E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

A race of diminutive aliens visit Earth at night to gather plant specimens in a California forest. One alien, fascinated by the distant lights of a neighborhood, separates from the group, before U.S. government agents arrive and chase the startled creature. The aliens are forced to depart before the agents can find them, leaving their lone member behind. While the agents search the forest, the creature takes shelter in a shed belonging to the family of ten-year-old Elliott Taylor. Initially scared by the creature, who runs away, Elliott spends the following day leaving a trail of Reese's Pieces to lure the alien back to the Taylor's home, where he hides the creature in his room.

The following morning, Elliott feigns illness to stay off school and play with the creature, whom he dubs E.T. Elliott eventually introduces E.T. to his older brother, Michael, and five-year-old sister Gertie, who agree to keep E.T. hidden from their hardworking single mother, Mary. When the children ask about his origins, E.T. displays telekinetic abilities by levitating several balls to represent his planetary system, and later demonstrates other extraordinary abilities by reviving a dead chrysanthemum and instantly healing a cut on Elliott's finger. As Elliott and the creature begin to bond, they start to share thoughts and emotions, the two being simultaneously startled when E.T. accidentally opens an umbrella in a different room.

At school, Elliott becomes intoxicated because, at home, E.T. is drinking beer and watching television. Sensing E.T.'s desire to be rescued, Elliott impulsively frees the frogs about to be vivisected in his biology class, inspiring the other children to follow his lead, and romantically kisses a girl he likes because E.T. is watching John Wayne kiss Maureen O'Hara in The Quiet Man (1952); Elliott is sent to the principal's office for his disruptive behavior. Inspired by a Buck Rogers comic strip, depicting the character calling for help with a communication device, E.T. is inspired to build a makeshift device to "phone home", using various parts around the Taylor home. E.T. also learns to speak English, and requests the children's help to build the device. They agree to help find the missing components, unaware that the agents have become suspicious they are harboring the alien.

On Halloween, the children disguise E.T. as a ghost and Elliott sneaks E.T. into the forest, where they set up the device to call E.T.'s people. Elliott begs E.T. to stay on Earth with him, before falling asleep and waking alone in the forest the next day. He returns home to his worried family, while Michael searches for E.T., finding him pale and weakened in a culvert. He takes E.T. home, where Elliott is also growing weaker, and reveals the creature to Mary just before government agents invade and quarantine the house. The lead agent, Keys, asks for Elliott's help to save E.T., stating that meeting aliens was his childhood dream and he considers E.T's arrival a genuine miracle. However, E.T. dies while Elliott rapidly recovers. Left alone to say goodbye, Elliott tells E.T. that he loves him, but E.T.'s heart begins to glow and he is revived and restored to health. E.T. tells Elliott that his people are returning for him.

Elliott and Michael flee with E.T. on their bikes, flanked by Michael's friends who help them evade the pursuing authorities. Heading towards a roadblock, E.T. levitates the boys to safety and lands them in the forest. E.T.'s ship arrives, and he says goodbye to Michael and Gertie, who gifts him the chrysanthemum he previously revived. Elliott tearfully asks E.T. to stay, but E.T. places his glowing finger on Elliott's head and tells him that he will always be there. The children, Mary, and Keys observe as the ship blasts off into space, leaving a rainbow in the sky.

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| footer = Henry Thomas (left), Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton and Drew Barrymore respectively play the roles of Elliott, Mary, Keys, Michael and Gertie.

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• Dee Wallace as Mary Taylor, a single mother to Elliott, Michael and Gertie
• Henry Thomas as Elliott Taylor, a 10-year-old boy who befriends E.T.
• Peter Coyote as Keys, a government agent bent on capturing E.T.
• Robert MacNaughton as Michael Taylor, Elliott and Gertie's older brother
• Drew Barrymore as Gertie Taylor, Elliott and Michael's younger sister
• K.C. Martel as Greg
• Sean Frye as Steve
• C. Thomas Howell as Tyler
• Erika Eleniak as Pretty Girl
• David O'Dell as Schoolboy
• Richard Swingler as Science Teacher
• Frank Toth as Policeman
• Robert Barton as Ultra Sound Man
• Michael Darrell as Van Man
• Pat Welsh as E.T. (voice; uncredited)

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| footer = Director Steven Spielberg (left) and co-producer Kathleen Kennedy, the latter of whom received her first producing credit with this film

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After his parents' divorce in 1960, Spielberg filled the void with an imaginary alien companion that he later recalled as "a friend who could be the brother [he] never had and a father that [he] didn't feel [he] had anymore". In 1978, he announced that he would shoot a film entitled Growing Up, which he would film in four weeks. However, the project was set aside due to delays on 1941, but the concept of making a small autobiographical film about childhood would stay with him. He also thought about a follow-up to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and began to develop a darker project he had planned with John Sayles called Night Skies, in which malevolent aliens terrorize a family.

Filming Raiders of the Lost Ark in Tunisia caused a sense of loneliness in Spielberg, far from his family and friends, and made memories of his childhood creation resurface. He told screenwriter Melissa Mathison about Night Skies, and developed a subplot from the failed project in which Buddy, the only friendly alien, befriends an autistic child. Buddy's abandonment on Earth in the script's final scene inspired the concept of E.T. Mathison wrote a first draft titled E.T. and Me in eight weeks, which Spielberg considered perfect. The script went through two more drafts, one by Matthew Robbins which deleted an "Eddie Haskell"–esque friend of Elliott's, named Lance. Robbins helped create the chase sequence and he suggested the scene where E.T. got drunk.

In mid-1981, while Raiders of the Lost Ark was being promoted, Columbia Pictures met with Spielberg to discuss the script, after having to develop Night Skies with the director as the intended sequel to Close Encounters of the Third Kind. However, Marvin Atonowsky, the head of Columbia Pictures' marketing and research development, concluded that it had limited commercial potential, believing that it would appeal to mostly young children. John Veitch, president of Columbia's worldwide productions, also felt that the script was not good or scary enough to be financially viable. On the advice of Atonowsky and Veitch, Columbia CEO Frank Price, who had already funneled nearly $1 million into the film's development (mostly on creature designer Rick Baker's alien models), was now calling it "a wimpy Walt Disney movie". He informed Spielberg that the project was officially being put into turnaround; Spielberg took the project to Sid Sheinberg, president of MCA, then the parent company of Universal Pictures. Spielberg told Sheinberg to acquire the E.T. script from Columbia Pictures, which he did for $1{{nbsp}}million and struck a deal with Price in which Columbia would retain 5% of the film's net profits. Veitch later recalled that "I think [in 1982] we made more on that picture than we did on any of our films."

File:Carlo Rambaldi al Giffoni Film Festival 2010 - cropped.jpg created E.T.'s design.]]

Carlo Rambaldi, who designed the aliens for Close Encounters of the Third Kind, was hired to design the animatronics for E.T. Rambaldi's own painting Women of Delta led him to give the creature a unique, extendable neck. Its face was inspired by those of Carl Sandburg, Albert Einstein and Ernest Hemingway. Producer Kathleen Kennedy visited the Jules Stein Eye Institute to study real and glass eyes. She hired Institute staffers to create E.T.'s eyes, which she felt were particularly important in engaging the audience. Four heads were created for filming, one as the main animatronic and the others for facial expressions, as well as a costume. A team of puppeteers controlled E.T.'s face with animatronics. Two little people, Tamara De Treaux and Pat Bilon, as well as 12-year-old Matthew DeMeritt, who was born without legs, took turns wearing the costume, depending on what scene was being filmed. DeMeritt actually walked on his hands and played all scenes where E.T. walked awkwardly or fell over. The head was placed above that of the actors, and the actors could see through slits in its chest. Caprice Roth, a professional mime, filled prosthetics to play E.T.'s hands. The puppet was created in three months at the cost of $1.5{{nbsp}}million. Spielberg declared that it was "something that only a mother could love".

Mars, Incorporated refused to allow M&M's to be used in the film, believing that E.T. would frighten children. The Hershey Company was asked if Reese's Pieces could be used, and it agreed. This product placement resulted in a large increase in Reese's Pieces sales. Science and technology educator Henry Feinberg created E.T.'s communicator device.

{{external media|float=right|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lVb590zo7c Henry Thomas' 1981 audition tape] that got him the part of Elliott via YouTube}}

Having worked with Cary Guffey on Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Spielberg felt confident in working with a cast composed mostly of child actors.{{Cite magazine | first = Steve | last = Daly | title = Starry Role | magazine = Entertainment Weekly | date = March 22, 2002 | url = https://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20036782_20037403_218829,00.html | access-date = April 17, 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100924002430/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20036782_20037403_218829,00.html | archive-date = September 24, 2010 }} For the role of Elliott, he auditioned hundreds of boys,{{harvnb|Brode|1995|p=117}} including Keith Coogan;{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediscoverthe80s.com/2020/01/interview-with-actor-keith-coogan.html|title=Interview with Actor Keith Coogan from 'Adventures in Babysitting' & More|website=www.rediscoverthe80s.com|access-date=October 5, 2021|archive-date=October 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005200508/https://www.rediscoverthe80s.com/2020/01/interview-with-actor-keith-coogan.html|url-status=live}} before Jack Fisk suggested Henry Thomas for the role because Henry had played the part of Harry in the film Raggedy Man, which Fisk had directed.{{Cite news | first = Tony | last = Pierce | title = How Steven Spielberg chose Henry Thomas to play Elliott in E.T. | url = http://www.oscars.org/news/how-steven-spielberg-chose-henry-thomas-play-elliott-et | date = November 3, 2014 | access-date = December 22, 2015 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223044646/http://www.oscars.org/news/how-steven-spielberg-chose-henry-thomas-play-elliott-et | archive-date = December 23, 2015 }} Thomas, who auditioned in an Indiana Jones costume, did not perform well in the formal testing, but got the filmmakers' attention in an improvised scene. Thoughts of his dead dog inspired his convincing tears.{{Cite news| first = Ian | last = Nathan | title = The 100 DVDs You Must Own | page = 27 | work = Empire |date=January 2003}} Robert MacNaughton auditioned eight times to play Michael, sometimes with boys auditioning for Elliott. Spielberg felt that Drew Barrymore had the right imagination for the mischievous Gertie after she impressed him with a story that she led a punk rock band. He enjoyed working with the children, and he later said that the experience made him feel ready to be a father. Ralph Macchio was considered for the role of Tyler, before it went to his eventual The Outsiders co-star C. Thomas Howell.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/ralph-macchio-recalls-meeting-drew-barrymore-during-the-et-audition-process/|title=Cobra Kai's Ralph Macchio Recalls Meeting Drew Barrymore During the E.T. Audition Process|website=People|access-date=October 7, 2021|archive-date=October 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007222200/https://people.com/tv/ralph-macchio-recalls-meeting-drew-barrymore-during-the-et-audition-process/|url-status=live}}

