E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

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

Storyline:

After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, he is discovered and befriended by a 10-year-old boy named Elliott. Bringing him into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as he is dubbed, to his brother, Michael, and sister, Gertie, and they decide to keep his existence a secret. Soon, however, he falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both him and Elliott.

About Movie:

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is an American science fiction film produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay written by Melissa Mathison. The film tells the heartwarming story of Elliott, a young boy who befriends an extraterrestrial creature dubbed E.T., who is accidentally left behind on Earth. With the help of his friends and family, Elliott embarks on a mission to help E.T. return home.

The concept for E.T. was inspired by Spielberg’s own imaginary friend created during his parents’ divorce. In 1980, he collaborated with Mathison to develop a new story from an unrealized project titled Night Skies. After a quick writing process, Mathison completed the first draft, which was initially rejected by Columbia Pictures due to concerns about its commercial viability. Eventually, Universal Pictures acquired the script for $1 million.

Filming took place from September to December 1981 on a budget of $10.5 million. Notably, E.T. was shot in rough chronological order to enhance the emotional performances of the young cast. The film features innovative animatronics designed by Carlo Rambaldi.

E.T. premiered as the closing film at the Cannes Film Festival on May 26, 1982, and was released in the United States on June 11, 1982. Upon its release, it became a massive box office success, surpassing Star Wars to become the highest-grossing film of all time—a record it held for eleven years until Spielberg’s own Jurassic Park took over in 1993. The film received near-universal acclaim from critics and is often regarded as one of the greatest films ever made.

At the 55th Academy Awards, E.T. received nine nominations and won four Oscars for Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, and Best Sound Editing. It also won five Saturn Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. The film has been re-released several times, including in 1985 and again in 2002 for its 20th anniversary with updated visual effects and additional scenes. A special IMAX re-release occurred on August 12, 2022, to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

In recognition of its cultural significance, E.T. was added to the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1994. The film’s enduring popularity and impact on popular culture continue to resonate with audiences around the world.

Budget & Box Office Collection: