Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1977

Frank Rich, TIME Magazine: [Spielberg's] new movie is richer and more ambitious than Jaws, and it reaches the viewer at a far more profound level than Star Wars. Read more

Vincent Canby, New York Times: The best -- the most elaborate -- 1950's science fiction movie ever made, a work that borrows its narrative shape and its concerns from those earlier films, but enhances them with what looks like the latest developments in movie and space technology. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: This is dopey Hollywood mysticism all right, but thanks to considerable craft and showmanship, it packs an undeniable punch. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Close Encounters of the Third Kind is unquestionably a great movie. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: One of the great moviegoing experiences. Read more

David Pirie, Time Out: The first film in years to give its audiences a tingle of shocked emotion that is not entirely based either on fear or on suspense. Read more

A.D. Murphy, Variety: A daring film concept which in its special and technical effects has been superbly realized. Read more

Gary Arnold, Washington Post: It must weather some bummy mid-passage exposition, but the movie survive its flaws triumphantly, evolving into a uniquely transporting filmgoing spectacle. Read more