The major voice work of E.T. for the film was performed by Pat Welsh. She smoked two packs of cigarettes a day, which gave her voice a quality that sound effects creator Ben Burtt liked. She spent nine-and-a-half hours recording her part, and was paid $380 by Burtt for her services. He also recorded 16 other people and various animals to create E.T.'s "voice". These included Spielberg, actress Debra Winger, his sleeping wife sick with a cold, a burp from his University of Southern California film professor, raccoons, otters, and horses."The Making of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial"--from the "E.T. Signature Collection LaserDisc", MCA/Universal Home Video, 1996{{Cite news|first = Natalie | last = Jamieson |title=The man who brings movies to life|work=Newsbeat|date=July 16, 2008|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/entertainment/newsid_7509000/7509441.stm|access-date=July 17, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404025051/http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/entertainment/newsid_7509000/7509441.stm|archive-date=April 4, 2012}}

Doctors working at the USC Medical Center were recruited to play the ones who try to save E.T. after government agents take over Elliott's house. Spielberg felt that actors in the roles, performing lines of technical medical dialogue, would come across as unnatural.{{cite video | title = E.T. — The Reunion | medium = DVD | publisher = Universal, directed by Laurent Bouzereau |year= 2002}} During post-production, he decided to cut a scene featuring Harrison Ford as the principal at Elliott's school. It featured his character reprimanding Elliott for his behavior in biology class and warning of the dangers of underage drinking. He is then taken aback as Elliott's chair rises from the floor, while E.T. is levitating his "phone" equipment up the stairs with Gertie. Ford's face is never seen.{{cite web |last=Bush |first=Kimberly |title=Why Harrison Ford's 'E.T.' Scene Was Cut From the Final Film |url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/why-harrison-fords-e-t-scene-was-cut-from-the-final-film.html/ |website=Showbiz Cheat Sheet |access-date=December 30, 2019 |date=December 28, 2019 |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230183824/https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/why-harrison-fords-e-t-scene-was-cut-from-the-final-film.html/ |url-status=live }} The footage of this scene was included on the film's 1996 LaserDisc release as a bonus feature. It was not included on the DVD and Blu-ray releases that followed.{{cite magazine |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |title=The untold story behind Harrison Ford's deleted cameo in E.T. |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/03/30/e-t-harrison-ford-deleted-cameo-untold-story/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 30, 2017|access-date=June 21, 2022}}

Principal photography began in neighborhoods in Los Angeles County and in the San Fernando Valley on September 8, 1981.{{Cite news| author = David E. Williams | title = An Exceptional Encounter | pages = 34–7 | work = American Cinematographer |date=January 1983}} The project was filmed under the cover name A Boy's Life, as Spielberg did not want anyone to discover and plagiarize the plot. The actors had to read the script behind closed doors, and everyone on set had to wear an ID card. The shoot began with two days at Culver City High School, and the crew spent the next 11 days moving between locations at Northridge and Tujunga. The next 42 days were spent at Laird International Studios in Culver City for the interiors of Elliott's home.{{Cite news |title=Where Was ET Filmed? Extra-Terrestrial Filming Locations |url=https://www.thecinemaholic.com/extra-terrestrial-filming-locations/ |last=Patel |first=Varun |date=May 30, 2020 |work=The Cinemaholic |access-date=May 31, 2020 |archive-date=July 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731015125/https://www.thecinemaholic.com/extra-terrestrial-filming-locations/ |url-status=live }} The crew shot at a redwood forest near Crescent City in Northern California for the production's last six days. The exterior Halloween scene and the "flying bicycle" chase scenes were filmed in Porter Ranch.{{cite web | title = The Worldwide Guide To Movie Locations|publisher=Movie-Locations.com | url = http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/e/et.html | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150209022117/http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/e/et.html | archive-date = February 9, 2015 }}

Spielberg shot the film in roughly chronological order to achieve convincing emotional performances from his cast; it was also done to help the child actors with the workload. Spielberg calculated that the film would hit home harder if the children were really saying goodbye to E.T. at the end. In the scene in which Michael first encounters E.T., his appearance caused MacNaughton to jump back and knock down the shelves behind him. The chronological shoot gave the young actors an emotional experience as they bonded with E.T., making the quarantine sequences more moving. Spielberg ensured that the puppeteers were kept away from the set to maintain the illusion of a real alien. For the first time in his career, Spielberg did not storyboard most of the film, in order to facilitate spontaneity in the performances. The film was shot so adults, except for Dee Wallace, are never seen from the waist up in its first half, as a tribute to the cartoons of Tex Avery. According to Spielberg, the scene in which E.T. disguises himself as a stuffed toy in Elliott's closet was suggested by fellow director Robert Zemeckis after he read a draft of the screenplay that Spielberg had sent him.James Lipton (host). (2001). Inside the Actors Studio: Steven Spielberg. [Documentary]. Bravo. In between takes, the young actors spent time doing activities such as riding bicycles around the sound stages, playing Dungeons & Dragons, the game that Elliott, Michael, Steve, Tyler and Greg play in a scene early in the film, and attending school lessons.{{Cite news |title=E.T. cast member Sean Frye interview for 40th anniversary |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/et-cast-member-sean-frye-40th-anniversary-interview |last=Weiss |first=Josh |date=June 10, 2022 |work=Syfy |access-date=June 13, 2022}}{{Citation |last=Communications, Emmis |title=Robert MacNaughton |date=April 1986 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZBEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA85 |work=Orange Coast |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=80, 85 |postscript=. |access-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411225411/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZBEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA85 |url-status=live }}{{Citation |last=Buckland |first=Warren |title=Directed by Steven Spielberg: Poetics of the Contemporary Hollywood Blockbuster |url=https://archive.org/details/directedbysteven00buck/page/161 |page=[https://archive.org/details/directedbysteven00buck/page/161 161] |year=2006 |postscript=. |place=New York |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group |isbn=0-8264-1691-8}} The shoot was completed in 61 days, four ahead of schedule.

In a 2022 interview, Sean Frye, who played Steve, revealed how the visual effect close-up shots for the climax of the "flying bicycle" chase scene were filmed and reflected on the experience, saying: "We were on these rigs ... They're pulling the trees backwards, past us on tracks, so it looks like we're going through and up and through and over to create this illusion that we're going forward when we're going nowhere. Then the pushing and pulling of the things so that the bike is up and down, and we can get the 'Whoaaaa' effects. That was great." BMX riders Robert Cardoza, Greg Maes, and David Lee served as stunt doubles for the scene.{{Cite web |title=The BMX boys of E.T. |url=https://theweek.com/articles/445251/bmx-boys-et |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=The Week |date=August 3, 2014 |language=en}}

{{Main|E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (soundtrack)|E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (album)}}

File:E.T. Flying Theme by John Williams.ogg

Spielberg's regular collaborator John Williams described the challenge of creating a score that would generate sympathy for such an odd-looking creature. As with their previous collaborations, Spielberg liked every theme Williams composed and had it included. Spielberg loved the music for the final chase so much that he edited the sequence to suit it.{{cite video | people = John Williams | title = A Conversation with John Williams | medium = DVD | publisher = Universal |year= 2002}} Williams took a modernist approach, especially with his use of polytonality, which refers to the sound of two different keys played simultaneously. The Lydian mode can also be used in a polytonal way. Williams combined polytonality and the Lydian mode to express a mystic, dreamlike and heroic quality. His theme, emphasizing coloristic instruments such as the harp, piano, celesta, and other keyboards, as well as percussion, suggests E.T.'s childlike nature and his "machine".{{cite book |last1=Karlin |first1=Fred |first2=Rayburn |last2=Wright |title=On the Track: A Guide to Contemporary Film Scoring |location=New York |publisher=Schirmer Books |date=1990}} The soundtrack album was first released on June 11, 1982, the same day as the film.{{cite book |last1=Lawson |first1=Matt |first2=Laurence |last2=MacDonald |title=100 Greatest Film Scores |year=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=9781538103685 |page=92}} An audiobook companion album featuring Williams's score, produced by Quincy Jones and narrated by Michael Jackson, was released on November 15, 1982, exactly two weeks prior to Jackson's acclaimed sixth studio album Thriller.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AiQEAAAAMBAJ&q=ET+storybook&pg=PP1|title=Billboard|date=November 6, 1982|via=Google Books|access-date=August 8, 2022|archive-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814185432/https://books.google.com/books?id=AiQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PP1&dq=billboard+november+6,+1982&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj9z5O_l7HyAhWbHM0KHS8CAwUQ6AEwAXoECAYQAg#v=onepage&q=ET+storybook&f=false|url-status=live}}

File:ETChrist.jpg

Spielberg drew the story of the film from his parents' divorce.{{Cite news|first = Charles | last = Taylor |url=http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/movies/feature/2002/03/22/et/index.html |title=You can go home again |work=Salon |date=March 22, 2002 |access-date=September 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802152730/http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/movies/feature/2002/03/22/et/index.html |archive-date=August 2, 2008}} Gary Arnold of The Washington Post called it "essentially a spiritual autobiography, a portrait of the filmmaker as a typical suburban kid set apart by an uncommonly fervent, mystical imagination."{{Cite news|first=Gary|last=Arnold|title=E.T. Steven Spielberg's Joyful Excursion, Back to Childhood, Forward to the Unknown|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 6, 1982|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/22/AR2005062201424.html|access-date=December 30, 2017|archive-date=November 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127041359/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/22/AR2005062201424.html|url-status=live}} References to Spielberg's childhood occur throughout: Elliott fakes illness by holding a thermometer to the bulb in his lamp while covering his face with a heating pad, a trick frequently employed by the young Spielberg.{{harvnb|McBride|1997|p=13}} Michael picking on Elliott echoes Spielberg's teasing of his younger sisters, and Michael's evolution from tormentor to protector reflects how Spielberg had to take care of his sisters after their father left.

