Must-see movies are futuristic classics that shouldn’t be missed. Of course, not every must-see is perfect. That’s why we’ve rated them 1-5 on the patented “crunchy goodness” scale. Written by James Rocchi.
Title: Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Date: 1977
Vitals: Richard Dreyfuss is a regular guy gets a glimpse of visitors from beyond — and he’s driven to seek them out at any cost. Steven Spielberg may be known for feel-good optimism, but a lot of Close Encounters feels creepy and intense — and works as a great parable for the scary-wondrous pull of any transcendent experience.
Famous Names: Steven Spielberg (Director); Richard Dreyfuss, Terri Garr, Francois Truffaut (Cast).
Crunchy Goodness: 5
Bang for Your Buck: The special effects may not be modern-CGI, but Spielberg’s team still deliver astonishing visuals — especially in the eye-popping, mind-blowing final sequence.
Stunt Casting: Director Francis Truffaut plays … an international UFO expert?
Elevator Pitch: “It’s an alien-invasion movie … but made by hippies and potheads!”
