Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
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.
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 14 December 1977 |
| Genre | Science Fiction, Drama |
| Director | Steven Spielberg |
| Starring | Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut and Teri Garr |
| Runtime | 137 min |
| Rated | PG |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes 90% · Rotten Tomatoes (average) 9/10 · Metacritic 90/100 · IMDb 7.6/10 · TMDB users 7.3/10 |
| Budget | $20 million |
| Box office | $307 million worldwide |
Where to watch Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is streaming on Peacock ($16.99 a month) in the US. It is also on Tubi. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Peacock is $16.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 30 October 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
Rent or buy
You can rent Close Encounters of the Third Kind on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and Plex. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
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What kind of watch this is
Steven Spielberg directed this 137-minute science fiction drama in 1977. Richard Dreyfuss plays an electricity linesman who feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness after an encounter with UFOs. François Truffaut appears as Claude Lacombe, and Teri Garr plays Ronnie Neary. The film builds toward something spectacular about to happen. It treats the alien encounter with a sense of awe that feels almost religious. You will feel the music before you see the ship. That is the hook.
What the critics said
Critics largely embraced the film. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 90% Tomatometer score as of April 2024, with an average rating of 9/10 from October 2021. Metacritic assigns a 90/100 Metascore from July 2025, indicating universal acclaim. IMDb’s weighted average sits at 7.6/10 as of April 2026.
Arthur D. Murphy of Variety noted the film "lacks the warmth and humanity" of Star Wars, though he praised the climax. Vincent Canby of The New York Times called it "the best—the most elaborate—1950's science fiction movie ever made." The consensus is that Spielberg delivers a deeply humane sci-fi experience.
How it did with audiences
The $20 million budget bought the world $307 million in returns, a margin that made the delay to November 1977 feel like a strategic pause rather than a stumble. TMDB users rate it 7.3, while IMDb shows a weighted average of 7.6 as of April 2026. Audiences likely didn't need the math; they just showed up in droves. The numbers didn't argue back.
What came next for the cast
Richard Dreyfuss entered the cast fresh off Jaws and American Graffiti, then drifted into RED, Stand by Me, and Polar. Teri Garr arrived with Young Frankenstein and The Conversation, and later popped up in Tootsie, Dumb and Dumber, and After Hours. The credits cannot prove the film caused those shifts. They can only note what followed.
Where it left its mark
Observers credit Close Encounters with helping launch the 1980s boom in big-budget science fiction, standing shoulder to shoulder with Star Wars and Superman. Spielberg later admitted the military cover-up plot was too deep for a sequel, a decision that likely saved the film from a predictable follow-up. He has called the image of Barry staring at the orange light through his door his career’s master image, a moment of smallness against vast danger. The Library of Congress preserved it for its significance, and Rolling Stone ranked it #3 among sci-fi films in 2024. A solid place to land.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Read more: Disclosure Day
Sources
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q320588 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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