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Trailer

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

1977Movie2 h 17 minPG

Drama
84
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.6Metacritic907.9Rotten Tomatoes91%85%

An awe-inspiring, cathartic sci-fi movie about mystery and faith and meaning, with standout direction and cinematography.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want something to laugh at · you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs or brutality.

Movies with

Story

We are not alone.

After an encounter with UFOs, an electricity linesman feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen.

Feels like

  • Transcendent Sci-Fi
  • Awe-Inspiring Wonder
  • John Williams Score
  • Family Drama
  • Mysterious Slow Burn
  • Cinematic Spectacle
  • Spiritual Encounter
  • 70s Nostalgia
  • Visual Masterpiece
  • Hopeful Contact

Cast

24 of 28

Crew

Directed by
Steven Spielberg
Written by
Steven Spielberg
Produced by
Michael Phillips, Julia Phillips
Music by
John Williams

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

December 14, 1977 · 2 h 17 min · PG

Released
December 14, 1977
Runtime
2 h 17 min
Age rating
PG
Genres
Science Fiction, Drama
Original language
English
Also spoken
Hindi, French, Spanish
Made in
United Kingdom, United States
Budget
$20 million
Box office
$307 million
Available in
100 countries

Tropes

Hypno Ray, Faster-Than-Light Travel, Celebrity Paradox +9

  • Hypno Ray
  • Faster-Than-Light Travel
  • Celebrity Paradox
  • First-Contact Math
  • First Contact Team
  • Creepily Long Arms
  • Ominous Floating Spaceship
  • Out of Job, Into the Plot
  • Uncanny Valley
  • Not Drawn to Scale
  • Deathly Dies Irae
  • Techno Babble

12 of 117 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Close Encounters of the Third Kind?"

Questions about Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Close Encounters of the Third Kind?

PeacockPeacock Premium+Tubi TVSony Pictures Core

In the United States, Close Encounters of the Third Kind streams on Peacock and Sony Pictures Core, and it is free with ads on Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Plex. It also streams in 47 other countries.

Is Close Encounters of the Third Kind worth watching?

84
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84 (IMDb 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes 91%, and Metacritic 90). Critics rate it higher (91 out of 100) than audiences (80).

Is Close Encounters of the Third Kind okay for kids?

PG

Yes: it's rated PG in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Will I feel good after watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind?

BleakHopeful

Yes, it's an uplifting movie: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for hopefulness and 6 for wholesome.

Is Close Encounters of the Third Kind plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly plot-driven: intrigue (9 of 10) and spectacle (9 of 10) carry it more than its characters do.

Was Close Encounters of the Third Kind a box office hit?

Budget$20 million
Box office$307 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $20 million to make and earned $307 million worldwide, 15.3 times its budget.

What tropes does Close Encounters of the Third Kind use?

Hypno RayFaster-Than-Light TravelCelebrity ParadoxFirst-Contact MathFirst Contact TeamCreepily Long ArmsOminous Floating SpaceshipOut of Job, Into the PlotUncanny ValleyNot Drawn to ScaleDeathly Dies IraeTechno Babbleand 105 more

TV Tropes lists 117 tropes for it, including Hypno Ray, Faster-Than-Light Travel, and Celebrity Paradox.