Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

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Wikidata Q320588, film, IMDb tt0075860, TMDB 840: matched by corpus:resolve, told apart by the only film by that title; 5 more episodes agree.

What a model would be handed about it, for corpus:ask.

Who talked about it

Blank Check with Griffin & David

Blank Check — Patreon

The Big Picture

Came from

What the speakers say it drew on. Each is a speaker's account: “the maker said so” when they report the maker's own words, “the host's read” when the read is theirs.

No line says it drew on another film or person.

Led to

What the speakers say drew on it, marked the same way.

2010: The Year We Make Contact: 1 line the host's read ×1

  1. unmapped (tip of the hat): Close Encounters of the Third Kind ⇒ 2010: The Year We Make Contact (the host's read). Casting Balaban reads as a nod to Close Encounters; the speaker finds 2010 more in its shadow than 2001's.
    “And the Balaban casting feels like a real tip of the hat to that.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · 2010: The Year We Make Contact · 0:28:46 · unknown (0.35 sure it was them)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: 1 line the host's read ×1

  1. theme (theme): Close Encounters of the Third Kind ⇒ E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (the host's read). Close Encounters sets a template for science fiction and for stories about families and divorce.
    “It sets a different kind of template for science fiction storytelling, for stories about families, for stories about obsession, for stories about divorce”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:19:05 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)

Nope: 1 line the host's read ×1

  1. lineage (influence): Close Encounters of the Third Kind ⇒ Nope (the host's read). Sean says Nope is as much a Spielberg movie as any he has seen in a long time, with Close Encounters the usual touchstone, and notes the shared theme of looking up and trying to see.
    “nope is as much a Spielberg movie as any movie I've seen in a long, long time.”
    The Big Picture · The Top Five Movies of 2022 · 1:31:29 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)

Connected to

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope: 3 lines industry ×3

  1. industry (industry): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Close Encounters was overshadowed by Star Wars, released four months earlier.
    “But I feel like close encounters sort of got overshadowed by Star Wars a little bit.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:20:48 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)

Raiders of the Lost Ark: 2 lines craft ×1 industry ×1

  1. craft (craft): Raiders of the Lost Ark → Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The novelization written by Spielberg internalized the story, which Bendis loved.
    “it internalizes the story for a young person who's only seeing externalizing it.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Raiders of the Lost Ark with Brian Michael Bendis · 0:25:05 · Brian Michael Bendis (0.70 sure it was them)

2010: The Year We Make Contact: 1 line unmapped ×1

  1. unmapped (tip of the hat): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → 2010: The Year We Make Contact. Casting Balaban reads as a nod to Close Encounters; the speaker finds 2010 more in its shadow than 2001's.
    “And the Balaban casting feels like a real tip of the hat to that.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · 2010: The Year We Make Contact · 0:28:46 · unknown (0.35 sure it was them)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: 1 line theme ×1

  1. theme (theme): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Close Encounters sets a template for science fiction and for stories about families and divorce.
    “It sets a different kind of template for science fiction storytelling, for stories about families, for stories about obsession, for stories about divorce”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:19:05 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)

Eraserhead: 1 line industry ×1

  1. industry (industry): Eraserhead → Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In the box office game, Close Encounters was the number one film in the Eraserhead period.
    “Number one of the box office is a film that came out in 1977.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Eraserhead (Ad-Free) · 1:45:48 · David Sims (0.55 sure it was them)

Francois Truffaut: 1 line people ×1

  1. people (people): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → Francois Truffaut. A filmmaker, Truffaut, is cast as an actor and gives a great performance.
    “Francois Truffau, who gives a great performance in this movie.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:20:22 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)

Jaws: 1 line contrast ×1

  1. contrast (contrast): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → Jaws. Close Encounters moves too slowly for kids; Jaws is propulsive and not slow.
    “the cool thing about Jaws is it's not slow.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:48:18 · Bill Simmons (0.60 sure it was them)

John Williams: 1 line career ×1

  1. career (career): John Williams → Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Williams delivered a career-defining score every few months: Jaws, Close Encounters, Star Wars, Superman.
    “Jaws, close encounters, all the Star Wars, and then Superman”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Raiders of the Lost Ark with Brian Michael Bendis · 2:37:11 · Brian Michael Bendis (0.60 sure it was them)

Nope: 1 line lineage ×1

  1. lineage (influence): Nope → Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Sean says Nope is as much a Spielberg movie as any he has seen in a long time, with Close Encounters the usual touchstone, and notes the shared theme of looking up and trying to see.
    “nope is as much a Spielberg movie as any movie I've seen in a long, long time.”
    The Big Picture · The Top Five Movies of 2022 · 1:31:29 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)

Schindler's List: 1 line contrast ×1

  1. contrast (contrast): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → Schindler's List. Both are important, but Close Encounters in a different way.
    “Close encounters, I think, is also important in a different way.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:19:02 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)

Steven Spielberg: 1 line career ×1

  1. career (career): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → Steven Spielberg. Close Encounters carries Spielberg's parents' divorce; Dreyfuss's character is part Spielberg, part his father.
    “And that Richard Dreyfus character being one part Spielberg, and like the idea of wonder and wanting to vanish, and one part his dad kind of abandoning his kids”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:22:39 · Chris Ryan (0.60 sure it was them)

There Will Be Blood: 1 line contrast ×1

  1. contrast (contrast): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → There Will Be Blood. Spielberg heroes are usually morally upright, unlike Daniel Plainview.
    “There's not a lot of Daniel Plainviews in there.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:21:14 · Sean Fennessey (0.50 sure it was them)

Walt Simonson: 1 line craft ×1

  1. craft (craft): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → Walt Simonson. Walt Simonson drew the Close Encounters comic adaptation, whose behind-the-scenes showed directing versus the page.
    “Walt Simonson doing the close encounters adaptation, and it is wonderful.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Raiders of the Lost Ark with Brian Michael Bendis · 0:25:54 · Brian Michael Bendis (0.80 sure it was them)

War of the Worlds: 1 line verdict ×1

  1. verdict (verdict): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → War of the Worlds. Sean loves War of the Worlds but nothing in it beats Close Encounters, which did the work first.
    “But the truth is, is there's nothing in War of the Worlds that is better than close encounters.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:19:28 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)

Where it came up

What was said about it, by kind

career (2)

  1. career (career): John Williams → Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Williams delivered a career-defining score every few months: Jaws, Close Encounters, Star Wars, Superman.
    “Jaws, close encounters, all the Star Wars, and then Superman”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Raiders of the Lost Ark with Brian Michael Bendis · 2:37:11 · Brian Michael Bendis (0.60 sure it was them)
  2. career (career): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → Steven Spielberg. Close Encounters carries Spielberg's parents' divorce; Dreyfuss's character is part Spielberg, part his father.
    “And that Richard Dreyfus character being one part Spielberg, and like the idea of wonder and wanting to vanish, and one part his dad kind of abandoning his kids”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:22:39 · Chris Ryan (0.60 sure it was them)

contrast (3)

  1. contrast (contrast): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → Schindler's List. Both are important, but Close Encounters in a different way.
    “Close encounters, I think, is also important in a different way.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:19:02 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)
  2. contrast (contrast): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → There Will Be Blood. Spielberg heroes are usually morally upright, unlike Daniel Plainview.
    “There's not a lot of Daniel Plainviews in there.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:21:14 · Sean Fennessey (0.50 sure it was them)
  3. contrast (contrast): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → Jaws. Close Encounters moves too slowly for kids; Jaws is propulsive and not slow.
    “the cool thing about Jaws is it's not slow.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:48:18 · Bill Simmons (0.60 sure it was them)

craft (2)

