
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1982 · Movie · PG · 115 min · ★ 7.5 · 96% critics
An alien is left behind on Earth and forms a bond with a 10-year-old who decides to keep him hidden in his home. As authorities search for the extra-terrestrial, the kids work together to help their new friend find his way home.
Also known as ET · E.T.
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Details
- Years
- 1982
- Release date
- 1982-06-11
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Critic score
- 96/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.5/10 (12,023 votes)
- Box office
- $792,910,554
- Budget
- $10,500,000
About
You’ll likely enjoy this timeless, family-friendly sci-fi adventure if you love heartfelt wonder and nostalgic childhood magic, but Not for you if you want a darker, complex plot or fast, nonstop momentum—especially compared with The Iron Giant or Toy Story.
Pros: heartfelt kid-to-alien bond; iconic wonder; memorable score | Cons: can feel predictable; some dated moments; can drag mid-film
Themes
- farewell
- california
- space marine
- operation
- flying saucer
- nasa
- homesickness
- loss of loved one
- prosecution
- halloween
- alien
- extraterrestrial
- +7 more
Awards & recognition
- Saturn Award — Best Classic Film DVD Release · 2003
- Academy Award — Best Visual Effects · 1983
- Academy Award — Best Original Score · 1983
- Academy Award — Best Sound Editing · 1983
- Academy Award — Best Sound · 1983
Show all 47 awards →
- BAFTA Award — Best Original Music · 1983
- Boston Society of Film Critics Award — Best Director · 1983
- David di Donatello — Best Foreign Director · 1983
- Golden Globe Award — Best Motion Picture – Drama · 1983
- Golden Globe Award — Best Original Score · 1983
- Grammy Award — Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media · 1983
- Japan Academy Prize — Outstanding Foreign Language Film · 1983
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Director · 1983
- Saturn Award — Best Special Effects · 1983
- Saturn Award — Best Writing · 1983
- Saturn Award — Best Science Fiction Film · 1983
- Saturn Award — Best Music · 1983
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award — Best Film · 1982
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award — Best Director · 1982
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Film Editing · 1983 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Visual Effects · 1983 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Sound Editing · 1983 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography · 1983 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Original Score · 1983 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Original Screenplay · 1983 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 1983 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Sound · 1983 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1983 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles · 1983 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Special Visual Effects · 1983 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Makeup and Hair · 1983 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Editing · 1983 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Film · 1983 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Direction · 1983 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Sound · 1983 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Original Music · 1983 · nominated
- César Award — Best Foreign Film · 1983 · nominated
- Directors Guild of America Award — Outstanding Directing – Feature Film · 1983 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Screenplay · 1983 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Motion Picture – Drama · 1983 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Original Score · 1983 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Director · 1983 · nominated
- Hugo Award — Best Dramatic Presentation · 1983 · nominated
- Japan Academy Prize — Outstanding Foreign Language Film · 1983 · nominated
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Director · 1983 · nominated
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Film · 1983 · nominated
Cast & crew

Henry Thomas
as Elliott

Drew Barrymore
as Gertie

Robert MacNaughton
as Michael

Peter Coyote
as Keys

Dee Wallace
as Mary

Erika Eleniak
as Pretty Girl

K.C. Martel
as Greg

C. Thomas Howell
as Tyler

Sean Frye
as Steve
- DO
David M. O'Dell
as Schoolboy
Directed by Steven Spielberg