<![CDATA[Which version should I watch?]]>Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Close Encounters of the Third Kind

GuyOnTheLeft — 9 years ago(October 03, 2016 12:15 AM)

There are three to pick from: the original theatrical release, the 1980 Special Edition, and the 1998 Director's Cut. Which would you recommend for a first-time viewer?
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]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/topic/190371/which-version-should-i-watchRSS for NodeWed, 13 May 2026 03:00:09 GMTWed, 29 Apr 2026 06:52:59 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Which version should I watch? on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:53:04 GMT]]>/.​ — 3 years ago(March 07, 2023 05:38 PM)

My password is password

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1597084https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1597084Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:53:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which version should I watch? on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:53:03 GMT]]>Filmbuff29 — 3 years ago(March 07, 2023 05:32 PM)

Director's Cut.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1597083https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1597083Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:53:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which version should I watch? on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:53:02 GMT]]>IMDb User

This message has been deleted.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1597082https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1597082Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:53:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which version should I watch? on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:53:01 GMT]]>gp12345us — 9 years ago(October 03, 2016 10:58 PM)

For a first time viewer I would definitely recommend the director's cut. It combines some of the best parts from both the theatrical and special edition, and it eliminates a scene that the studio pretty much forced Spielberg to put into the special edition. If you want to see the version that is closest to Spielberg's vision of the movie, go with the director's cut.
My Top 5 Movies: "Dazed & Confused", "Close Encounters", "Vertigo", "Melancholia", "Rushmore"

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1597081https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1597081Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:53:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Which version should I watch? on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:53:00 GMT]]>a_l_i_e_n — 9 years ago(October 03, 2016 06:37 AM)

the original theatrical release, the 1980 Special Edition, and the 1998 Director's Cut.
For sure
don't
watch the Special Edition first because that could kind of spoil things for you.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1597080https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1597080Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:53:00 GMT