The movie was an instant smash when it hit the theaters in 1977 and reawakened man's obsession with the eternal question: Are we alone in the universe? Though a work of fantasy, few realize that Steven Spielbergs sci-fi classic was actually inspired by real-life witness testimony, as well as a series of UFO sightings in Michigan in the summer of 1966. Separate science fact from science fiction as we re-examine government documents and put old witness testimonies to the test using modern technology.
