Tickets $10/$9 – In our 330-seat theatre with BIG screen and 17-speaker surround sound
Close Encounters of the Third Kind, directed by Steven Spielberg, stands as a landmark in science fiction cinema for its optimistic vision of first contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. The Director’s Cut (also known as the Collector’s Edition, released on home video in 1998) represents Spielberg’s preferred version. It runs approximately 137 minutes and restores elements from the original theatrical cut while incorporating select sequences from the 1980 Special Edition without the extended mothership interior footage.
This restored Director’s Cut balances mystery, wonder, and human drama more effectively for many viewers than the theatrical (135 min) or Special Edition (around 132 min) versions. It follows everyman Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss), whose life unravels after a UFO encounter, as he obsessively pursues the meaning behind implanted visions leading him to Devils Tower, Wyoming, for a profound meeting with benevolent aliens. The film’s groundbreaking practical effects, Vilmos Zsigmond’s luminous cinematography, and John Williams’ iconic five-note motif create an enduring sense of awe.
Cast and Crew (key personnel):
- Director/Screenplay: Steven Spielberg
- Producers: Julia Phillips, Michael Phillips
- Cast: Richard Dreyfuss (Roy Neary), François Truffaut (Claude Lacombe), Teri Garr (Ronnie Neary), Melinda Dillon (Jillian Guiler), Cary Guffey (Barry Guiler), Bob Balaban (David Laughlin)
- Cinematography: Vilmos Zsigmond
- Music: John Williams
- Editor: Michael Kahn
- Production Design: Joe Alves
- Visual Effects: Douglas Trumbull and team
The film earned one Academy Award (for Cinematography, with a Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects Editing) and received eight nominations total, including Best Director for Spielberg and Best Supporting Actress for Melinda Dillon. It also garnered BAFTA and Golden Globe recognition.
Reviewer quotes on significance: Older praise includes Roger Ebert on the Special Edition (close to the Director’s Cut context): “It is, quite simply, a better film… one of the great moviegoing experiences.” A 2017 analysis noted it “balances wonder with terror” and remains “as indelible now as it was” decades prior.
More recent reflections emphasize its cultural impact: one 2024 piece called it Spielberg’s “UFOpus” that still prompts viewers to “watch the skies,” highlighting its superior awe compared to later works like E.T.; another frames it as a modern biblical allegory of invitation and transcendence. The Director’s Cut is often hailed for refining Spielberg’s vision, preserving imagination in the finale while deepening the protagonist’s obsessive journey, cementing the film’s status as a humanistic masterpiece about curiosity, obsession, and humanity’s place in the cosmos.