Close Encounters of the Third Kind The Rewatchables
Close Encounters of the Third Kind

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Roy's decision to leave may be defensible, and the movie may be the best ever with a six-word title.

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:25:00Read transcript
  • The panel argues that first contact with extraterrestrial life could justify Roy leaving his family.
  • Close Encounters is proposed as the best movie with a title of six or more words.
  • The Fellowship of the Ring and Everything Everywhere All at Once are considered as long-title alternatives, with Close Encounters preferred to Fellowship. — Sean Fennessey
  • Dr. Strangelove, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford are proposed as further long-title contenders. — Bill Simmons
  • Borat is conceded to be funnier, but the panel still does not rank it above Close Encounters overall.
  • A hypothetical 2025 remake is criticized as likely to turn Roy into an online obsessive, medicate the children, provoke protests, and scare away the aliens with phones. — Bill Simmons
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