Released in 1977, Close Encounters of the Third Kind was that year's cerebral alternative to Star Wars. It's arguably the archetypal Spielberg film, featuring a fantasy-meets-reality storyline (to be developed further in E.T.), a misunderstood Everyman character (Richard Dreyfuss), apparently hostile government agents (long before The X-Files), a sense of childlike awe in the face of the otherworldly, and a sweeping feel for epic film-making learned from the classic school of David Lean. Contributing to the film's overall success are the Oscar-winning cinematography from Vilmos Zsigmond, Douglas Trumbull's lavish effects and an extraordinary score from John Williams that develops from eerie atonality à la Ligeti to the gorgeous sentiment of "When You Wish Upon a Star" over the end credits.

• Actors: Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon, Bob Balaban
  
• Directors: Steven Spielberg
  
• Writers: Steven Spielberg, Hal Barwood, Jerry Belson, John Hill, Matthew Robbins
  
• Producers: Clark L. Paylow, Julia Phillips
  
• Language: English, French, Hindi, Spanish
  
• Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 2.35:1
  
• Number of discs: 2
  
• Classification: PG
  
• Studio: Sony Pictures
  
• DVD Release Date: 25 Jun. 2001
  
• Run Time: 131 minutes