Critics have focused on the parallels between the lives of E.T. and Elliott, who is "alienated" by the loss of his father.Thomas A. Sebeok. "Enter Textuality: Echoes from the Extra-Terrestrial." In Poetics Today (1985), Porter Institute for Poetics and Semiotics. Published by Duke University Press.Ilsa J. Beck, "The Look Back in E.T.," Cinema Journal 31(4) (1992): 25–41, 33. Pauline Kael noted that "Elliot (his name begins with an 'E' and ends with a T.') is a dutiful, too sober boy who never takes off his invisible thinking cap; the telepathic communication he develops with E.T. eases his cautious, locked-up worries, and he begins to act on his impulses."{{Cite magazine| last=Kael| first=Pauline| title=E.T. The Extraterrestrial| date=June 14, 1982| magazine=The New Yorker}} A. O. Scott of The New York Times wrote that while E.T. "is the more obvious and desperate foundling," Elliott "suffers in his own way from the want of a home."{{Cite news | first = A. O. | last = Scott | author-link = A. O. Scott | title = Loss and Love, A Tale Retold. | work = The New York Times | date = March 22, 2002 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/22/movies/critic-s-notebook-loss-and-love-a-tale-retold.html | access-date = April 11, 2008 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080621032356/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9404EED71138F931A15750C0A9649C8B63 | archive-date = June 21, 2008 }}{{Cite news| first=Philip | last=Wuntch | title=Return of E.T. | work=The Dallas Morning News | date=July 19, 1985 }} At the film's heart is the theme of growing up. Some critics have suggested that Spielberg's portrayal of suburbia is very dark, contrary to popular belief. According to A.O. Scott, "the suburban milieu, with its unsupervised children and unhappy parents, its broken toys and brand-name junk food, could have come out of a Raymond Carver story." Charles Taylor of Salon.com wrote that "Spielberg's movies, despite the way they're often characterized, are not Hollywood idealizations of families and the suburbs. The homes here bear what the cultural critic Karal Ann Marling called 'the marks of hard use'." Relatedly, scholarship has emerged on the film regarding its subversion of the nuclear family dynamic, in which Elliott is growing up with a physically absent father and an emotionally absent mother; this aspect of the movie offers an exploration of upbringing within a nontraditional family structure.{{cite journal |last1=Beloso |first1=Brooke M. |title=Making E.T . Perfectly Queer: The alien other and the science fiction of sexual difference |journal=Feminist Media Studies |date=4 March 2014 |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=222–236 |doi=10.1080/14680777.2012.724023 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14680777.2012.724023?scroll=top&needAccess=true| issn=1468-0777|url-access=subscription }}

Other critics found religious parallels between E.T. and Jesus.{{Cite magazine|first=Stanley|last=Kauffmann|author-link=Stanley Kauffmann|title=The Gospel According to St. Steven|magazine=The New Republic|date=July 27, 1982|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/76829/the-gospel-according-st-steven|access-date=December 17, 2017|archive-date=July 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708142203/https://newrepublic.com/article/76829/the-gospel-according-st-steven|url-status=live}}Anton Karl Kozlovic. [https://www.usask.ca/relst/jrpc/art8-cinematicchrist.html "The Structural Characteristics of the Cinematic Christ-figure,"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050223221011/http://www.usask.ca/relst/jrpc/art8-cinematicchrist.html |date=February 23, 2005 }} Journal of Religion and Popular Culture 8 (Fall 2004).{{Cite journal |last=Kozlovic |first=Anton Karl |date=January 2, 2023 |title=The Cinematic Christ-figure: From Everyman to Antihero-antichrist |url=https://journal.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/kt/article/view/20034 |journal=Khazanah Theologia |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=1–20 |doi=10.15575/kt.v5i1.20034 |issn=2715-9701|doi-access=free }} Andrew Nigels described E.T.'s story as "crucifixion by military science" and "resurrection by love and faith."Nigel Andrews. "Tidings of comfort and joy." Financial Times (December 10, 1982), I11 According to Spielberg biographer Joseph McBride, Universal Pictures appealed directly to the Christian market, with a poster reminiscent of Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam (more specifically the "fingers touching" detail) and a logo reading "Peace". Spielberg answered that he did not intend the film to be a religious parable, joking, "If I ever went to my mother and said, 'Mom, I've made this movie that's a Christian parable,' what do you think she'd say? She has a Kosher restaurant on Pico and Doheny in Los Angeles."

Several writers have seen the movie as a modern fairy tale.Andrew Gordon. "E.T. as a Fairy Tale," Science Fiction Studies 10 (1983): 298–305. Critic Henry Sheehan described the film as a retelling of Peter Pan from the perspective of a Lost Boy (Elliott): E.T. cannot survive physically on Earth, as Pan could not survive emotionally in Neverland; government scientists take the place of Neverland's pirates. Furthering the parallels, there is a scene in the film where Mary reads Peter Pan to Gertie.{{Cite news|first = Henry | last = Sheehan |title=The Panning of Steven Spielberg |work=Film Comment |date=May–June 1992 |url=http://www.henrysheehan.com/essays/stuv/spielberg-1.html |access-date=July 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703105619/http://www.henrysheehan.com/essays/stuv/spielberg-1.html |archive-date=July 3, 2007}} Vincent Canby of The New York Times similarly observed that the film "freely recycles elements from" Peter Pan and The Wizard of Oz.{{harvnb|Rubin|2001|p=53}} Kael writes that "from the opening in the dense, vernal woodland that adjoins Elliot's suburb (it's where we first hear E.T.'s frightened sounds), the film has the soft, mysterious inexorability of the classic tale of enchantment. The little shed in the back of the house where Elliott tosses in a ball and E.T. sends it back is part of a dreamscape."

Producer Kathleen Kennedy noted that an important theme of the film is tolerance, which would be central to future Spielberg films such as Schindler's List. Having been a loner as a teenager, Spielberg described it as "a minority story".{{harvnb|Rubin|2001|p=22}} Spielberg's characteristic theme of communication is partnered with the ideal of mutual understanding; he has suggested that the story's central alien-human friendship is an analogy for how real-world adversaries can learn to overcome their differences.{{cite video | people = Richard Schickel (interviewer) | title = Spielberg on Spielberg | publisher = Turner Classic Movies |date = July 9, 2007}}

E.T. was previewed in Houston, Texas, and premiered at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival's closing gala on May 26, 1982,{{Cite news| first = Roger | last = Ebert | author-link = Roger Ebert |title=E.T.: The Second Coming|publisher=Movieline|date=August 9, 1985}}{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/1558/year/1982.html |title=Festival de Cannes: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial |work=Festival de Cannes |access-date=June 13, 2009 |publisher=festival-cannes.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103001651/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/1558/year/1982.html |archive-date=January 3, 2014}} and was released in the United States on June 11, 1982. It opened at number one at the US box office with a gross of $11{{nbsp}}million, and stayed at the top of the box office for six weeks; it then fluctuated between the first and second positions until October, before returning to the top spot for the final time in December during a brief holiday season re-release.{{cite web | title = E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial — Weekend Box Office | website = Box Office Mojo | url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=et.htm | access-date = April 18, 2007 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130921144022/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=et.htm | archive-date = September 21, 2013 }} In its second weekend, it recorded the highest-grossing second weekend of all time, surpassing the record of $10,765,687 set by Superman II in 1981.{{cite magazine|magazine=Daily Variety|date=October 27, 1982|page=46|title=Biggest North American Film Boxoffice Weekends in History|last=Murphy|first=A.D.}} In its fourth weekend, it recorded the highest-grossing weekend of all time, surpassing the record of $16,706,592 set earlier that year by Rocky III.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1982W27/occasion/us_july4_weekend/|title=Domestic 1982 Weekend 27|access-date=May 14, 2020|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-date=July 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731022534/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1982W27/occasion/us_july4_weekend/|url-status=live}} It had a record eight weekends with a gross of over $10 million, a feat not matched until Home Alone (1990),{{cite magazine|magazine=Daily Variety|page=107|date=October 28, 1991|title=Gross Out|last=Murphy|first=A.D.}} and set a record for being at number one for 16 weeks in total.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010044059/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/bestranked.htm?page=WKNDSAT1&p=.htm|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/bestranked.htm?page=WKNDSAT1&p=.htm|archive-date=October 10, 2018|access-date=May 14, 2020|website=Box Office Mojo|title=BEST RANKING MOVIES by Weekend Rank, 1982–Present}}

The film began its international rollout in Australia on November 26, 1982, and grossed $839,992 in its first 10 days from nine theatres, setting five weekly house records and 43 daily records. In South Africa, it opened in late November and grossed $724,340 in eight days from 14 screens, setting 13 weekly highs. In France, it opened on December 1, and had 930,000 admissions in its first five days on 250 screens, setting an all-time record in Paris for most daily admissions (Saturday, December 4). In Japan, it opened on December 4, and grossed $1,757,527 in two days from 35 theatres in 11 cities, setting 10 house records on Saturday and 14 on Sunday. In the United Kingdom, it opened on December 9 after a charity performance in London and grossed a record £1 million in its opening weekend.{{cite magazine|magazine=Screen International|date=December 10, 1988|page=1|title=Rabbit claims UK box office record}} The film added another 138 screens in Japan on December 11, with advance sales of 1.3 million tickets.{{cite magazine|magazine=Daily Variety|page=1|title=E.T. Taking Over the World|date=December 7, 1982}} It later opened in the Philippines in January 1983.{{cite news|last=Daza|first=Paul|title=Better, more magical 20 years later|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0lg1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=iyUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2414%2C3360203|access-date=June 10, 2023|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=April 8, 2002|page=A28}} In Finland, Norway, and Sweden, the film had minimum age ratings of 8, 12, and 11, respectively, while Denmark had no minimum age limit. There were Swedish people who were opposed to the age limit.{{cite web|last=Soderlind|first=Rolf|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1899&dat=19830120&id=tQpHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iPMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3254,2312589|title=Scandinavian censors ban ET|newspaper=The Lewiston Journal|via=Google News|date=1983-01-20|agency=Associated Press|page=5}}

