The science fiction genre continues to one-up itself, despite being one of the oldest in cinema history. December 2025 will see the release of James Cameron’s third Avatar movie. While their stories aren’t as mind-bending as, say, Interstellar‘s, they’re going to stand the test of time because they’re technological achievements that push the boundaries of what a movie can be. But even a visionary like Cameron, who also has the Terminator franchise and Aliens under his belt, has to take inspiration from somewhere. One filmmaker he often sings the praises of is Steven Spielberg, the man behind hits like Jaws and Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.
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While adventure might be the first genre people think of when discussing Spielberg, it’s difficult to ignore his impact on the sci-fi community. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a near-perfect movie, showcasing humanity’s sense of wonder when it decides to understand rather than fear. However, E.T. doesn’t exist if not for another Spielberg flick, one that continues to define the sci-fi genre nearly 50 years after its original release.
Steven Spielberg’s First Big-Budget Sci-Fi Movie Is Personal to Him
When Spielberg was a child, he was fascinated by the stars above him. He and his dad watched a meteor shower that had such an impact on him that he wanted to bring that same sense of awe to the big screen. After cutting a deal with Columbia Pictures later in his life, Spielberg began putting the pieces in place to make a movie about aliens visiting Earth. The passion project ended up on the back burner for a bit while the director went off to make Jaws, but by 1976, the script was finished and filming had begun on Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
The movie takes place in 1977, the year it was released, and follows an everyman, Roy Neary, who witnesses a UFO flying over Indiana. The life-changing experience makes Roy clamor for answers about why the aliens are on Earth and what they might be after. Of course, like any first-encounter movie, the government gets involved and throws a wrench into Roy’s plans. Thankfully, he makes an ally in Jillian Guiler, who is searching for her son after he gets abducted. Together, the two of them make contact with the aliens, and Roy eventually leaves with them, believing there’s more out there for him. Close Encounters of the Third Kind‘s ending is one of the most important in cinema history, revealing that the unknown is just as likely to be beautiful as terrifying, so it should come as no surprise that it’s still referenced to this day.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind Is in a League of Its Own
After watching his movie earn critical praise and bring in a strong box-office haul, Spielberg considered making either a sequel or a prequel. After all, his good friend George Lucas took another bite of the apple after Star Wars became a smash hit in 1977. However, Spielberg couldn’t figure out where the story would go, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Close Encounters of the Third Kind was allowed to stand on its own and influence millions worldwide, including some of the most impactful filmmakers of all time.
Christopher Nolan, Guillermo del Toro, and Denis Villeneuve are just a few of the names who consider Spielberg’s masterpiece one of their favorite movies, and when it’s time for them to pass the baton, the next generation is sure to feel the same way. It just goes to show that an event as fleeting as a meteor shower can change the world forever.
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