Entertainment
70s Sci-Fi Thriller Re-Defined An Entire Genre Forever
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
1977 changed everything for science fiction with the surprise success of George Lucas’s adventure, Star Wars: A New Hope, and Steven Spielberg’s thoughtful dramatic thriller, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It turns out, there was an audience for each of them, and while the influence of Star Wars on culture is undeniable, Speilberg’s take on UFOs quietly shaped the visual language of alien abductions, how we talk about them, raised them up from the fringe of culture, and proved that thoughtful, purposeful sci-fi would always have an audience. Looking back, it seems like a foregone conclusion that Close Encounters would be a success, but that’s only with hindsight since the film was blazing a new trail and re-inventing science fiction on the fly.
A Story Of Obsession
Close Encounters of the Third Kind starts off with a series of unexplained events from back when “conspiracy theories” meant the Bermuda Triangle, culminating with utility worker Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) watching a UFO go overhead, that’s soon joined by others, beginning an obsession with the extraterrestrials. Unable to get an image of a mountain out of his head, Roy keeps trying to recreate it, including out of his mashed potatoes, in a moment that everyone who saw the film tried to recreate at least once. Roy’s family, including his wife Ronnie (Teri Garr,) eventually leave because of his obsession, but though it costs him everything, Roy can’t let it go.
As UFO sightings spread around the globe, the mystery deepens, from a three-year-old being abducted to a strange piece of music playing when the UFOs get close to humans. The army gets involved, and again, it’s a moment that seems like a well-worn trope today, but Close Encounters of the Third Kind was one of the first to show an area being cordoned off with a lame excuse, in this case, toxic chemicals from a train derailment. What happens next is proof that when sci-fi is done right, it can instill a sense of wonder and curiosity about the universe and our place in it.
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind Is A Sci-Fi Classic
Almost 50 years later, Close Encounters of the Third Kind is considered to be one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time, and its influence can be felt in everything from The X-Files to Arrival, but also in how we view UFOs and stories of alien abductions. Casting aside the thought of aliens as a hostile invading force, Spielberg instead showed the aliens as something truly alien and unknowable, with motives we can’t understand. It’s a film that’s not about conflict but communication.
At the time of its release, Close Encounters of the Third Kind received widespread praise for its almost childlike portrayal of an alien invasion that managed to be both mysterious and wonderous simultaneously. Both critics and the audience alike were in agreement that the final scene is one of the greatest moments in movie history; even today, the imagery has become so iconic that those who haven’t seen the movie will instantly recognize it. And it’s all backed by a John Williams score that stands among the legendary composer’s greatest work.
The Sequel That Never Was
Though it never reached the heights of Steven Spielberg’s other alien movie, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind was a blockbuster in its own right, and like the later alien film, Spielberg toyed with the idea of a sequel. The never-made film was going to lean into the government covering up alien encounters, but while researching it, Spielberg became frustrated over just how far the real government went to cover up stories and left it for later filmmakers to explore. It’s for the best that a sequel never even entered production, as it would be nearly impossible for even someone as talented as Spielberg to capture the lightning-in-the-bottle wonder of Dreyfuss’ performance as Roy.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is now a film that has been built up in the culture to such an extent it can be hard for later generations to appreciate how groundbreaking it truly was. The film’s deliberate, thoughtful pace moves slower than today’s alien invasion films, but for those willing to give it a shot, the dated special effects and trope-filled plot will still melt away into the night sky over Devils Tower.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is available through Video on Demand on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, and Apple TV.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