In 1983, E.T. surpassed Star Wars to become the highest-grossing film of all time;{{cite web | last = Dirks | first = Tim | title = Top Films of All-Time: Part 1 – Box-Office Blockbusters | publisher = Filmsite.org | url = http://www.filmsite.org/greatfilmssummary.html | access-date = March 4, 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131014123530/http://www.filmsite.org/greatfilmssummary.html | archive-date = October 14, 2013 }} by the end of its theatrical run, it had grossed $359{{nbsp}}million in the United States and Canada and $619{{nbsp}}million worldwide.{{cite news |last=Wuntch |first=Philip |work=The Dallas Morning News |title=Return of E.T. |date=July 19, 1985 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_text_direct-0=0ED3CD81CFEA1C2E&p_field_direct-0=document_id |access-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-date=May 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517022355/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_text_direct-0=0ED3CD81CFEA1C2E&p_field_direct-0=document_id |url-status=live }} Box Office Mojo estimates that the film sold over 120{{nbsp}}million tickets in its initial U.S. theatrical run.{{cite web|access-date=May 31, 2016|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=et.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|title=E.T.:The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)|website=Box Office Mojo|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804215933/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=et.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|archive-date=August 4, 2016}} Spielberg earned $500,000 a day from his share of the profits,{{Cite news | title = Spielberg's Creativity | work = The New York Times | date = December 25, 1982 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/25/business/spielberg-s-creativity.html | access-date = April 17, 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090605190909/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/25/business/spielberg-s-creativity.html | archive-date = June 5, 2009 }}{{Cite news| first = Jim | last = Callo | title = Director Steven Spielberg Takes the Wraps Off E.T., Revealing His Secrets at Last | work=People | date = August 23, 1982}} while The Hershey Company's profits rose 65% due to the film's prominent placement of Reese's Pieces. The "Official E.T. Fan Club" offered photographs, a newsletter that let readers "relive the film's unforgettable moments [and] favorite scenes", and a vinyl record with "phone home" and other sound clips.{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/Ahoy_Issue_01_1984-01_Ion_International_US#page/n89/mode/2up | title=Yours Free From E.T. With Membership | work=Ahoy! | date=January 1984 | access-date=June 27, 2014 | page=91 | type=advertisement | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316052336/https://archive.org/stream/Ahoy_Issue_01_1984-01_Ion_International_US#page/n89/mode/2up | archive-date=March 16, 2016 }}

The film was also a merchandising success, with dolls selling {{nowrap|15 million}} units by September 1982 and becoming the best-selling toy that Christmas season.{{cite book |last1=Labov |first1=William |last2=Browne |first2=Ray Broadus |last3=Browne |first3=Pat |title=The Guide to United States Popular Culture |date=2001 |publisher=Popular Press |isbn=978-0-87972-821-2 |page=244 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U3rJxPYT32MC&pg=PA244 |language=en |access-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914010615/https://books.google.com/books?id=U3rJxPYT32MC&pg=PA244 |url-status=live }} E.T. went on to generate over {{US$|1 billion|long=no}} in merchandise sales by 1998.{{cite book |last=Knight |first=Bertram T. |title=Steven Spielberg: master of movie magic |date=1998 |publisher=Crestwood House |isbn=9780382395079 |page=48 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gfkinz9_0SQC&q=billion+merchandise |quote=In addition, more than $1 billion in E.T. merchandise was sold |access-date=August 16, 2018 |archive-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801112136/https://books.google.com/books?id=gfkinz9_0SQC&q=billion+merchandise |url-status=live }} Following the success of the film, Kuwahara, the company that created the BMX bikes featured in the film, began producing red and white "E.T." models in three price and quality levels.[http://www.dreamgate.ne.jp/kuwahara/history/et.html ET Kuwahara] Kuwahara reissued the E.T. model in 2002, as part of the film's 20th anniversary, and again in 2022 as part of the film's 40th anniversary.{{cite news | first=Jenna |last=Busch| url=https://www.slashfilm.com/846086/elliotts-bike-from-e-t-the-extra-terrestrial-can-soon-be-yours-but-dont-you-dare-try-to-fly-it/ | title= Elliott's Bike From E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Can Soon Be Yours, But Don't You Dare Try To Fly It | work=/Film | date=April 27, 2022 | access-date=June 17, 2022}}

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The film was re-released in 1985 and 2002, earning another $60{{nbsp}}million and $68{{nbsp}}million respectively,{{cite web |title=E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (Re-issue) |website=Box Office Mojo |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=et85.htm |access-date=March 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530183914/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=et85.htm |archive-date=May 30, 2013 }}{{cite web |title=E.T. (20th Anniversary) |website=Box Office Mojo |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=et20th.htm |access-date=March 6, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305171100/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=et20th.htm |archive-date=March 5, 2012}} for a worldwide total of $792{{nbsp}}million with $435{{nbsp}}million from the United States and Canada. It held the global record until it was surpassed by Jurassic Park, another Spielberg film, in 1993,{{cite web |title=Jurassic Park (1993) – Miscellaneous notes |publisher=Turner Classic Movies |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/80025/jurassic-park#notes |access-date=November 20, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002025740/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/80025/Jurassic-Park/misc-notes.html |archive-date=October 2, 2013}} although it managed to hold on to the United States and Canada record for a further four years, until the release of the Special Edition of Star Wars.{{cite web | last = Dirks | first = Tim | title = Greatest Movie Series Franchises of All Time: The Star Wars Trilogy – Part IV | publisher = Filmsite.org | url = http://www.filmsite.org/series-starwars4.html | access-date = March 4, 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131003231735/http://www.filmsite.org/series-starwars4.html | archive-date = October 3, 2013 }}

It was re-released in IMAX on August 12, 2022, in the United States and Canada, to commemorate the film's 40th anniversary, alongside an IMAX and RealD 3D reissue of another Spielberg film Jaws scheduled for September 2. Jim Orr, Universal's president of distribution remarked "No filmmaker, it's fair to say, has had a greater or more enduring impact on American cinema or has created more indelible cinematic memories for tens of billions of people worldwide. We couldn't think of a more perfect way to celebrate the anniversary of E.T. and the first Universal-Spielberg summer blockbuster, Jaws, than to allow audiences to experience these films in a way they've never been able to before."{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/et-the-extra-terrestrial-and-jaws-set-for-first-ever-imax-release-1235041696/ | title=Steven Spielberg's Classics 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial' and 'Jaws' Set for First-Ever Imax Release | date=June 9, 2022 }} The IMAX release grossed $490,000 on its first day from 389 theaters, for a three-day total of $1.07 million and a $438{{nbsp}}million running total.{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/box-office-bullet-train-bodies-bodies-bodies-pete-davidson-1235091498/ | title='Bullet Train' Second Go-Round Now At $13.4M As Summer 2022 Clocks Lowest Weekend To Date With $66M – Sunday Box Office Update | date=August 14, 2022 }}

The film would remain one of Universal's top three highest-grossing films of all time in North America, behind Jurassic World (2015) and The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), until 2024 with the release of Wicked, the first installment of the musical's two-part film adaptation. As of 2025, the film remains the studio's fifteenth highest-grossing film of all time worldwide.{{cite web|url= https://collider.com/wicked-top-3-highest-grossing-univeral-movies/ |title='Wicked' Just Passed an Alien To Become One of the Highest-Grossing Universal Movies Ever |work=Collider |last=Blevins |first=Adam |date=January 14, 2025 |access-date=January 31, 2025}}

E.T. was eventually released on VHS and LaserDisc on October 27, 1988. The videos were priced with a recommended retail price of $24.95, the lowest initial price at the time for a major movie compared to the normal price of $89.95.{{cite news|last=Harmetz|first=Aljean|title='E.T.,' Box-Office Champ, Sets Video Records|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/27/movies/et-box-office-champ-sets-video-records.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 27, 1988|access-date=October 4, 2022}} To combat piracy, the tapeguards and tape hubs on the videocassettes were colored green, and the tape itself was affixed with a small, holographic sticker of the 1963 Universal logo (much like the holograms on a credit card), and encoded with Macrovision. The film doubled the record pre-orders of Cinderella released the same month and went on to sell over 15{{nbsp}}million VHS units in the United States, and grossed over {{US$|250 million|long=no}} in video sales revenue.{{cite magazine|magazine=Screen International|date=September 24, 1988|page=1|title=E.T. home and dry for video record}}{{cite book |last=Hall |first=Sheldon |title=Epics, Spectacles, and Blockbusters: A Hollywood History |date=2010 |publisher=Wayne State University Press |isbn=978-0814336977 |page=238 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ro0hASPfC68C&pg=PA238 |access-date=August 16, 2018 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020072345/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ro0hASPfC68C&pg=PA238 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=VCR: a boon for the bargain hunter |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/10/24/VCR-a-boon-for-the-bargain-hunter-Electronics/4030899165864/ |work=United Press International |date=October 24, 1988 |access-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905215004/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/10/24/VCR-a-boon-for-the-bargain-hunter-Electronics/4030899165864/ |url-status=live }} The VHS cassette was also rented over six million times during its first two weeks in 1988, a record it held until the VHS release of Batman the following year.{{cite news |title=Batman' sets video rental record |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/12/13/Batman-sets-video-rental-record/5316629528400/ |work=United Press International |date=December 13, 1989 |access-date=August 16, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140918/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/12/13/Batman-sets-video-rental-record/5316629528400/ |url-status=live }} Conservative Christians who were still angry about Universal's release of The Last Temptation of Christ earlier in the year called for a boycott of this release.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-09-10.pdf Billboard - September 10, 1988] Initial orders internationally exceeded $30 million despite the film often being sold at full price, setting records in the United Kingdom with over 81,000 units and Australia with 35,500 units. It initially shipped 152,000 units in Japan and 87,000 in Germany.{{cite magazine|magazine=Screen International|date=November 5, 1988|page=2|title=E.T. video notces $30m for CIC, $150m for MCA Home Video}} In 1991, Sears began selling E.T. videocassettes exclusively at their stores as part of a holiday promotion.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-27-ca-222-story.html|title='E.T.'...Call Sears : Giant Retailer Uses Giant Film to Ring in Holiday Ratings, Shoppers|last=CERONE|first=DANIEL|date=November 27, 1991|newspaper=Los Angeles Times |issn=0458-3035|access-date=September 8, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829010239/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-11-27/entertainment/ca-222_1_sears-stores|archive-date=August 29, 2016}} It was reissued on VHS and LaserDisc again in 1996, with the latter including a 90-minute documentary produced and directed by Laurent Bouzereau; it included interviews with Spielberg, producer Kathleen Kennedy, composer John Williams, and other cast and crew members, as well as two theatrical trailers, an isolated music score, deleted scenes, and still galleries. The VHS included a 10-minute version of the same documentary from the LaserDisc.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/'E.T.+the+EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL'+RETURNS%253B+MULTI-MILLION+DOLLAR+CROSS...-a018394628|title='E.T. the EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL' RETURNS; MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CROSS PROMOTION WITH PILLSBURY ANNOUNCED|publisher=PR Newswire via the Free Online Library|access-date=September 14, 2016|archive-date=January 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111142759/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/%27E.T.+the+EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL%27+RETURNS%253B+MULTI-MILLION+DOLLAR+CROSS...-a018394628|url-status=live}} Both 1996 home video releases of the film were also THX certified as well.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkshire-eagle-funny-to-some-upset/156372099/ |title=Funny to some, upsetting to others |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001193639/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkshire-eagle-funny-to-some-upset/156372099/ |date=October 4, 1996 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |page=35 |publisher=The Berkshire Eagle |url-status=live}} {{Open access}} The 2012 release of E.T. on DVD and Blu-ray grossed {{US$|24.4 million|long=no}} in sales revenue {{as of|2017|lc=y}} in the United States.{{cite web |title=ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) – Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/ET-The-Extra-Terrestrial |website=The Numbers |access-date=June 10, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143601/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/ET-The-Extra-Terrestrial |url-status=live }}

