Within Roy Neary
Roy Neary’s final boarding of the alien ship in Close Encounters of the Third Kind is the ultimate fulfilment of the UFO witness fantasy. After spending the film doubted, ridiculed and increasingly isolated, Roy receives what most fictional and real-world UFO witnesses never do: public confirmation that what he saw was real.
Page outline Jump by section
Introduction
Roy Neary’s final boarding of the alien ship in Close Encounters of the Third Kind is the ultimate fulfilment of the UFO witness fantasy. After spending the film doubted, ridiculed and increasingly isolated, Roy receives what most fictional and real-world UFO witnesses never do: public confirmation that what he saw was real. Yet Spielberg does not stop at vindication. Roy is not merely proven correct. He is invited aboard.
That distinction matters. The ending transforms Roy from observer to participant. The witness who spent the film chasing evidence becomes part of the event itself. At the same time, the scene remains one of the most debated moments in Spielberg’s career because the reward comes attached to an unresolved moral cost. Roy gains contact with the unknown, but the film never repairs the damage left behind on Earth. [Consequence]consequence.netfamily comes last in steven spielbergs close encounters of the third kindFamily Comes Last in Steven Spielberg's Close…Nov 19, 2017 — This is a Spielberg movie where the happy ending is dubious at…
Private Image Becomes Public Reality
For most of the film, Roy’s certainty exists only inside his own mind. He knows the encounter happened, but he cannot persuade others. His compulsive recreation of Devils Tower appears irrational to his family because the image has no recognised meaning within ordinary life.
The finale reverses that condition completely. When Roy reaches Devils Tower, the mysterious shape that haunted him is revealed as a genuine destination. The government scientists are already there. The alien craft arrives exactly as his visions predicted. The private obsession that looked like psychological collapse becomes objective reality. [userpages.umbc.edu]userpages.umbc.eduSummary: Close EncountersRoy, Jillian, and others who have encountered the aliens inexplicably make their way to Devil's Tower in Wyoming… [ejumpcut]ejumpcut.orgclose EncontersClose Encounters of the Third Kind" by Entman and Seymourby R Entman · 1978 · Cited by 10 — The main plot involves the struggle of two c… This moment is crucial to Roy’s role as Spielberg’s UFO witness archetype. Many witness narratives revolve around a gap between experience and proof. Roy’s story closes that gap. The film grants him something close to perfect validation:
- The phenomenon is publicly visible.
- Scientists acknowledge it.
- Government authorities can no longer dismiss it.
- Direct communication with the visitors succeeds.
Roy is not vindicated through argument. He is vindicated through revelation. The world finally sees what he has been trying to describe all along. [Wikipedia]WikipediaClose Encounters of the Third KindClose Encounters of the Third Kind
Belief Rewarded as Contact
The most unusual aspect of the ending is that confirmation is not Roy’s final reward. The reward is participation.
When the exchange between humans and extraterrestrials reaches its conclusion, selected individuals are invited aboard the mothership. Roy is among them and willingly accepts. The invitation signals that his journey was never simply about proving he was right. It was about crossing a boundary. He moves from the human side of first contact to the alien side of it. [Themerica]themerica.orgclose encounters of the themed kindClose Encounters of the Themed Kind.14 Jan 2018 — Both Roy and Jillian (her son was abducted, and she too has been called to the… [Reddit Within Spielberg's broader UFO imagination]reddit.comHe and Jillian are the only ones who actually followed the…Read more…, this is a remarkably optimistic vision. The aliens are not conquerors. They are not invaders. Contact is presented as an opportunity. The enormous mothership inspires awe rather than terror, and Roy’s departure is staged almost like a pilgrimage reaching its destination.
The scene also reflects Spielberg’s fascination with wonder and transcendence. Film scholars and critics have frequently noted that Close Encounters treats extraterrestrial contact less as a military crisis than as a spiritual experience. Roy’s boarding resembles a chosen ascent into a larger reality. The witness is rewarded not with a newspaper headline or an official apology, but with access to the mystery itself. [Wikipedia]WikipediaClose (2022 filmClose (2022 film)It follows two teenage boys whose close friendship is thrown into disarray when their schoolmates notice their intima…
This helps explain why the ending remains emotionally powerful decades later. The film offers a fantasy many UFO stories only imply: what if the witness was right, and what if being right opened a door rather than merely settling an argument?
Why the Ending Still Feels Morally Uneasy
The triumph of Roy’s boarding is inseparable from the discomfort surrounding it.
Unlike many adventure films, Close Encounters never restores Roy’s domestic life before granting him his reward. His wife and children are gone long before the mothership arrives. The film does not show reconciliation, forgiveness or closure. Roy’s ascent occurs after his family has effectively disappeared from the narrative. [Consequence]consequence.netfamily comes last in steven spielbergs close encounters of the third kindFamily Comes Last in Steven Spielberg's Close…Nov 19, 2017 — This is a Spielberg movie where the happy ending is dubious at…
That absence has become one of the most discussed aspects of the ending. Many viewers experience the final scene as exhilarating and troubling at the same time. Roy achieves everything he has been seeking, but he achieves it by abandoning responsibilities that the film never resolves. The emotional cost remains visible even as the music and imagery encourage wonder. Reddit [consequence]consequence.netfamily comes last in steven spielbergs close encounters of the third kindFamily Comes Last in Steven Spielberg's Close…Nov 19, 2017 — This is a Spielberg movie where the happy ending is dubious at… The tension became even more significant because Spielberg later reconsidered the choice himself. After becoming a parent, he remarked that he would not make the same ending in quite the same way, specifically questioning Roy’s decision to leave his family behind. What appeared romantic and liberating to the younger filmmaker looked different from the perspective of fatherhood. [SYFY]syfy.comSteven Spielberg Would Make This One Change to Close…14 May 2026 — The idea of Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) leaving his family beh… SlashFilm This retrospective doubt does not weaken the ending. If anything [slashfilm.com]slashfilm.comClose Encounters Of The Third Kind Ending ExplainedSep 12, 2022 — Steven Spielberg's 1977 alien flick "Close Encounters of the T…, it reveals why the scene remains compelling. Roy’s reward is genuine. The aliens are real. Contact happens. The witness is chosen.
Yet the film refuses to make that victory entirely comfortable.
The Witness Who Leaves Earth
Roy boards the ship because he has spent the entire film moving away from ordinary life and towards an experience no one else around him can fully understand. The final image completes that trajectory. The witness who once struggled to explain what he saw no longer needs validation from neighbours, family or institutions. The universe itself has answered him.
What he wins is not simply proof. He wins entry into the mystery.
That is why the ending occupies such a distinctive place in Spielberg’s UFO storytelling. It offers the dream of absolute confirmation while preserving a lingering question about what confirmation is worth. Roy receives the greatest reward a witness could imagine, but the film leaves open whether that reward is also a form of loss. [Consequence]consequence.netfamily comes last in steven spielbergs close encounters of the third kindFamily Comes Last in Steven Spielberg's Close…Nov 19, 2017 — This is a Spielberg movie where the happy ending is dubious at…
Amazon book picks
Further Reading
Books and field guides related to Roy Boarding Reward A9715 F. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.
The UFO Experience
Hynek created the close-encounter framework that inspired Spielberg's film title and served as an adviser on the movie.
Passport to Magonia
One of the most influential books on UFO culture and the mystery-oriented approach echoed in Spielberg's work.
eBay marketplace picks
Marketplace Samples
Example marketplace items related to this page. Use the search link to explore similar finds on eBay.
Endnotes
-
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind -
Source: consequence.net
Title: family comes last in steven spielbergs close encounters of the third kind
Link: https://consequence.net/2017/11/family-comes-last-in-steven-spielbergs-close-encounters-of-the-third-kind/Source snippet
Family Comes Last in Steven Spielberg's Close...Nov 19, 2017 — This is a Spielberg movie where the happy ending is dubious at...
-
Source: syfy.com
Link: https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/steven-spielberg-would-make-one-change-to-close-encounters-if-making-the-film-todaySource snippet
Steven Spielberg Would Make This One Change to Close...14 May 2026 — The idea of Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) leaving his family beh...
Published: May 2026
-
Source: userpages.umbc.edu
Link: https://userpages.umbc.edu/~landon/Film%20Summaries/Summary_Close%20Encounters.htmSource snippet
Summary: Close EncountersRoy, Jillian, and others who have encountered the aliens inexplicably make their way to Devil's Tower in Wyoming...
-
Source: ejumpcut.org
Title: close Enconters
Link: https://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC18folder/closeEnconters.htmlSource snippet
"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" by Entman and Seymourby R Entman · 1978 · Cited by 10 — The main plot involves the struggle of two c...
-
Source: slashfilm.com
Link: https://www.slashfilm.com/770326/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind-ending-explained-this-means-something-this-is-important/Source snippet
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind Ending ExplainedSep 12, 2022 — Steven Spielberg's 1977 alien flick "Close Encounters of the T...
-
Source: themerica.org
Title: close encounters of the themed kind
Link: https://www.themerica.org/blog/2018/01/14/close-encounters-of-the-themed-kindSource snippet
Close Encounters of the Themed Kind.14 Jan 2018 — Both Roy and Jillian (her son was abducted, and she too has been called to the...
-
Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueFilm/comments/1f3nrfm/what_is_the_point_of_close_encounters_of_the/Source snippet
He and Jillian are the only ones who actually followed the...Read more...
-
Source: reddit.com
Title: About the ending of Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/scifi/comments/fxlakw/about_the_ending_of_close_encounters_of_the_third/Source snippet
About the ending of Close Encounters of the Third KindApril 9, 2020 — The ending where Roy Neary abandons his family ruined the mov...
Published: April 9, 2020
-
Source: reddit.com
Title: I disagree with most people
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueFilm/comments/1i6frdd/i_disagree_with_most_people_including_steven/Source snippet
including Steven SpielbergThe criticism about the ending of Close Encounters is blown out of proportion. All Spielberg ever said about it...
