After proving himself a gifted filmmaker with Jaws, Steven Spielberg cemented himself as a truly exciting talent with Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The movie was the first to explore Spielberg's fascination with aliens which has come up throughout his career and it exemplified his ability to tell stories that truly wowed audiences.

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The movie was released in 1977, and Spielberg has made so many classics in the meantime, it sometimes gets overlooked. But it remains a stunning achievement all these years later and a wonderful showcase of the talents of one of Hollywood's greatest directors.

The Opening That Sets The Mystery In Motion

Researchers find planes in the desert in Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Just as Spielberg hid the shark in Jaws from the audience, he knows there is sometimes more satisfaction in building a mystery than giving straight answers. The opening scene of Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a masterful way of bringing the audience in with intrigue and only hints at what is at play.

The scene finds a group of researchers in the Sonoran Desert to investigate a number of planes found there. As they look into the matter, they realize that these planes had gone missing in World War II and have now reappeared in perfect condition with no sign of the crew.

Barry Gets A Visitor

Barry smiling at the aliens in Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Spielberg loves to put kids front and center in his adventures and Close Encounters of the Third Kind is no different. Following the opening scene, the movie cuts to Indiana where young Barry Guiler finds an unexpected visitor in his house.

Once again, Spielberg hides the big reveal from the audience. Instead, all that is shown is the reaction of young Barry who encounters the mysterious visitors in his kitchen and smiles gleefully. Seeing this moment through the eyes of a child gives the audience their own sense of child-like wonderment.

The First Encounter

Richard Dreyfuss in his truck in Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Spielberg is so effective at building unforgettable sequences that mix humor, suspense, and a bit of magic. One such sequence has Roy Neary having his first life-changing encounter with the UFOs.

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The sequence is masterful as Roy is on a dark and empty road in his car when lights approach from behind. As Roy reads his map, he waves the vehicle on. But instead of going around, the lights behind him move up into the sky. The use of silence and tension puts the audience in Roy's position, unsure if they should be terrified or captivated.

Roy's Obsession

Roy watching television in Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Roy Neary is one of Spielberg's most unusual protagonists. While he is a family man, he often makes selfish decisions, and it is ultimately hard to cheer for him. However, his journey of discovery is still one that is compelling to watch.

While Spielberg is sometimes criticized for making his movies too sweet and positive, he embraces a flawed main character in this movie. Roy's growing obsession throughout the movie that tears his family apart is sometimes hard to watch but makes this a human story.

The Ceremony In India

Hands pointing into the sky in Close Encounters of the Third Kind

It is not just Roy that is obsessed with the UFOs as the researchers from the beginning of the movie are seen tracking encounters all over the world. In a fantastic sequence, they visit India where they find an entire community that seems to have experienced some phenomenon.

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There is an eerie yet magical quality to the scene as the people chant in unison some unknown hymn of five distinct tones repeated over and over. When the crowd is asked where they heard this sound, they all point to the sky. It is another moment of Spielberg building the thrill of this story without revealing anything.

Barry's Abduction

Barry standing in the doorway in Close Encounters of the Third Kind

One of the most iconic shots in Spielberg's entire career is the shot of young Barry opening his front door and being silhouetted by the magnificent lights of the alien spacecraft. However, the entire sequence surrounding that moment is an edge-of-the-seat ride.

While most audiences are aware the aliens in this movie are friendly, it's easy to get caught up in the terror of this scene as Barry is taken. The moment in which his mother tries to seal off the chimney as they try to come down is like something out of Signs. Even knowing what is coming, Spielberg delivers a sweat-inducing scene among the most intense of his career.

Meeting The Aliens

Richard Dreyfuss looking at the alien ship with the scientists and lights behind him in Close Encounters of the Third Kind

As fun as it is the see the alien destruction in movies like Independence Day or even Spielberg's own War of the Worlds, the wholesome climax of this movie certainly puts a smile on the faces of viewers.

After the main characters had chased the aliens throughout the whole movie, it all builds to this moment when it becomes clear that they just wanted to talk. The revelation that the aliens had been calling Roy and the others to this spot is so satisfying and there is a wonderful thrill as the humans begin using the alien's own tone to communicate with them. It is the kind of peaceful interaction rarely seen in an alien invasion movie.

The Sense Of Wonder

Spaceship hovers a mountain in Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Even once the movie reaches its climactic meeting scene, the aliens themselves don't get much screentime. However, that is the beauty of the movie as it is not so much about the aliens but rather what their visit to Earth means to the people who witness it.

Spielberg is a director who can create wonder in his movie perhaps better than anyone. But this movie is perhaps his best exploration of wonder itself. Nothing is solved by meeting the aliens and there is no world-saving moment. Instead, it is just the idea that there is something grander out there that makes it such a timeless adventure.

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