File:ET Moon.jpg|date=January 2004}} {{cite web|title=ET's bike flight 'cinema's most magical moment'|work=Breaking News |date=November 30, 2003|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/entertainment/kfcwmhojgboj/|access-date=May 17, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202111331/http://www.breakingnews.ie/entertainment/kfcwmhojgboj/|archive-date=February 2, 2014}} The scene is a tribute to the 1951 Vittorio De Sica film Miracle in Milan, one of Spielberg's favorite films.{{cite web|url=http://www.cracked.com/article_19826_6-iconic-scenes-ripped-off-from-lesser-known-movies.html|title=6 Iconic Scenes Ripped Off From Lesser-Known Movies|date=May 14, 2012|publisher=Cracked|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711035638/http://www.cracked.com/article_19826_6-iconic-scenes-ripped-off-from-lesser-known-movies.html|archive-date=July 11, 2016}}]]

Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars and wrote, "It works as science fiction, it's sometimes as scary as a monster movie, and at the end, when the lights go up, there's not a dry eye in the house."{{Cite book| last=Ebert| first=Roger| title=Roger Ebert's Four-Star Reviews 1967-2007}} He later added it to his canon of "Great Movies", structuring the essay as a letter to his grandchildren about watching it with them. Of the scene with the flying bicycles, he writes: "I remember when I saw the movie at Cannes: Even the audience there, people who had seen thousands of movies, let out a whoop at that moment."{{cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |title=E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (2002)|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-et-the-extra-terrestrial-1982|publisher=RogerEbert.com|access-date=February 9, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129132649/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-et-the-extra-terrestrial-1982|archive-date=January 29, 2016}} Michael Sragow of Rolling Stone called Spielberg "a space age Jean Renoir.{{nbsp}}... for the first time, [he] has put his breathtaking technical skills at the service of his deepest feelings".{{Cite magazine| first = Michael | last = Sragow | title = Extra-Terrestrial Perception | magazine = Rolling Stone | date = July 8, 1982}} Derek Malcolm of The Guardian wrote that "E.T. is a superlative piece of popular cinema [...] a dream of childhood, brilliantly orchestrated to involve not only children but anyone able to remember being one".{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/1982/dec/09/derekmalcolmscenturyoffilm | title=Raiders of the Ugly Duckling | work=The Guardian | date=December 9, 1982 | access-date=July 17, 2016 | first = Derek | last = Malcolm | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825233105/https://www.theguardian.com/film/1982/dec/09/derekmalcolmscenturyoffilm | archive-date=August 25, 2016 }} Leonard Maltin included it in his list of "100 Must-See Films of the 20th Century" as one of only two movies from the 1980s.{{cite web |last=Maltin |first=Leonard |url=http://www.filmsite.org/maltin2.html |title=100 Must-See Films of the 20th Century Part 2 |website=Filmsite |author-link=Leonard Maltin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015115555/http://www.filmsite.org/maltin2.html |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |url-status=live}} Political commentator George Will was one of few to pan the film, feeling it spread subversive notions about childhood and science.{{Cite news| first = George | last = Will | author-link = George Will | title = Well, I Don't Love You, E.T. | work = Newsweek | date = July 19, 1982}}

John Nubbin reviewed E.T. for Different Worlds magazine and stated that "E.T. is a totally enjoyable film. The detail lavished on the movie makes it an exquisite viewing experience well above the crowd of the summer releases."{{cite journal | last = Nubbin |first = John | title = Fantasy & Science Fiction Films | journal = Different Worlds | issue = 23 | pages =50 |date=August 1982}}

The film holds a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 146 reviews, and an average rating of 9.2/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Playing as both an exciting sci-fi adventure and a remarkable portrait of childhood, Steven Spielberg's touching tale of a homesick alien remains a piece of movie magic for young and old."{{cite web | title = E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) | publisher = Fandango Media | work = Rotten Tomatoes | url = https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/et_the_extraterrestrial/ | access-date = December 9, 2019 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131223004034/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/et_the_extraterrestrial/ | archive-date = December 23, 2013 }} On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 92/100 based on 30 reviews.{{cite web | title = E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (re-release) Reviews | publisher = CBS Interactive | work = Metacritic | url = https://www.metacritic.com/movie/et-the-extra-terrestrial | access-date = October 16, 2008 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131028011401/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/et-the-extra-terrestrial | archive-date = October 28, 2013 }} In addition to the film's wide acclaim, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan were moved by it after a screening at the White House on June 27, 1982. Princess Diana was in tears after watching it. On September 17, 1982, it was screened at the United Nations, and Spielberg received a UN Peace Medal.{{Cite news| title = U.N. Finds E.T. O.K. | work = The Twilight Zone Magazine |date=February 1983}} CinemaScore reported that audiences polled during the opening weekend gave the film a rare "A+" grade, the first film to earn that grade.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/why-cinemascore-matters-box-office-225563|title=Why CinemaScore Matters for Box Office|first = Pamela | last = McClintock |work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 19, 2011|access-date=September 14, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426043610/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/why-cinemascore-matters-box-office-225563|archive-date=April 26, 2014}}

File:E.T. figure at Madame Tussauds London.jpg, London]]

The film was nominated for nine Oscars at the 55th Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Gandhi won that award, but its director, Richard Attenborough, said, "I was certain that not only would E.T. win, but that it should win. It was inventive, powerful, wonderful. I make more mundane movies."{{harvnb|Shay|Duncan|1993|p=122}} E.T. won four Academy Awards: Best Original Score, Best Sound (Robert Knudson, Robert Glass, Don Digirolamo, and Gene Cantamessa), Best Sound Effects Editing (Charles L. Campbell and Ben Burtt), and Best Visual Effects (Carlo Rambaldi, Dennis Muren, and Kenneth F. Smith).{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1983 |title=The 55th Academy Awards (1983) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 9, 2011 |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/55th-winners.html |archive-date=September 5, 2012}} At the 40th Golden Globe Awards, the film won Best Picture in the Drama category and Best Original Score; it was also nominated for Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best New Male Star for Henry Thomas. The Los Angeles Film Critics Association awarded the film Best Picture, Best Director, and a "New Generation Award" for Melissa Mathison.{{cite web | title = E.T. Awards | publisher = AllMovie | url = https://allmovie.com/work/et-the-extra-terrestrial-15032/awards | access-date = April 17, 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090321211804/http://www.allmovie.com/work/et-the-extra-terrestrial-15032/awards | archive-date = March 21, 2009 }} The film won Saturn Awards for Best Science Fiction Film, Best Writing, Best Special Effects, Best Music, and Best Poster Art, while Henry Thomas, Robert McNaughton, and Drew Barrymore won Young Artist Awards. In addition to his Academy, Golden Globe and Saturn, composer John Williams won two Grammy Awards and a BAFTA for the score. The film's audiobook album also won the Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards in 1984.{{refn|In order to be eligible for a Grammy Award at the 1984 ceremony, nominated records had to be released between October 1, 1982, and September 30, 1983.{{cite news|title=Michael Jackson big Grammy winner|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OW4sAAAAIBAJ&pg=6904,6865310&dq=grammy+awards+eligibility&hl=en|newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|date=February 29, 1984|access-date=May 8, 2012}}|group=n}}{{cite news|last=Hilburn|first=Robert|date=February 29, 1984|title=The Jackson 8: A 'Thriller' at the Grammys|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/671418122.html?dids=671418122:671418122&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Feb+29%2C+1984&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=The+Jackson+8%3A+A+%27Thriller%27+at+the+Grammys&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131211346/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/671418122.html?dids=671418122:671418122&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Feb+29,+1984&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=The+Jackson+8:+A+'Thriller'+at+the+Grammys&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 9, 2012}}

{{Clear}}

In American Film Institute polls, the film has been voted the 24th greatest film of all time,{{cite web|title=AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies|publisher=American Film Institute|url=http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/movies.aspx|access-date=April 4, 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070403094338/http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/movies.aspx| archive-date = April 3, 2007}} the 44th most heart-pounding,{{cite web|title=America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies|publisher=American Film Institute|url=http://www.afi.com/100Years/thrills.aspx|access-date=April 4, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225212216/http://afi.com/100Years/thrills.aspx|archive-date=December 25, 2013}} and the sixth most inspiring.{{cite web|title=America's Most Uplifting Movies|publisher=American Film Institute|url=http://www.afi.com/100Years/cheers.aspx|access-date=April 4, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308093713/http://www.afi.com/100Years/cheers.aspx|archive-date=March 8, 2016}} Other AFI polls rated it as having the 14th greatest music score{{cite web|title=AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores|publisher=American Film Institute|url=https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-of-film-scores/|access-date=October 10, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225213455/http://afi.com/100Years/scores.aspx|archive-date=December 25, 2013}} and as the third greatest science-fiction one.{{cite news | url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=46072 | title=AFI Crowns Top 10 Films in 10 Classic Genres | date=June 17, 2008 | access-date=June 18, 2008 | publisher=American Film Institute | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012033350/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=46072 | archive-date=October 12, 2013 }} The line "E.T. phone home" was ranked 15th on AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes list,{{cite web| title = AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes | publisher = American Film Institute | url = http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/quotes.aspx#list | access-date = February 15, 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070210002901/http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/quotes.aspx| archive-date = February 10, 2007}} and 48th on Premiere{{'s}} top movie quote list.{{Cite news| title = The 100 Greatest Movie Lines | work = Premiere | url = http://www.premiere.com/gallery.aspx?section_id=66&webtrends_section=best&article_id=3713§ion_prefix=best&window_id=1&gallery_id=298&page_number=1&seq=53&cnt=49 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213051918/http://www.premiere.com/gallery.aspx?section_id=66&webtrends_section=best&article_id=3713§ion_prefix=best&window_id=1&gallery_id=298&page_number=1&seq=53&cnt=49 | archive-date=December 13, 2007 | access-date = April 26, 2007}} In 2005, it topped a Channel 4 poll in the UK of the 100 greatest family films,{{cite web| title = 100 Greatest Family Films | publisher = Channel 4 | url = http://www.channel4.com/film/newsfeatures/microsites/F/greatest-familymovies/results/5-1.html | access-date = April 17, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080624091116/http://www.channel4.com/film/newsfeatures/microsites/F/greatest-familymovies/results/5-1.html |archive-date = June 24, 2008}} and was listed by Time as one of the 100 best movies ever made.{{cite magazine | first = Richard | last = Corliss | author-link = Richard Corliss | title = E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) | magazine = Time | url = http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,1953094,00.html | access-date = April 17, 2010 | date = February 12, 2005 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110831093529/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0%2C28757%2C1953094%2C00.html | archive-date = August 31, 2011 }} The February 2020 issue of New York Magazine lists E.T. as among "The Best Movies That Lost Best Picture at the Oscars."{{cite news|title=The Best Movies That Lost Best Picture at the Oscars|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-oscar-best-picture-losers.html|magazine=New York Magazine|access-date=March 17, 2025}}

