Parents' Guide to

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Suspenseful, thoughtful alien-encounter classic.

Movie PG 1977 132 minutes
Close Encounters of the Third Kind Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 10+

Based on 19 parent reviews

haychalla
haychalla Parent of 6 and 11-year-old
July 11, 2021
age 12+

Great, but kinda scary

Awesome film—beautifully written and acted—but between the spooky alien encounters early on in the film (which are filmed and scored not unlike a horror movie) and the dad losing it toward the end (sobbing fully dressed in the shower, loudly fighting with his wife in front of the kids, shoveling dirt into his kitchen window), this was a lot to handle even for my 11-year-old. SPOILER ALERT: The end, with his kissing Barry’s mom and disappearing into an alien spaceship, leaving his family behind for who knows how long, didn’t really help either. Definitely worth seeing, and lots to talk about in the film, but I wouldn’t rush showing this one to pre-teens.
2 people found this helpful.
Mama of two
Mama of two Parent
March 11, 2023
age 13+

Great film- classic

My 9 year old isn't afraid of the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park but the extraterrestrials and idea of alien life in this film scared him. He wasn't ready for it. My 13 year old enjoyed it. Nice to see a film with a positive portrayal of alien life along with no violence.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 19 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) and Jillian Guiler (Melinda Dillon) encounter a UFO and travel to its landing site in Devil's Tower, Wyoming. Jillian is seeking her son, who went bye-bye with the alien ship. Roy's obsession with the UFO sighting drives his family away. Inexplicably drawn to Devil's Tower, Roy and Jillian realize that they're not the only ones who feel they've been called there. French scientist Claude Lacombe (Francois Truffaut), top-secret U.S. government agents, and ordinary folks are there to meet an enormous spacecraft, which, when it shows up, returns humans taken over decades (including Jillian's son). When the aliens appear, Roy boldly boards the ship in an intergalactic exchange program. (In the reissue, which added some new scenes, viewers get a glimpse of the inside of the spacecraft.)

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19):
Kids say (26):

This is a thrilling adventure story and a brilliant example of the art and craft of moviemaking. The story unfolds with extraordinary power, involving viewers as much in Roy's inexplicable compulsion as in Jillian's search for her son. Close Encounters of the Third Kind is so different from many other alien movies -- it posits the idea not just that "something" is out there, but that it's something wonderful. Watch how director Steven Spielberg lets viewers know that the aliens are friendly.

There's something very believable and compelling about the way that the aliens use music to communicate and to teach the people on earth. Spielberg creates a sense of wonder not just in Jillian's son Barry (Cary Guffey) but in the adult characters and in the viewers, making them children again, with the aliens as the "adults," who -- reassuringly -- look and behave like gentle children, giving us a sense of comfort.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the idea of life beyond our solar system in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Do you think there are other intelligent beings out there? Why or why not? If so, what do you think they're like, and do you think they'll ever come to Earth?

  • Talk about how aliens are usually portrayed in the movies. What does this movie do differently? What signs do you get that these aliens will be benevolent?

  • Was this movie scary? What were the scariest parts and why? How does music, lighting, etc. affect how scary a scene is?

  • How do the characters in Close Encounters of the Third Kind demonstrate perseverance and humility? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate