Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 American sci-fi/drama film directed by Steven Spielberg. The movie tells the story of a large-scale extraterrestrial visitation at, Wyoming. It also tells the stories of several characters who get caught up in the chain of events leading up to the aliens' visit. The plot focuses specifically on Roy Neary, an electrical line worker who has a close-range encounter with a UFO; and Jillian Guiler, whose young son is abducted by aliens. They are both compelled to create images (Roy in sculpture, Jillian in sketches) of a mountain which they eventually learn is Devils Tower. Roy and Jillian then travel to Devils Tower and see the aliens arrive and release a large number of abductees, including Jillian's son. Roy goes aboard the aliens' mother ship and leaves with them when they depart Earth.

The movie was a box office success and was nominated for eight Academy Awards. The movie's, which is used to establish communication between humanity and the aliens, was quickly ingrained into popular culture and became one of the most recognized musical memes in cinema. Also, due to its prominent role in the movie, Devils Tower became inextricably linked in popular culture with both the movie in particular and the UFO phenomenon in general.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind has been referred to several times in Simpsons media.