Today it's considered a science fiction classic. Steven Spielberg's 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind was unlike any alien encounter film that came before it.  It ended on a positive note and did not portray the aliens as conquerors.  

The film earned $492 million worldwide, or $1.2 Billion in 2018 dollars!  This phenomenal success played a role in the re-emergence of Star Trek.  It convinced Paramount executives that there was a permanent audience for quality science fiction movies and that their decision to make Star Trek The Motion Picture was the right one.

After Close Encounters, the studio no longer second-guessed its decision.  It was "full speed ahead!"

On this week's 70s Trek, we tell you about this Spielberg's sci-fi classic.