-
Source: slashfilm.com
Title: close encounters re release and parenthood
Link: https://www.slashfilm.com/553122/close-encounters-re-release-and-parenthood/Source snippet
How Being A Parent Changes The Way You Watch 'Close...Sep 5, 2017 — Close Encounters of the Third Kind is different only because Spielbe...
-
Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/10x4jc2/close_encounters_ending_question_spoilers/Source snippet
Close Encounters Ending Question (SPOILERS): r/moviesHim coming back out and going to the French dude. Him looking different from all th...
-
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Close (2022 film)
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_%282022_film%29Source snippet
Close (2022 film)It follows two teenage boys whose close friendship is thrown into disarray when their schoolmates notice their intima...
-
Source: youtube.com
Title: Close Encounters of the Third Kind: He leaves Earth with the aliens
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6cix9o0w-ISource snippet
Final Scene | CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977) Movie CLIP HD...
-
Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSulxhZk330Source snippet
The Biggest Connection in 'Close Encounters'...
-
Source: dictionary.cambridge.org
Link: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/closeSource snippet
English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary4 days ago — to change from being open to not being open, or to cause something to do this: close...
-
Source: chud.com
Title: tugging on the beard close encounters of the third kind
Link: https://chud.com/174/tugging-on-the-beard-close-encounters-of-the-third-kind/Source snippet
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KINDFeb 18, 2008 — The family in CE3K, whether or not Spielberg realizes it, is seriously dysfunctional. Ro...
-
Source: jhwikicollection-20.fandom.com
Title: Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Link: https://jhwikicollection-20.fandom.com/wiki/Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_KindSource snippet
Roy Neary's boarding the spaceship represents Spielberg's wish to be reunited with his parents. The director had not consciously intended...
-
Source: ultimateclassicrock.com
Title: close encounters of the third kind
Link: https://ultimateclassicrock.com/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind/Source snippet
'Close Encounters' Helps Cement Spielberg's LegacyNov 16, 2022 — It's been remarked over and over again that the central theme in Spielbe...
Additional References
-
Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/12117541695/posts/10162310095496696/Source snippet
Close Encounters of the Third Kind family themesThe character had a choice to stay and raise his family award to venture out into the unk...
-
Source: medium.com
Link: https://medium.com/sci-fi-movie-reviews/review-3-close-encounters-of-the-third-kind-a39c85179e1eSource snippet
Review #3: Close Encounters of the Third KindA group of scientists are convinced that the melody is a form of alien communication, so the...
-
Source: fanfare.pub
Title: spielberg celebration revisiting close encounters of the third kind 583264a87ebb
Link: https://fanfare.pub/spielberg-celebration-revisiting-close-encounters-of-the-third-kind-583264a87ebbSource snippet
Spielberg Celebration: Revisiting 'Close Encounters of the...2 Jun 2026 — Barry is reunited with Jillian, and, most movingly of all, Roy...
-
Source: fran-delpizzo.medium.com
Title: the artist and the obsession close encounters of the third kind e55b963ba1a4
Link: https://fran-delpizzo.medium.com/the-artist-and-the-obsession-close-encounters-of-the-third-kind-e55b963ba1a4?source=———9—————————-Source snippet
Artist and the Obsession: Close Encounters of the Third...Despite Spielberg's own negative aforementioned revisionist views on the endin...
-
Source: rogerebert.com
Title: Making contact: Spielberg’s Close Encounters and E.T.Family: Elliott, E.T
Link: https://www.rogerebert.com/scanners/making-contact-spielbergs-close-encounters-and-etSource snippet
and Keys. Andrew Sarris has complained that Spielberg cheats the ending of “E.T.” by photographing Keys (the scientist/searcher played by...
-
Source: rogerebert.com
Link: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind-1980Source snippet
The final scene is beautiful, but what about his three kids? Their father has disappeared from...Read more...
-
Source: mygeekblasphemy.com
Title: i guess youve noticed something a little strange with dad
Link: https://mygeekblasphemy.com/2011/03/03/i-guess-youve-noticed-something-a-little-strange-with-dad/Source snippet
I Guess You've Noticed Something A Little Strange With Dad.Mar 3, 2011 — When they hike up the monolith, they see that the government has...
-
Source: musingsofamiddleagedgeek.blog
Title: close encounters of the third kind still watching the skies 40 years later
Link: https://musingsofamiddleagedgeek.blog/2017/08/27/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind-still-watching-the-skies-40-years-later/Source snippet
Roy Neary is in his truck, lost on a lonely road, trying to reach his repair site (in vain), when he...Read more...
-
Source: scottholleran.com
Link: https://www.scottholleran.com/movies/movie-analysis-close-encounters-of-the-third-kind-1977/Source snippet
Movie Analysis: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)Sep 4, 2017 — Roy represents the core conflict in Close Encounters of the Third...
-
Source: intermountainhistories.org
Link: https://www.intermountainhistories.org/items/show/226Source snippet
Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Devils Tower...The film tells the story of several individuals' experiences with extra-terrestri...
Topic Tree