In 2003, Entertainment Weekly called the film the eighth most "tear-jerking";{{Cite magazine | title = #8 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial | magazine = Entertainment Weekly | date = November 19, 2003 | url = https://ew.com/gallery/25-best-movie-tearjerkers-ever/ | access-date = May 11, 2007 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140108083423/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C547069%2C00.html | archive-date = January 8, 2014 }} in 2007, in a survey of both films and television series, the magazine declared it the seventh greatest work of science-fiction media in the past 25 years.{{Cite magazine | first = Gregory | last = Kirschling | title = The Sci-Fi 25 | magazine = Entertainment Weekly | date = May 7, 2007 | url = https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20036782_20037403_20037541_19,00.html | access-date = May 7, 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070508050722/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20036782_20037403_20037541_19,00.html | archive-date = May 8, 2007 }} The Times also named it as their ninth favorite alien in a film, calling it "one of the best-loved non-humans in popular culture".{{Cite news|first = Michael | last = Moran |title=The 40 most memorable aliens|work=The Times|date=October 5, 2007|url=http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/specials/space/article2575490.ece|access-date=October 8, 2007|location=London|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004212911/http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/specials/space/article2575490.ece|archive-date=October 4, 2011}} It is among the top ten in the BFI list of the 50 films you should see by the age of 14. In 1994, it was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/film/nfrchron.html|title=Films Selected to The National Film Registry, Library of Congress 1989–2006|publisher=National Film Registry of the Library of Congress|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501155016/http://www.loc.gov/film/nfrchron.html|archive-date=May 1, 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=February 15, 2007}} In 2011, ABC aired Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time, revealing the results of a poll of fans conducted by ABC and People magazine: It was selected as the fifth best film of all time and the second best science fiction film.{{cite web|work=ABC News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/entertainment/best_film/|title=Best in Film|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603171853/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Best_Film|archive-date=June 3, 2015}} On October 22, 2012, Madame Tussauds unveiled wax likenesses of E.T. at six of its international locations.{{cite web|title=E.T. Immortalized In Wax Around The World|url=http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/et-immortalized-wax-around-world|agency=Associated Press|access-date=October 22, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202084736/http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/et-immortalized-wax-around-world|archive-date=February 2, 2014}}

A species of sponge, Advhena magnifica, was given the common name "E.T. sponge" due to its resemblance of the creature.{{Cite web |last=Fisheries |first=NOAA |date=2021-01-06 |title=A Magnificent New Sponge from the Deep Gets a Name {{!}} NOAA Fisheries |url=https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/magnificent-new-sponge-deep-gets-name |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=NOAA |language=en}}

In 2023, actress Rita Moreno, who starred in Spielberg's 2021 film adaptation of the musical West Side Story, named E.T. as one of her top five favorite films, saying "Number one, it has superb child actors, which can really only happen because of Steven Spielberg. He is just great with children because he's like a child himself. It's a very interesting phenomenon."{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=Calum |date=2023-11-26 |title=Rita Moreno names her five favourite movies of all time|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/rita-moreno-five-favourite-movies-of-all-time/ |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=Far Out |language=en}}

Many people in the world of entertainment have cited E.T. as among their favorite films, including filmmakers Stanley Kubrick, Sidney Lumet, Edgar Wright, J. A. Bayona, Dustin Lance Black, Spenser Cohen, Dustin Guy Defa, Gareth Edwards, Michael Giacchino, Sarah Greenwood, Chad Hartigan, Max Hechtman, Jordan Horowitz, Phil Joanou, Travis Knight, David Lowery, Rod Roddenberry, Céline Sciamma, Ed Solomon, Goran Stolevski, Clement Virgo and Molly Manning Walker, actors Dana Barron, Rosamund Pike, Jeremy Renner and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and television personality Heidi Klum.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:{{Cite web |title=Dustin Lance Black: 6 Movies That Were Formative to Me|url=https://newsletter.oscars.org/what-to-watch/post/dustin-lance-black-6-movies-that-were-formative-to-me|access-date=2025-03-31 |website=The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Saad |first=Nadine |date=2024-11-01 |title=Heidi Klum is always extra on Halloween. This year she was E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-11-01/heidi-klum-halloween-costume-2024-et-extra-terrestrial|access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |title='Tarot' Directors Anna Halberg & Spenser Cohen's Top 5|url=https://newsletter.oscars.org/what-to-watch/post/anna-halberg-spenser-cohen-top-5-exclusive|access-date=2025-03-31 |website=The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Chapman |first1=Wilson |date=2023-09-12 |title=Céline Sciamma's Favorite Films: 10 Movies the 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire' Director Wants You to See|url=https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/celine-sciamma-favorite-films/|access-date=2025-03-31 |website=IndieWire |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Palmer |first=Elle |date=2024-02-13 |title=Rosamund Pike names her favourite movies of all time|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/rosamund-pike-favourite-movies-all-time/|access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Far Out |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Scott |date=2023-12-28 |title=Stanley Kubrick's favourite science-fiction movies|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/stanley-kubrick-favourite-sci-fi-movies/|access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Far Out |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Bose |first=Swapnil Dhruv |date=2022-06-25 |title=Sidney Lumet once named his 35 favourite films of all time|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/sidney-lumet-favourite-films-all-time/|access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Far Out |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Ehrlich |first1=David |last2=Erbland |first2=Kate |last3=Hemphill |first3=Jim |date=2023-08-18 |title=The Best Films of the '80s: Todd Field, Bill Hader, Nia DaCosta, Wayne Wang, and More Share Their Picks|url=https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/best-movies-80s-stars-lists/|access-date=2025-03-31 |website=IndieWire |language=en}}{{Cite Instagram |author-link=Max Hechtman |user=maxhechtman |postid=ChYZLNTuJII |date=August 17, 2022 |title=There are some movies that transcend time and remain relevant to this day. And this, of course, is one of them. What an experience it was seeing Steven Spielberg's "E.T." on the big screen for the first time for its 40th anniversary, in @imax ! The famous bicycle flight scenes never looked more immersive than the few times when I watched the 20th anniversary version on DVD, and John Williams' score never sounded more powerful than ever before. The photo on the left is from when I celebrated my 6th birthday with an E.T.-themed party. |access-date=March 31, 2025 |link=https://www.instagram.com/p/ChYZLNTuJll/}}{{cite tweet|user=creatorthefilm|author=The Creator|number=1681091431837085696|title=There's two sides to it: the world building side and the emotional character side. In terms of world building, I'd say the following films are masterpieces: Apocalypse Now, Baraka, Blade Runner, Akira. Films like Rain Man, The Hit, E.T., and Paper Moon for the emotional side. - GE #TheCreator|date=July 17, 2023|access-date=August 11, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/j-a-bayonas-five-favorite-films/ |title=J.A. Bayona's Five Favorite Films |work=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=April 11, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/arnold-schwarzeneggers-five-or-six-favorite-films/ |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger's Five (or Six) Favorite Films |work=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=April 11, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/travis-knights-five-favorite-films/ |title=Travis Knight's Five Favorite Films |work=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=April 11, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/jeremy-renners-five-favorite-films/ |title=Jeremy Renner's Five Favorite Films |work=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=April 11, 2025}}}}

Elements of the film, particularly the story, iconography and musical score, would go on to influence or be referenced in other media, including the films Back to the Future (1985), Stand by Me (1988), Super 8 (2011), Arrival (2016), Nope (2022) and Elio (2025),{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/great-movies-inspired-by-et-extra-terrestrial/ |title=9 Great Movies That Were Inspired By E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial |work=Screenrant |last=Walters |first=Jack |date=September 19, 2022 |access-date=January 31, 2025}}https://www.slashfilm.com/1870769/pixar-elio-et-the-extra-terrestrial-john-carpenter-the-thing-cues/ as well as the Netflix series Stranger Things (2016–2025).{{cite web |url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1295417/stranger-things-netflix-et-steven-spielberg-connection-tv-science-fiction-eleven-star-spt |title=Stranger Things: Netflix show's unusual connection to Steven Spielberg's ET revealed |work=Daily Express |last=Saunders |first=Josh |date=June 13, 2020 |access-date=January 31, 2025}}

File:ET1982.jpg

An extended version of the film, dubbed the "Special Edition" (currently out of circulation), including altered dialogue and visual effects, premiered at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on March 16, 2002; it was released on home media six days later. Certain shots of E.T. had bothered Spielberg since 1982, as he did not have enough time to perfect the animatronics. Computer-generated imagery (CGI), provided by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), was used to modify several shots, including ones of E.T. running in the opening sequence and being spotted in the cornfield. The spaceship's design was also altered to include more lights. The first flying sequence where Elliott and E.T. fly on their bicycle through the forest now had the cape of Elliott's Halloween costume flap in the wind as it appeared to have originally been intended to be, a change done to have the sequence, particularly the iconic shot of them flying past the Moon, match the film's poster and the logo of Spielberg's production company Amblin Entertainment.

