E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

"E.T." redirects here. For other uses, see ET.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

E t the extra terrestrial ver3.jpg

Theatrical release poster by John Alvin[1]

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Produced by

Steven Spielberg

Kathleen Kennedy

Written by Melissa Mathison

Starring

Dee Wallace

Peter Coyote

Henry Thomas

Music by John Williams

Cinematography Allen Daviau

Edited by Carol Littleton

Production

company

Amblin Entertainment

Distributed by Universal Pictures

Release dates

May 26, 1982 (Cannes)

June 11, 1982 (United States)

Running time 115 minutes

Country United States

Language English

Budget $10.5 million[2]

Box office $792.9 million[2]

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (often referred to simply as E.T.) is a 1982 American science fiction film coproduced and directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Melissa Mathison, featuring special effects by Carlo Rambaldi and Dennis Muren, and starring Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore and Peter Coyote. It tells the story of Elliott (played by Thomas), a lonely boy who befriends an extraterrestrial, dubbed "E.T.", who is stranded on Earth. Elliott and his siblings help it return home while attempting to keep it hidden from their mother and the government.

The concept for the film was based on an imaginary friend Spielberg created after his parents' divorce in 1960. In 1980, Spielberg met Mathison and developed a new story from the stalled science fiction/horror film project Night Skies. It was shot from September to December 1981 in California on a budget of US$10.5 million. Unlike most motion pictures, it was shot in roughly chronological order, to facilitate convincing emotional performances from the young cast.

Released on June 11, 1982 by Universal Pictures, E.T was a blockbuster, surpassing Star Wars to become the highest-grossing film of all time—a record it held for ten years until Jurassic Park, another Spielberg-directed film, surpassed it in 1993. It remains the 46th highest-grossing film of all time, and the highest-grossing film of the 1980s. Critics acclaimed it as a timeless story of friendship, and it ranks as the greatest science fiction film ever made in a Rotten Tomatoes survey. The film was re-released in 1985, and then again in 2002 to celebrate its 20th anniversary, with altered shots and additional scenes.

Henry Thomas as Elliott, a lonely 10-year-old boy who longs for a good friend, whom he finds in E.T., who was left behind on Earth. He adopts him and they form a mental, physical and emotional bond.

Robert MacNaughton as Michael, Elliott's football-playing 16-year-old brother who often makes fun of him. He saves E.T.'s life.

Drew Barrymore as Gertie, Elliott's mischievous 5-year-old sister who is sarcastic and initially terrified of E.T., but grows to love him.

Dee Wallace as Mary, the children's mother, recently separated from her husband. She is mostly oblivious to E.T.'s presence in her house.

Peter Coyote as "Keys", a government agent. His face is not shown until the film's second half, his name is never mentioned and he is identified by the key rings that prominently hang from his belt. He tells Elliott that he has waited to see an alien since age 10.

K. C. Martel, Sean Frye and C. Thomas Howell as Michael's friends Greg, Steve and Tyler. They help Elliott and E.T. evade the authorities during the film's climax.

Erika Eleniak as the young girl Elliott kisses in class.