E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

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1982 American science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg

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Directed by	Steven Spielberg
Written by	Melissa Mathison
Screenplay by
Story by
Based on
Produced by	Kathleen Kennedy, Steven Spielberg
Starring	Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote
Narrated by
Cinematography	Allen Daviau

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction film produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, and written by Melissa Mathison. It features special effects by Industrial Light & Magic and tells the story of Elliott, a boy who befriends an extraterrestrial, dubbed "E.T.", who is stranded on Earth. The film stars Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote.

Plot

The film begins with a group of alien botanists collecting plant samples in a forest in California. When government agents appear on the scene, the aliens flee in their spaceship, inadvertently leaving one of their own behind. The abandoned alien is discovered by a young boy named Elliott, who lives with his mother, older brother Michael, and younger sister Gertie. Elliott and E.T. form a close bond, and Elliott introduces E.T. to his siblings, who help him keep E.T. hidden from their mother and the authorities.

E.T. learns to communicate with Elliott and his siblings, and they discover that E.T. has the ability to heal wounds and revive dead plants. E.T. also builds a device to "phone home" and contact his people. However, E.T.'s health begins to deteriorate, and Elliott also falls ill due to their psychic connection. Government agents eventually discover E.T. and take him and Elliott to a medical facility for examination.

With the help of Michael and his friends, Elliott manages to rescue E.T. and they escape to the forest where E.T.'s spaceship lands. E.T. bids farewell to Elliott and his family before boarding the spaceship and returning home.

Cast

• Henry Thomas as Elliott
• Dee Wallace as Mary, Elliott's mother
• Robert MacNaughton as Michael, Elliott's older brother
• Drew Barrymore as Gertie, Elliott's younger sister
• Peter Coyote as Keys, a government agent

Production

The concept for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was based on an imaginary friend that Spielberg created after his parents' divorce. Spielberg met writer Melissa Mathison during the production of Raiders of the Lost Ark, and they developed the script together. The film was shot over a period of 61 days, primarily in California.

Music

The film's score was composed by John Williams, who won an Academy Award for Best Original Score for his work. The music is considered one of the most iconic film scores in history, featuring the famous "Flying Theme."

Reception

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was a critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time until it was surpassed by Jurassic Park in 1993. The film received nine Academy Award nominations and won four, including Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, and Best Sound Editing.

Legacy

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has had a lasting impact on popular culture and is considered one of the greatest films ever made. It has been re-released multiple times, including a 20th-anniversary edition in 2002 with altered special effects and additional scenes.

Related Pages

• Steven Spielberg
• Science fiction film
• John Williams
• Universal Pictures
• Amblin Entertainment