Scenes shot for but not included in the original version were introduced. These included E.T. taking a bath and Gertie telling Mary that Elliott went to the forest on Halloween. Mary's dialogue, during the offscreen argument with Michael about his Halloween costume, was altered to replace the word "terrorist" with "hippie" in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Spielberg did not add the scene featuring Harrison Ford, feeling that would reshape the film too drastically. He became more sensitive about the scene where gun-wielding federal agents confront Elliott and his escaping friends and had them digitally replaced with walkie-talkies. Spielberg later admitted that he regretted editing out the guns from the film, stating that the film should be left untouched to represent the culture of its time.{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/steven-spielberg-regrets-editing-guns-et-censorship-1235594163/ | title=Steven Spielberg Regrets Editing Guns Out of 'E.T.,' Says 'No Film Should be Revised' for Today's Standards: 'That Was a Mistake' |work=Variety | date=April 25, 2023 }}

At the premiere, John Williams conducted a live performance of the score.{{cite video | title = Live at the Shrine! John Williams and the premiere of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | medium = DVD | publisher = Universal |year = 2002}} The new release grossed $68{{nbsp}}million in total, with $35{{nbsp}}million coming from Canada and the United States. The changes to it, particularly the escape scene, were criticized as political correctness. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone wondered "Remember those guns the feds carried? Thanks to the miracle of digital, they're now brandishing walkie-talkies.{{nbsp}}... Is this what two decades have done to free speech?"{{Cite magazine| first = Peter | last = Travers | author-link = Peter Travers | title = E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial | magazine = Rolling Stone | date = March 14, 2002 | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5948461/review/5948462/et_the_extraterrestrial | access-date=May 12, 2007 | url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114114318/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5948461/review/5948462/et_the_extraterrestrial |archive-date=January 14, 2009}} Chris Hewitt of Empire wrote, "The changes are surprisingly low-key{{nbsp}}... while ILM's CGI E.T. is used sparingly as a complement to Carlo Rambaldi's extraordinary puppet."{{Cite news|last=Hewitt|first=Chris|title=E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: 20th Anniversary Special Edition|work=Empire|url=https://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=7808|url-status=dead|access-date=February 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619180157/http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=7808|archive-date=June 19, 2013}} South Park ridiculed many of the changes in the 2002 episode "Free Hat".{{cite episode |title=Free Hat |episode-link=Free Hat |series=South Park |credits= Trey Parker, Matt Stone |station=Comedy Central |airdate=July 10, 2002 |season=6 |number=88}}

The two-disc DVD release which followed on October 22, 2002, contained the original theatrical and 20th Anniversary extended versions of the film. The features on disc one included deleted scenes, an introduction with Spielberg, a "Reunion" featurette and a "Look Back" featurette. Disc two included a 24-minute documentary about the 20th Anniversary edition changes, a 20th Anniversary premiere featurette, John Williams' performance at the 2002 premiere, a Space Exploration game, a trailer, cast and filmmaker bios, production notes, and the still galleries ported from the 1996 LaserDisc set. The two-disc edition, as well as a three-disc collector's edition containing a "making of" book, a certificate of authenticity, a film cell, and special features that were unavailable on the two-disc edition,{{Cite news | first = Richard | last = Schuchardt | title = E.T. – The 3 Disc Edition | website = DVD Active | date = October 24, 2002 | url = http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/e-t--the-3-disc-edition.html | access-date = May 12, 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121208192456/http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/e-t--the-3-disc-edition.html | archive-date = December 8, 2012 }} were placed in moratorium on December 31, 2002. Later, it was re-released on DVD as a single-disc re-issue in 2005, featuring only the 20th Anniversary version.

In a June 2011, interview, Spielberg said,

[In the future,] ... There's going to be no more digital enhancements or digital additions to anything based on any film I direct.{{nbsp}}... When people ask me which E.T. they should look at, I always tell them to look at the original 1982 E.T. If you notice, when we did put out E.T. we put out two E.T.s. We put out the digitally enhanced version with the additional scenes and for no extra money, in the same package, we put out the original '82 version. I always tell people to go back to the '82 version.{{cite news | url=https://www.aintitcool.com/node/49897 | title=Spielberg Speaks! Jaws Blu-Ray in the Works with No 'Digital Corrections! | website=Ain't It Cool News | date=June 3, 2011 | access-date=June 9, 2011 | author=Quint (aka Eric Vespe) | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024131547/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/49897 | archive-date=October 24, 2013 }}

For the film's 30th anniversary release on Blu-ray in 2012 and for its 35th anniversary release on Ultra HD Blu-ray in 2017, as well as its corresponding digital releases, only the original theatrical edition was released, with the 20th anniversary edition now out of circulation.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/et-s-original-theatrical-cut-to-get-blu-ray-release/ |title=ET's original theatrical cut to get Blu-ray release |work=GamesRadar+ |last=West |first=Peter |date=May 30, 2012 |access-date=March 31, 2025}}

File:ET Adventure facade 1.jpg]]

Atari, Inc. produced a video game based on the film for the Atari 2600 and hired Howard Scott Warshaw to program the game. The game was rushed in five weeks to release within the 1982 holiday season.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitpress.com/library/interviews/interview_howard_scott_warshaw.html |title=DP Interviews |publisher=Digitpress.com |access-date=March 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831054249/http://www.digitpress.com/library/interviews/interview_howard_scott_warshaw.html |archive-date=August 31, 2014 |url-status=live }} Released in Christmas 1982, the game was critically panned, with nearly every aspect of the game facing heavy criticism. It has since been considered to be one of the worst video games ever made.Warshaw, "Core Memory" It was also a commercial failure. It has been cited as a major contributing factor to the video game industry crash of 1983, and has been frequently referenced and mocked in popular culture as a cautionary tale about the dangers of rushed game development and studio interference. In what was initially deemed an urban legend, reports from 1983 stated that as a result of overproduction and returns, millions of unsold cartridges were secretly buried in an Alamogordo, New Mexico landfill and covered with a layer of concrete. In April 2014, diggers hired to investigate the claim confirmed that the Alamogordo landfill contained many E.T. cartridges, among other games.{{cite web | url = http://www.krqe.com//dpp/news/southeast/alamogordo-approves-atari-excavation | title = Alamogordo approves Atari excavation | publisher = ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KRQE) | access-date = June 2, 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130530151127/http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/southeast/alamogordo-approves-atari-excavation | archive-date = May 30, 2013 }}{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/e-t-found-in-new-mexico-landfill-1568100161|title=E.T. Found In New Mexico Landfill|first=Jason|last=Schreier|work=Kotaku|date=April 26, 2014 |access-date=February 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211071907/http://kotaku.com/e-t-found-in-new-mexico-landfill-1568100161|archive-date=February 11, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web |first=Juan Carlos |last=Llorca |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/diggers-ready-unearth-ataris-games-23477542 |title=Diggers Find Atari's E.T. Games in Landfill |work=ABC News |date=September 28, 1983 |access-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426215118/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/diggers-ready-unearth-ataris-games-23477542 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |url-status=live }}

William Kotzwinkle, author of the film's novelization, wrote a sequel, E.T.: The Book of the Green Planet, which was published in 1985. In the novel, E.T. returns home to the planet Brodo Asogi, but is subsequently demoted and sent into exile. He attempts to return to Earth by effectively breaking all of Brodo Asogi's laws.{{harvnb|Kotzwinkle|1985|p=}}

E.T. Adventure, a theme park ride based on the film and drawing inspiration from The Book of the Green Planet, debuted at Universal Studios Florida on June 7, 1990. The $40{{nbsp}}million attraction features the title character saying goodbye to visitors by name, along with his home planet. In 1998, E.T. was licensed to appear in television public service announcements produced by the Progressive Corporation. The announcements featured his voice reminding drivers to "buckle up" their seat belts. Traffic signs depicting a stylized E.T. wearing one were installed on selected roads around the United States.{{Cite news | first = Nick | last = Madigan | title = E.T. to drive home safe road message | work = Variety | date = December 28, 1998 | url = https://variety.com/1998/tv/news/e-t-to-drive-home-safe-road-message-1117489764/ | access-date = November 26, 2006 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070823014126/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117489764.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&s=h&p=0 | archive-date = August 23, 2007 }} The following year, British Telecommunications launched the "Stay in Touch" campaign, with him as the star of various advertisements. The campaign's slogan was "B.T. has E.T.", with "E.T." also taken to mean "extra technology".{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/314327.stm | title=ET phones home again | work=BBC News | date=April 8, 1999 | access-date=April 17, 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202102536/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/314327.stm | archive-date=February 2, 2014 }}

At Spielberg's suggestion, George Lucas included members of E.T.'s species as background characters in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.{{Cite news| first = David | last = Bloom | title=Calling the shots | work=Los Angeles Daily News | date=June 13, 1999 }} E.T. was one of the franchises featured in the 2015 crossover game Lego Dimensions. E.T. appears as one of the playable characters, and a world based on the film where players can receive side quests from the characters is available. During E.T.'s trailer in the sketch for the series known as Meet that Hero!, Supergirl explains his backstory and how they have many things in common, including being aliens that crashed down to Earth and how they both have superpowers that they use to help other people.{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/lego-dimensions-expansions-trailer/ |title=LEGO Dimensions Expansions Trailer: Harry Potter, Goonies, Gremlins & more |publisher=Slashfilm.com |date=June 9, 2016 |access-date=November 22, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122221944/http://www.slashfilm.com/lego-dimensions-expansions-trailer/ |archive-date=November 22, 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cosmicbooknews.com/content/lego-dimensions-adds-fantastic-beasts-adventue-time-gremlins-sonic-et |title=LEGO Dimensions Adds Fantastic Beasts, Adventue Time, Gremlins, Sonic & ET |date=November 20, 2016 |publisher=Cosmic Book News |access-date=November 22, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122224416/http://www.cosmicbooknews.com/content/lego-dimensions-adds-fantastic-beasts-adventue-time-gremlins-sonic-et |archive-date=November 22, 2016}} In 2017, video game developer Zen Studios released a pinball adaptation as part of the Universal Classics add-on pack for the virtual pinball game Pinball FX 3.{{cite web |last1=Good |first1=Owen |title=Pinball FX3 has big names lining up for a table |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/26/16208556/pinball-fx3-universal-classics-preview-zen-studios |website=Polygon |access-date=November 21, 2019 |date=August 26, 2017 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112025225/https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/26/16208556/pinball-fx3-universal-classics-preview-zen-studios |url-status=live }} It features 3-D animated figures of Elliot, E.T. and his spacecraft.