  1. craft (craft): Raiders of the Lost Ark → Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The novelization written by Spielberg internalized the story, which Bendis loved.
    “it internalizes the story for a young person who's only seeing externalizing it.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Raiders of the Lost Ark with Brian Michael Bendis · 0:25:05 · Brian Michael Bendis (0.70 sure it was them)
  2. craft (craft): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → Walt Simonson. Walt Simonson drew the Close Encounters comic adaptation, whose behind-the-scenes showed directing versus the page.
    “Walt Simonson doing the close encounters adaptation, and it is wonderful.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Raiders of the Lost Ark with Brian Michael Bendis · 0:25:54 · Brian Michael Bendis (0.80 sure it was them)

industry (5)

  1. industry (industry): Raiders of the Lost Ark → Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Before release Lucas and Spielberg considered swapping profit participation on Star Wars and Close Encounters.
    “And they consider making a deal to swap profit participation.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Raiders of the Lost Ark with Brian Michael Bendis · 0:51:00 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)
  2. industry (industry): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Close Encounters was overshadowed by Star Wars, released four months earlier.
    “But I feel like close encounters sort of got overshadowed by Star Wars a little bit.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:20:48 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)
  3. industry (industry): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Lucas and Spielberg bet back-end points on each other's film, so each owns a piece of the other.
    “And so they both bet back end points on whoever was more successful.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:23:16 · Chris Ryan (0.70 sure it was them)
  4. industry (industry): Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope → Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Star Wars (June 77) and Close Encounters (November 77) are both movies that will live for 100 years.
    “Those are movies that are probably going to live for 100 years.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 1:01:02 · Sean Fennessey (0.70 sure it was them)
  5. industry (industry): Eraserhead → Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In the box office game, Close Encounters was the number one film in the Eraserhead period.
    “Number one of the box office is a film that came out in 1977.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Eraserhead (Ad-Free) · 1:45:48 · David Sims (0.55 sure it was them)

lineage (1)

  1. lineage (influence): Nope → Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Sean says Nope is as much a Spielberg movie as any he has seen in a long time, with Close Encounters the usual touchstone, and notes the shared theme of looking up and trying to see.
    “nope is as much a Spielberg movie as any movie I've seen in a long, long time.”
    The Big Picture · The Top Five Movies of 2022 · 1:31:29 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)

people (1)

  1. people (people): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → Francois Truffaut. A filmmaker, Truffaut, is cast as an actor and gives a great performance.
    “Francois Truffau, who gives a great performance in this movie.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:20:22 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)

theme (1)

  1. theme (theme): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Close Encounters sets a template for science fiction and for stories about families and divorce.
    “It sets a different kind of template for science fiction storytelling, for stories about families, for stories about obsession, for stories about divorce”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:19:05 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)

unmapped (1)

  1. unmapped (tip of the hat): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → 2010: The Year We Make Contact. Casting Balaban reads as a nod to Close Encounters; the speaker finds 2010 more in its shadow than 2001's.
    “And the Balaban casting feels like a real tip of the hat to that.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · 2010: The Year We Make Contact · 0:28:46 · unknown (0.35 sure it was them)

verdict (1)

  1. verdict (verdict): Close Encounters of the Third Kind → War of the Worlds. Sean loves War of the Worlds but nothing in it beats Close Encounters, which did the work first.
    “But the truth is, is there's nothing in War of the Worlds that is better than close encounters.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:19:28 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)

Fun items about it

  1. fun, about Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Chris moved it up the list mid-conversation after realizing how many ideas are in it; the Lucas/Spielberg wager story.
    “Maybe I might have fucked up.”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:22:54 · Sean Fennessey (0.80 sure it was them)
  2. fun, about Close Encounters of the Third Kind: In the moment in the theater everyone left shell-shocked; 'are there aliens?'
    “oh, my God, are there aliens?”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 1:01:06 · Bill Simmons (0.60 sure it was them)

Who the speakers said made it

As said on the shows, not checked against the real credits.