E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: 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.
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Videos
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Photos
Movie Info
Watch it now
Cast

as E.T.
as Elliott
as Gertie
as Mary
as Michael
as Keys
as Greg
as Steve

as Tyler
as Pretty girl

as Schoolboy

as Science teacher

as Policeman

as Medical Unit Member

as Ultra sound man

as Van Man

as Medical Unit Member

as Medical Unit Member

as Medical Unit Member

as Medical Unit Member

as Medical Unit Member

as Medical Unit Member

as Medical Unit Member
as Medical Unit Member
News & Interviews for E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
Critic Reviews for E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
All Critics (114) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (112) | Rotten (2) | DVD (13)
E.T. is essentially a spiritual autobiography, a portrait of the filmmaker as a typical suburban kid set apart by an uncommonly fervent, mystical imagination. It comes out disarmingly funny, spontaneous, bighearted.

Captivating, endearingly optimistic and magical at times, Steven Spielberg's fantasy about a stranded alien from outer space protected by three kids until it can arrange for passage home is certain to capture the imagination of the world's youth.
What's perhaps most amazing about E.T., what distinguishes it from many of the other fantasy films of its era, is its ability to put an audience under a spell of childlike wonderment without infantilizing it.

Spielberg's direction and Melissa Mathison's script never lose sight of the realistic, low center of gravity world of childhood, in which such marvelous adventures happen every day.

It holds up beautifully.
Though marred by Spielberg's usual carelessness with narrative points, the film alternates sweetness and sarcasm with enough rhetorical sophistication to be fairly irresistible.
Audience Reviews for E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
Charming, magical sci-fi-fairy tale, and a true 80s classic. The excellent child actors carry this film (there is only one adult's face visible for the first 90 minutes), and the E.T. doll was wonderfully convincing for that time and still works today. The message of tolerance and friendship may be naive and predictable, and the melodrama a bit over the top, but it's hard not to lose your heart to this adorable story. A bit slow at times, the magical, exciting showdown speeds things up really well, leading to a heart-warming solution. Adults may grow out of being fascinated by this film, but it will forever be a movie that brings a glow into children's eyes.
Super Reviewer
Steven Spielberg is one of the most famous directors in the world and E.T. The Extra Terrestrial is one of his most beloved films, which is remarkable considering he has made films like Jaws, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan and the Indiana Jones series. In a Californian town, Elliot (Henry Thomas) is a lonely 10-year-old who lives with his single mother (Dee Wallace), teenage brother Michael (Robert MacNaughton) and younger sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore). Elliot is picked on by his brother but one night he finds a strangled alien in his back garden. Quickly Elliot befriends the alien who he calls E.T. and the trio of children both teach and aid E.T. who has telekinetic and healing powers. Soon Elliot and E.T. share a psychic link, but the longer E.T. stays on Earth the more ill he becomes, effecting Elliot. Added to the mix is a mystery government agency is hunting for E.T. Spielberg knows how to manipulate emotions and he certainly does it with E.T. . You feel for both the alien and the children. The characters are well defined, Elliot is the character most children can relate as he is a normal middle child who has intelligence, missing his father and is picked on by his brother. He is decently played by a young Henry Thomas and none of the acting was terrible. I personally like how Michael was portrayed: he is a bully, gets his younger brother to act as a slave and makes fun of him, but he is also protective and when it manners will come good for his younger siblings. The animatronic used for E.T. were top of the range at the time for time and looked really effective, giving E.T. emotion and physicality. I saw the 20th Anniversary DVD version which clearly added some CGI touch ups to E.T. and has the notorious scene where two guns are swapped for walkie-talkies: but it is hardly game breaker because the film is so great. John Williams also gives us another excellent film score, including a very famous signature we all know and love. E.T. is a touching film for good reason and it is a great film for whole family. 9-20-2004

Super Reviewer
SO WONDERFUL! It's even sadder and more heartfelt watching this as an adult! The bikes flying is so triumphant, and the sibling loyalty is touching. Henry Thomas is hella amazing, in all his shrieky terror and drunken stupors. I'm surprised he didn't get nominated for an Oscar!
Super Reviewer
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Quotes
E.T. [uncredited]: | E.T. phone home. |
E.T. [uncredited]: | I'll be right here. |
Elliott: | (tearfully) Bye. |
Elliott: | [tearfully] Bye. |
Michael: | Did you explain school to him? |
Elliott: | How do you explain school to higher intelligence? |
Michael: | Maybe he's not that smart. Maybe he's like a worker bee who only knows how to push buttons or something. |
Elliott: | He is too smart. |
Michael: | Okay, I just hope we don't wake up on Mars or something surrounded by millions of little squashy guys. |
Discussion Forum
Discuss E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial on our Movie forum!