A little boy in 1950s America desperately wants an air-rifle for Christmas, but everyone seems dead against it in this nostaligic story. In his quest for the BB gun, Ralphie undergoes many trials - like a C+ for his essay, guilt about daring a friend to stick his tongue on an icy fence. Narrated by the author, this film was directed by Bob Clark, who also made `Porky's'.

Power line repairman Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) has a 'close encounter' with an alien spacecraft when he is sent out to investigate a mysterious power surge one night. Roy then becomes obsessed with five musical notes and a strange image in his head, estranging himself from his wife (Teri Garr) in the process.

He also discovers that he is not alone in his experiences, and joins others as they are drawn to the site of a visitation by an alien ship.