IMDb > Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 90 | slideshow) Videos (see all 7)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) -- A line worker, after a encounter with UFO's, feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) -- A line worker, after a encounter with UFO's, feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   55,229 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 23% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Steven Spielberg (written by)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Close Encounters of the Third Kind on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
16 November 1977 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Close Encounter of the First Kind - Sighting of a UFO. Close Encounter of the Second Kind - Physical Evidence. Close Encounter of the Third Kind - Contact. WE ARE NOT ALONE more
Plot:
After an encounter with UFOs, a line worker feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 11 wins & 30 nominations more
User Comments:
Great sci-fi more (244 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
CE3K (USA) (informal short title)
The Close Encounter of the Third Kind (USA) (working title)
The Special Edition: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (USA) (reissue title)
Watch the Skies (USA) (working title)
more
Runtime:
132 min (special edition) | 137 min (director's cut) | 135 min (original version)
Country:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond overexposed the scenes with the extraterrestrials deliberately so they would appear fuzzy and diffuse. When producer Julia Phillips saw the footage, she thought he'd made a mistake and ordered the film re-processed so that the aliens came out with a normal contrast, and their rubber heads and suits were obviously fake. She then told Zsigmond he'd botched up the filming and it looked awful. The upset Zsigmond told the lab to reprocess the film the way he originally said and everything looked fine in dailies the next day. more
Goofs:
Continuity: As the 12 people in red selected by the government head for the mothership, the blond woman is two people in front of Roy, and not wearing her sunglasses. In the next shot, she has her sunglasses on, and is now in immediately in front of him. more
Quotes:
[last lines]
Barry Guiler: [looking up at the space ship flying away] Goodbye.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Farscape: Premiere (#1.1)" (1999) more
Soundtrack:
CHANCES ARE more

FAQ

Did Larry die after being gassed by the helicopter?
more
16 out of 23 people found the following comment useful.
Great sci-fi, 3 September 2006
9/10
Author: RovingGambler from United States

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is the story about a man who has a close encounter with aliens. However, no one seems to believe that it really happened except a woman who's son was abducted. They both have a similar vision apparently put in their minds by the aliens, and they set off together to go meet up with the aliens one more time.

I've never been a huge Spielberg fan. Sure, he's made some good movies, but I just never saw anything real great about most of his movies. That is, until I saw Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This movie had me so entranced in the story that the 2 hours and 15 minutes flew by. I'm not even a big sci-fi type of guy. The cinematography, acting, music score, and directing are all top-notch. The special effects, although obviously sub-par by today's standards, were phenomenal when released in 1977 and is still good enough to not make the movie look cheesy by today's standards.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (244 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
When the aliens come for the boy, why did Sp.Brg. use 2 tracking shots? oskarinn-1
Why did the aliens want Barry? da-42
Anyone made a bootleg all-edition cut? mike_cable
Close Encounters of the Third Kind - SpaceAmbient movie xt-9
What or who is Piggly Wiggly?! SueBee55
*CE3K Tribute Video* Erumpent
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Transformers Independence Day Superman The Day the Earth Stood Still
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Adventure section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.