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Close Encounters of the Third Kind

  • 1977
  • PG
  • 2h 18m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
222K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,589
426
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Theatrical Re-Release Trailer for Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Play trailer2:32
18 Videos
99+ Photos
Sci-Fi EpicDramaSci-Fi

Roy Neary, an Indiana electric lineman, finds his quiet and ordinary daily life turned upside down after a close encounter with a UFO, spurring him to an obsessed cross-country quest for ans... Read allRoy Neary, an Indiana electric lineman, finds his quiet and ordinary daily life turned upside down after a close encounter with a UFO, spurring him to an obsessed cross-country quest for answers as a momentous event approaches.Roy Neary, an Indiana electric lineman, finds his quiet and ordinary daily life turned upside down after a close encounter with a UFO, spurring him to an obsessed cross-country quest for answers as a momentous event approaches.

  • Director
    • Steven Spielberg
  • Writers
    • Steven Spielberg
    • Hal Barwood
    • Jerry Belson
  • Stars
    • Richard Dreyfuss
    • François Truffaut
    • Teri Garr
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    222K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,589
    426
    • Director
      • Steven Spielberg
    • Writers
      • Steven Spielberg
      • Hal Barwood
      • Jerry Belson
    • Stars
      • Richard Dreyfuss
      • François Truffaut
      • Teri Garr
    • 562User reviews
    • 248Critic reviews
    • 90Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 16 wins & 40 nominations total

    Videos18

    Close Encounters of the Third Kind
    Trailer 2:32
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition
    Trailer 1:34
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition
    Trailer 1:34
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind
    Trailer 1:14
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind
    A Guide to the Films of Steven Spielberg
    Clip 2:31
    A Guide to the Films of Steven Spielberg
    Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: This Is Nuts (Home Ent.)
    Clip 1:34
    Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: This Is Nuts (Home Ent.)
    Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: Creating Unexplained Moments
    Clip 0:51
    Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: Creating Unexplained Moments

    Photos335

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    + 329
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    Top cast70

    Edit
    Richard Dreyfuss
    Richard Dreyfuss
    • Roy Neary
    François Truffaut
    François Truffaut
    • Claude Lacombe
    • (as Francois Truffaut)
    Teri Garr
    Teri Garr
    • Ronnie Neary
    Melinda Dillon
    Melinda Dillon
    • Jillian Guiler
    Bob Balaban
    Bob Balaban
    • David Laughlin
    J. Patrick McNamara
    J. Patrick McNamara
    • Project Leader
    Warren J. Kemmerling
    Warren J. Kemmerling
    • Wild Bill
    • (as Warren Kemmerling)
    Roberts Blossom
    Roberts Blossom
    • Farmer
    Philip Dodds
    Philip Dodds
    • Jean Claude
    Cary Guffey
    Cary Guffey
    • Barry Guiler
    Shawn Bishop
    • Brad Neary
    Adrienne Campbell
    Adrienne Campbell
    • Silvia Neary
    Justin Dreyfuss
    • Toby Neary
    Lance Henriksen
    Lance Henriksen
    • Robert
    Merrill Connally
    Merrill Connally
    • Team Leader
    George DiCenzo
    George DiCenzo
    • Major Benchley
    Amy Douglass
    • Implantee
    Alexander Lockwood
    • Implantee
    • Director
      • Steven Spielberg
    • Writers
      • Steven Spielberg
      • Hal Barwood
      • Jerry Belson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the Neary dinner scene, just before Roy piles on the mashed potatoes, the little girl Silvia (Adrienne Campbell) says: "There's a dead fly in my potatoes." This was unscripted and almost caused the rest of the cast to laugh. The scene was kept as-is.
    • Goofs
      The coordinates received by the scientists (40°36'10" N, 104°44'30" W) aren't very close to Devils Tower at all. The coordinates are actually in a farm paddock about 200 yards east of hwy 85, half way between the towns of Pierce and Ault, Colorado (17mi [27km] east of Ft. Collins, Colorado), 276 miles (444 km) due south from the Devils Tower monument (they got the north latitude wrong by 4 degrees, it SHOULD have been 44°35'25"N. In addition the longitude is incorrect, it should be 104°42'54"W)
    • Quotes

      Project Leader: If everything's ready here on the Dark Side of the Moon... play the five tones.

    • Crazy credits
      Near the end of the credits it starts to reads as follows: "During the filming of all animal sequences, H.L. EDWARDS, Veterinarian of Gillette, Wyoming, was in attendance at all times to aid the filmmakers and the anesthetist in proper treatment of the animals used, and at no time were the animals harmed or mistreated in any way."
    • Alternate versions
      A print of the film screened at the American Cinematheque (Los Angeles) several times features most of the Special Edition's edits, but also includes the Roy's tree-tossing sequence and his climb through the window. What's missing from this version is all of the footage from inside the spaceship.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Dream (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Chances Are
      Words and Music by Al Stillman and Robert Allen
      Performed by Johnny Mathis
      Published by International Korwin Corp.
      from the Columbia Records album "Johnny Mathis' All-Time Greatest Hits"

    User reviews562

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10

    A pretty incredible movie.

    Aged forty, and there are many films I should have watched, and haven't, I will be rectifying that as soon as I can.

    First up, Close encounters of the third kind, I can only imagine what it would have been like for someone seeing this at a cinema in 1977, I imagine it was epic. Watching this on a big screen in the dark, if is a spectacle lights.

    Yes it's dated somewhat, of course it has, but the special effects are decent, but the story remains wonderful.

    This showcases the art of storytelling, a movie that relies on the narrative, script and journey, as opposed to just special effects. It's an exciting, uplifting, wondrous affair, one I totally enjoyed.

    Someone dismissing this out of hand, clearly has no concept of movies of any kind. When I'm bored with a film (Wonderwoman 1984) I twiddle on my phone, I didn't pick it up.

    A wonderful movie. 8/10.
    • Sleepin_Dragon
    • Jan 28, 2021
    • Permalink

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    FAQ31

    • How long is Close Encounters of the Third Kind?Powered by Alexa
    • Why & how didn't the bright lights of the spacecraft that Roy Nealy boarded hurt his eyes?
    • Why did the aliens keep the abductees for so many years before returning them but Barry Guiler was returned after only a few days?
    • What is 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' about?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 14, 1977 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Spanish
      • Hindi
    • Also known as
      • Encuentros cercanos del tercer tipo
    • Filming locations
      • Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, USA(Devil's Rock)
    • Production companies
      • Julia Phillips and Michael Phillips Productions
      • EMI Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $135,189,114
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,767,758
      • Sep 3, 2017
    • Gross worldwide
      • $306,889,114
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 18 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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