Kicking off the BFI's tribute to the inimitable Steven Spielberg, this sci-fi classic returns for an exclusive run at BFI Southbank in a new 35mm print. As the story alternates between US government scientists investigating a series of bizarre worldwide events and an Indiana electrician (Dreyfuss) whose life is suddenly thrown into turmoil by a close-up sighting of UFOs, Spielberg juggles suspense, spectacle, psychodrama and a mounting sense of unusually optimistic wonder at the notion that we may not be alone in the universe. Vilmos Zsigmond’s camerawork, Douglas Trumbull’s special effects and John Williams’ score all contribute to the majestic evocation of cosmic scale and significance, but it’s Dreyfuss’ intense, utterly credible playing of an ordinary man transformed by extraordinary events that fuels the film’s emotional integrity and impact. Running time: 2 hours 17 minutes. Certificate: PG.