In July 1982, during the film's first theatrical run, Spielberg and Mathison wrote a treatment for a sequel to be titled E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears,{{cite web |last=Wampler |first=Scott |url=http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2015/04/13/the-incredibly-ill-advised-e.t.-sequel-that-almost-was |title=The Incredibly Ill-Advised E.T. Sequel That Almost Was |work=Birth.Movies.Death. |date=April 13, 2015 |access-date=November 8, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108142137/http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2015/04/13/the-incredibly-ill-advised-e.t.-sequel-that-almost-was |archive-date=November 8, 2016}} which would have shown Elliott and his friends getting kidnapped by evil aliens, and attempting to contact E.T. for help. Spielberg decided against pursuing it, feeling it "would do nothing but rob the original of its virginity. E.T. is not about going back to the planet".{{cite web |url=http://www.blastr.com/2015-5-20/look-et-sequel-we-mercifully-never-saw |title=A look at the E.T. sequel we mercifully never saw |work=SyfyWire |date=May 20, 2015 |publisher=Blastr |access-date=November 8, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108135756/http://www.blastr.com/2015-5-20/look-et-sequel-we-mercifully-never-saw |archive-date=November 8, 2016}} Spielberg also revealed in a January 2025 interview with Indiewire that he briefly considered adapting E.T.: The Book of the Green Planet into a film. He ultimately decided against it, believing that "it was better as a novel than I think it would have been as a film."{{Cite web |last=Bergeson |first=Samantha |date=2025-01-27 |title=Steven Spielberg Says Scrapped 'E.T.' Sequel Idea Was Set on Alien's Home Planet |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/steven-spielberg-et-sequel-1235088781/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}} In 2022, Henry Thomas said that he hopes a feature-length sequel never gets made, but added "I guarantee you, there are a few men in a very big room now salivating and using their Abacus and slide rules to come up with some really, really big numbers."{{cite web |last=Scott |first=Ryan |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/910305/why-an-e-t-sequel-should-never-happen-according-to-original-star-henry-thomas/|title=Why An E.T. Sequel Should Never Happen, According To Original Star Henry Thomas|work=/Film |date=June 28, 2022 |access-date=July 6, 2022}}

File:ET Comcast A Holiday Reunion.jpg

On November 28, 2019, during NBC's broadcast of the 93rd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Xfinity released a four-minute commercial directed by Lance Acord, calling it a "short film sequel" to the original film, titled A Holiday Reunion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.xfinity.com/et|title=E.T. is home for the holidays|website=Xfinity|access-date=December 3, 2019|archive-date=December 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203160953/https://www.xfinity.com/et|url-status=live}} The commercial stars Henry Thomas, reprising his role as Elliott, now an adult with a family of his own. Julianne Hoyak played his wife, Grace, while Zebastin Borjeau and Alivia Drews played their children, Elliott Jr. and Maggie. The story follows E.T. as he returns to Earth for the holiday season, and focuses on the importance of bringing family together. References and nods to the original film are featured, such as a photo of the Taylors' family dog Harvey on the kitchen fridge and a replica of the makeshift Speak & Spell communication device.{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/e-t-reunion-behind-the-scenes-featurette-shows-craft-of-revisiting-a-classic-1202802730/ | title='E.T.' Reunion Behind-The-Scenes Featurette Shows Craft of Revisiting a Classic | date=December 6, 2019 }}

The commercial utilizes a practical puppet for E.T. himself. In an interview with Deadline, Acord said that he went this route in order to elicit more realistic performances from the actors, the same way Spielberg did on the original film. John Williams' score from the original film is mixed into the commercial. Spielberg was consulted by Comcast (parent company of NBCUniversal, which itself owns Universal Pictures) before production on the commercial began.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/11/et-phone-home-again-reunion-short-film-premiere-nbc-and-syfy-universal-steven-spielberg-1202796382/|title='E.T.' Phones Home Again In Reunion Short Film Premiering On NBC And Syfy|first1=Dade|last1=Hayes|date=November 28, 2019|access-date=November 29, 2019|archive-date=November 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129014509/https://deadline.com/2019/11/et-phone-home-again-reunion-short-film-premiere-nbc-and-syfy-universal-steven-spielberg-1202796382/|url-status=live}}

Peter Intermaggio, SVP for Marketing Communications for Comcast remarked on the making of the commercial: "Our goal is to show how Xfinity and Sky technology connects family, friends and loved ones, which is so important during the holidays ... The classic friendship between E.T. and Elliott resonates around the world." Before the commercial was released, Thomas assured that viewers would "get everything they want out of a sequel without the messy bits that could destroy the beauty of the original and the special place it has in people's minds and hearts ... Looking at the storyboards, I could see exactly why Steven was really behind it, because the integrity of the story isn't lost in this retelling."

The full commercial also played on Syfy and theatrically during cinema pre-shows through January 5, 2020, and a two–minute version was edited for Comcast's British subsidiary, Sky UK.

• Flight of the Navigator
• List of films set around Halloween
• Mac and Me
• The Alien (unproduced film)

{{Reflist|group=n}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite magazine |last=Calio |first=Jim |date=August 23, 1982 |title=Revealing His Secrets at Last: Director Steven Spielberg Takes the Wraps Off E.T. |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20082935,00.html |magazine=People |publisher=Time Inc. |volume=18 |number=8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711210504/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20082935,00.html |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |url-status=dead}}

{{harvnb|McBride|1997|p=72}}

{{harvnb|Brode|1995|pp=[https://archive.org/details/filmsofstevenspi0000brod/page/114 114–127]}}

{{cite web |last1=Lambie |first1=Ryan |title=How Steven Spielberg's Night Skies Became E.T. |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/how-steven-spielbergs-night-skies-became-et/ |website=Den of Geek |access-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240912041404/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/how-steven-spielbergs-night-skies-became-et/ |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |date=June 12, 2019 |url-status=live}}

{{harvnb|McBride|1997|pp=323–38}}

{{cite AV media |people=Bouzereau, Laurent (director) |date=2002 |title=E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: The 20th Anniversary Celebration |type=DVD |publisher=Universal Studios}}

{{cite book |last=Gaines |first=Caseen |title=E.T. the Extra Terrestrial: The Ultimate Visual History |publisher=Insight Editions |year=2022 |isbn=9781683834274}}

{{cite book |last=McBride |first=Joseph |title=Steven Spielberg: A Biography, Second Edition |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |year=2011 |pages=323–38 |isbn=978-1-604-73836-0 |author-link=Joseph McBride (writer)}}

{{cite book |last=Nashawaty |first=Chris |title=The Future Was Now: Madmen, Mavericks, and the Epic Sci-Fi Summer of 1982 |date=July 30, 2024 |publisher=Flatiron Books |isbn=9781250827067 |location=New York, NY |publication-date=July 30, 2024 |page=82 |language=English}}

{{Cite news |last=Caulfield |first=Deborah |title=E.T. Gossip: The One That Got Away? |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 18, 1982}}

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: Production Notes (DVD booklet)

{{Cite magazine |last=Sammon |first=Paul M. |date=January 11, 1983 |title=Turn on Your Heartlight – Inside E.T. |url=http://www.cinefex.com/et/et15.html |magazine=Cinefex |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117032418/http://www.cinefex.com/et/et15.html |archive-date=January 17, 2008 |url-status=dead}}

{{Cite magazine |date=May 31, 1982 |title=Cinema: Creating A Creature |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,925429-2,00.html |access-date=April 18, 2007 |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823233831/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,925429-2,00.html |archive-date=August 23, 2007 |url-status=dead}}

{{Cite magazine |date=July 26, 1982 |last=Biema |first=David Van |title=Life is Sweet for Jack Dowd as Spielberg's Hit Film Has E.T. Lovers Picking up the (Reeses's) Pieces |url=https://people.com/archive/life-is-sweet-for-jack-dowd-as-spielbergs-hit-film-has-e-t-lovers-picking-up-the-reeses-pieces-vol-18-no-4/ |magazine=People |publisher=Time Inc. |volume=18 |number=4 |access-date=August 15, 2020 |archive-date=June 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616025747/https://people.com/archive/life-is-sweet-for-jack-dowd-as-spielbergs-hit-film-has-e-t-lovers-picking-up-the-reeses-pieces-vol-18-no-4/ |url-status=live}}

{{harvnb|Worsley|1997|p=179}}

{{cite web |title=Biography |url=http://www.qrz.com/db/?callsign=k2ssq |publisher=QRZ.com |access-date=May 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201142004/http://www.qrz.com/db/?callsign=k2ssq |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |url-status=live}}

}}

{{refbegin|60em}}

• {{Cite book | first = Douglas | last = Brode | title = The Films of Steven Spielberg | publisher = Citadel | year = 1995 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/filmsofstevenspi0000brod/page/114 114–127] | isbn = 0-8065-1540-6 | chapter = E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | chapter-url-access = registration | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/filmsofstevenspi0000brod/page/114 }}
• {{Cite book |last=Kotzwinkle |first=William |year=1985 |title=E.T.: The Book of the Green Planet |publisher=Berkley Books |isbn=0-425-07642-3}}
• {{Cite book |last=McBride |first=Joseph | author-link=Joseph McBride (writer) |year=1997 |title=Steven Spielberg: A Biography |publisher=Faber and Faber |isbn=0-571-19177-0}}
• {{Cite book |last=Rubin |first=Susan Goldman |year=2001 |title=Steven Spielberg |publisher=Harry N. Abrams |isbn=0-8109-4492-8}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Shay |first1=Don |last2=Duncan |first2=Jody |year=1993 |title=The Making of Jurassic Park: An Adventure 65 Million Years in the Making |publisher=Boxtree |isbn=1-85283-774-8}}
• {{Cite book |last=Worsley |first=Sue Dwiggins |year=1997 |title=From Oz to E.T.: Wally Worsley's Half-Century in Hollywood |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-3277-1}}

{{refend}}

{{commons category}}

{{wikiquote}}

• {{IMDb title|0083866|E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial}}
• {{Mojo title|ettheextraterrestrial|E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes|e_t_the_extra_terrestrial|E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial}}
• {{TCMDb title|73791|E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial}}
• {{AFI film|67140|E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial}}
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial essay by Daniel Eagan in America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry, A&C Black, 2010 {{ISBN|0826429777}}, pages 774–775 [https://books.google.com/books?id=deq3xI8OmCkC America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry]

{{E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial}}

{{Steven Spielberg}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

|list =

{{Academy Award Best Sound Editing}}

{{Academy Award Best Visual Effects}}

{{Blue Ribbon Award for Best Foreign Film}}

{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film}}

{{GoldenGlobeBestMotionPictureDrama 1981-2000}}

{{Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Foreign Language Film}}

{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Film}}

{{Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film 1972–1990}}

}}

{{Yearly highest-grossing US films}}

{{Subject bar |portal1=1980s |portal2=Film |portal3=Science fiction |portal4=United States |commons=yes |commons-search=Category:E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial |q=yes |b=yes |d=yes |d-search=Q11621}}

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