Even before Steven Spielberg delivered his alien adventure ET: The Extra-Terrestrial, he established himself as a science fiction master with the UFO film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Several versions of the film now exist – and the director can’t stand one of them at all.
In 1980, three years after the premiere, a special edition was released, for which Spielberg was persuaded by Columbia Pictures to add this scene.
Sci-Fi masterpiece with one scene too many: Spielberg’s long-standing UFO regret
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is about Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss), who, after seeing a UFO, becomes obsessed with the idea of making contact with extraterrestrials. At the end of the film, there is actually a direct encounter and the aliens choose the family father to come with them. In the theatrical version, you only see Roy disappear into the UFO. The VHS and LaserDisc versions for home cinema showed a little more.
Sony
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
In a behind the scenes interview, Spielberg recalled years later (via Far Out Magazine):
I compromised and showed Richard Dreyfuss walking around the mothership, which I should never have done because it was always supposed to remain a mystery.
The Spielberg’s preferred Final Cut of Close Encounters of the Third Kind combines elements of the various cuts and dispenses with the camera setting inside the alien spaceship. Which actually does the film good.
Spielberg is currently working on another science fiction film, which will once again revolve around UFOs. Universal has released this film for the May 15, 2026 planned.
Where can you stream the sci-fi masterpiece?
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is unfortunately not available anywhere as part of a streaming flat rate. However, Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play and Sky have the film available to rent and buy in various versions, including a special edition and director’s cut.