This 1977 film directed by Steven Spielberg centers on Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss), a utility worker who sees a UFO one night while out repairing electrical lines. Neary becomes consumed with thoughts of aliens (an obsession which sometimes manifests itself in the creation of large mashed potato mountains) and he soon discovers that others, like mother Jillian Guiler (Melinda Dillon), have experienced similar strange phenomena. What will happen if Roy meets aliens?
The film has a hopeful message of cooperation and trust between aliens and people and sets the tone for another Spielberg title a little higher on this list.
According to Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia's website, he appears in the movie during the scenes that take place in India.
Monitor film critic David Sterritt wrote that the movie is "a glowing vision of intergalactic optimism... a proud hymn to outer space and the most magnificent possibilities of the future."
