Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Dir. Steven Spielberg. 1977, 137 mins. 4K DCP. With Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon, François Truffaut, Bob Balaban. This operatic tale of a group of humans (including Dreyfuss’s suburban everydad) preparing to make contact with mysterious outer-space visitors is an emotionally stirring, visually jaw-dropping journey. Featuring Oscar-winning cinematography by the great Vilmos Zsigmond, Spielberg’s first story about extraterrestrial life is out-of-this-world moviemaking, and was enormously influential on Asteroid City, both in its depiction of friendly aliens in a southwestern setting and in Alexandre Desplat’s score, which evokes composer John Williams’s iconic musical motifs. DO NOT DETONATE... features an essay by Matt Zoller Seitz on the film, excerpts from the diary of supporting performer Bob Balaban, and never-before-seen set photos taken by Brigitte Lacombe. 

Tickets: $15 / $11 senior and students / $9 youth (ages 3–17) / discounted for MoMI members ($7–$11). Order tickets. Please pick up tickets at the Museum’s admissions desk upon arrival. All seating is general admission. Review safety protocols before your visit.