Movies Like Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Ranked by shared directors, cast, themes, genre, and era — not just generic recommendations.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

1982·1h 55m·★ 7.9·Steven Spielberg

Themes: alien contact, flying saucer, extraterrestrial technologyDir. Steven Spielberg

The Day the Earth Stood Still

1951·1h 32m·★ 7.7·Robert Wise

Themes: ufo, flying saucerFans also likedScience Fiction & Drama

Fire in the Sky

1993·1h 49m·★ 6.5·Rob Lieberman

Themes: alien abduction, ufoFans also liked

Arrival

2016·1h 56m·★ 7.9·Denis Villeneuve

Themes: alien language, alien contact, extraterrestrial technologyDrama & Science Fiction

Chain Reaction

1996·1h 47m·★ 5.7·Andrew Davis

Themes: admiring, awestruckFans also liked

I Am Legend

2007·1h 41m·★ 7.2·Francis Lawrence

Themes: desperate, admiringDrama & Science Fiction

Alien: Romulus

2024·1h 59m·★ 7.1·Fede Álvarez

Themes: alien encounter, alien contact, alien life-form

Planet 51

2009·1h 31m·★ 6.0·Jorge Blanco

Themes: flying saucer, alien life-formFans also liked

Contact

1997·2h 30m·★ 7.5·Robert Zemeckis

Themes: alien contact, extraterrestrial technologyDrama & Science Fiction

Lilo & Stitch

2025·1h 48m·★ 6.7·Dean Fleischer Camp

Themes: alien spaceship, whimsical

Dunkirk

2017·1h 47m·★ 7.8·Christopher Nolan

Themes: evacuation, awestruck

Poor Things

2023·2h 21m·★ 7.7·Yorgos Lanthimos

Themes: curious, obsession

Get Out

2017·1h 44m·★ 7.8·Jordan Peele

Themes: awestruck, missing person

War of the Worlds

2005·1h 57m·★ 6.6·Steven Spielberg

TMDB recommendsDir. Steven Spielberg

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

2002·2h 59m·★ 8.8·Peter Jackson

Themes: awestruck, obsession

Apocalypse Now

1979·2h 27m·★ 8.4·Francis Ford Coppola

TMDB recommends

Donnie Darko

2001·1h 54m·★ 8.0·Richard Kelly

TMDB recommends

Brokeback Mountain

2005·2h 14m·★ 7.7·Ang Lee

TMDB recommends

Hero

2002·1h 39m·★ 7.9·Zhang Yimou

TMDB recommends

Predator

1987·1h 47m·★ 7.8·John McTiernan

TMDB recommends

How Good Is Close Encounters of the Third Kind?

Ratings across IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, and TMDB, plus our verdict.

Where to Watch Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Streaming, rental, and purchase options across 40+ countries.

CountryUnited States

Type

AllStreamRentBuyTheaters

United States

US

In Theaters

1

Fandango

Stream

2

Peacock Premium

Peacock Premium Plus

Rent

3

Amazon Video

Apple TV Store

Fandango At Home

Buy

5

Barnes & Noble

Amazon DVD / Blu-ray

Fandango At Home

Amazon Video

Apple TV Store

Available in 77 countries