Close Encounters Of The Third Kind parents guide

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind Parent Guide

Spielberg gives his viewers an imaginative encounter with extra-terrestrial life forms and the inspiration to follow your dreams where they take you.

Overall B

After Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) experiences a strange, close encounter (of a third kind) with an UFO, he is left with an oddly burned face and an unexplainable obsession for a peculiar shape.

Release date November 16, 1977

Violence B-
Sexual Content A-
Profanity B-
Substance Use B+

Why is Close Encounters Of The Third Kind rated PG? The MPAA rated Close Encounters Of The Third Kind PG

Run Time: 132 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) is a power lineman sent out to investigate an unusual energy drain that is causing massive blackouts across the city. Driving along the back roads of Indiana, he witnesses low-flying UFOs that flood his truck in a brilliant light. His close encounter (of a third kind) leaves him not only with an oddly burned face but an unexplainable obsession for a particular shape.

His wife, Ronnie (Teri Garr) can’t understand this new compulsion. To her, Neary is fast losing his grip on reality and causing a rift in their marriage. Yet despite her pleas and threats, her husband continues watching the sky until a near accident draws him into the company of Jillian Guiler (Melinda Dillon) another extra-terrestrial observer. Traveling together, these two unlikely companions follow their intuitions into the wastelands of Wyoming in search of answers about life forms from outer space.

Of course the director, Steven Spielberg, still leaves a few questions for the audience. For instance, after seeing how massive the Mother-ship is, how could anyone looking at the night sky have missed it? Or the aliens—they seem nice enough when you meet them, so why did they cause such chaos while trying to contact the humans? Parents may also wonder if the movie will be too uncomfortable for their younger children after noting the number of profanities that work their way into this script and the inclusion of several intense scenes (most notably the abduction of a 3-year-old boy).

Debuting in 1977, the same year as George Lucas’ Star Wars, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind is an earthly version of interaction with space life and includes some equally impressive special effects as the Lucas film, despite the fact that Spielberg was saddled with budget restraints and scheduling problems which forced him to eliminate several shots from the first version of this movie. He later received funding and studio space from Columbia and filmed the additional scenes that were included in his Close Encounters Of The Third Kind-Special Edition version that released in 1980. No matter which version you may see, Spielberg does give his viewers an imaginative encounter with extra-terrestrial life forms and the inspiration to follow your dreams where they take you.

Directed by Steven Spielberg. Starring Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr. Running time: 132 minutes. Theatrical release November 16, 1977. Updated

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind
Rating & Content Info

Why is Close Encounters Of The Third Kind rated PG? Close Encounters Of The Third Kind is rated PG by the MPAA

Overall: B
After encountering an alien space ship, a man driven by an unexplained feeling leaves his family to find answers in the Wyoming desert.

Violence: B-
Pilots talk about a near hit with a UFO while flying, child witnesses toys and household objects coming to life during an alien encounter, man sees UFO overhead, child on road nearly gets hit by car, car crashes through guard rail, extended and more intense scene of aliens trying to enter house, young child abducted by aliens, mom threatens to hit child, man steals objects from his neighbor, man thrown from slow moving car, military personnel have guns and use sleeping gas during evacuation operation, car drives through roadblocks, dead animals shown along roadside, people escape from military helicopter and hide from soldiers.

Sexual Content: A-
Kissing between married couple, man shown in boxer shorts and t-shirt, kiss between unmarried couple.

Language: A
Includes at least 9 mild profanities, 3 moderate profanities and 6 terms of Deity used as expletives.

Alcohol / Drug Use: A-
Smoking is seen among secondary characters.

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Close Encounters Of The Third Kind Parents' Guide

In this film Spielberg promotes the idea of following your dreams. One scene even includes several musical bars from the Disney theme song, “When You Wish Upon a Star.” What was the price Neary paid to pursue his dream? What did it cost his family? Do you think that it was worth it?

On September 24, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt declared the Wyoming landmark featured in this movie as the first national monument of the United States. Learn more about the Devil’s Tower.

News About "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind"

Coming to Theaters Again!

In honor of the movie's 40th Anniversary, Close Encounters of a Third Kind re-relelases in limited theaters on September 8, 2017. The movie also re-releases to home video (Blu-ray/Digital Copy) shortly there after, on September 19, 2017.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Close Encounters Of The Third Kind movie is September 19, 2017. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 40th Anniversary Edition
Release Date: 19 September 2017
Close Encounters of the Third Kind releases to home video (Blu-ray/Digital Copy) in a 40th Anniversary Edition. Bonus features include:
- Introduction
- Documentary
- Theatrical Trailer
- ALL-NEW: “Three Kinds of Close Encounters” Featurette
- NEW interview with Director Steven Spielberg on the legacy of the film, as well as new interviews with directors J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Denis Villeneuve (Arrival) about the impact of Close Encounters.
- ALL-NEW: “Steven’s Home Movies & Outtakes”
- Featurette
- Storyboard Comparison

Related home video titles:

Director/Producer Steven Spielberg has had a very prolific career, not the least of which includes the creation of the Indiana Jones franchise. He also helmed other science fiction films such as ET - The Extra-Terrestrial, Deep Impact and the 2005 re-make of War of the Worlds.