A beloved sci-fi masterpiece is returning to the big screen this weekend—and moviegoers can enjoy it for free.
On Sunday, May 18 at 5 p.m., the Miracle Theatre will host a special screening of Steven Spielberg’s 1977 classic, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Admission is free to the public, and families, film buffs, and curious first-timers are invited to take part in the cinematic event.
The screening is sponsored by the Kirk & Lydia Menendez Family Endowment and hosted by former Coral Gables Commissioner Kirk Menendez, who has long supported local arts and community engagement.
“This film continues to resonate nearly 50 years later,” Menendez said. “It’s about wonder, communication, and the unknown—timeless themes that still inspire reflection and imagination.”
Released in 1977, Close Encounters was a critical and commercial success, earning nine Academy Award nominations and becoming one of Spielberg’s most iconic works. The film follows a series of mysterious UFO sightings and the transformative experiences of ordinary people caught in extraordinary events.
Free tickets are required for entry and can be reserved by calling the Miracle Theatre Box Office at 305-444-9293 ext. 2. Seating is first-come, first-served.
The Miracle Theatre is located at 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
Author: Coral Gables Gazette News Staff
Originally established in 1996 and relaunched as a digital publication in February 2025, the Coral Gables Gazette is an independent local news organization dedicated to factual, objective and accountable community journalism. Our newsroom reports on the people, policies, institutions and events shaping Coral Gables, Florida, providing residents with timely, informative coverage of the issues affecting their community. Our reporting includes City Hall, local government, municipal elections, public spending, real estate development, business, education, arts and culture, and neighborhood affairs throughout the City Beautiful. We follow City Commission decisions, examine public records and report on the businesses, organizations and individuals contributing to Coral Gables. We believe informed residents are essential to a healthy, engaged community. Stories published under the Coral Gables Gazette News Staff byline are prepared or compiled by the publication's editorial team. We strive for accuracy, fairness, transparency and clear distinctions between news reporting, opinion and advertising. Readers are encouraged to submit news tips, corrections, editorial inquiries and story suggestions through our Contact page and learn more about our standards through our Editorial Policy.
