes. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/19/24 Full Review Jeff B The best sci-fi film ever produced. It simply doesn't get better! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/28/24 Full Review Karl H I bought this DVD for $3 because some folks have called it "rare." Well, not rare enough.While I enjoy the work of Teri Garr, the performances in this movie are nothing spectacular. The story is straightforward, and the practical effects are stunning. That, unfortunately, is about it. I didn't care enough about the characters to become invested in the movie, and some of their interactions felt unnatural.As for the DVD itself, it is a 2-disc set. One disc contains the movie with no features. The other disc has deleted scenes (which I can see why they were delete), a documentary with cast and crew interviews, and a short promotional clip from 1977.While I don't feel cheated for what I paid for the DVD, I also feel it is not a movie I will choose to rewatch anytime soon. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/25/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Steven Spielberg Director Richard Dreyfuss Roy Neary François Truffaut Claude Lacombe Teri Garr Ronnie Neary Melinda Dillon Jillian Guiler Cary Guffey Barry Guiler
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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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Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Trailer 1 Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Trailer 1 1:49 Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 40th Anniversary Trailer Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 40th Anniversary Trailer 2:24 View more videos

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) A scene from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." A scene from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." A scene from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." A scene from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." A scene from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) View more photos

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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