E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
A lonely suburban boy hides and protects a stranded alien whose friendship turns an ordinary childhood into a luminous adventure of empathy and goodbye.
Overview
An unforgettable journey of friendship that transcends the stars.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- wonder-filled
- tender
- family movie night
- nostalgic weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a landmark family science-fiction classic, praising Spielberg's emotional direction, memorable practical effects, and ability to turn a simple alien premise into deeply affecting wonder.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Elliott secretly befriends E.T. and develops an unusually intimate emotional connection with the stranded extraterrestrial.
Ordinary California homes, streets, and neighborhoods become sites of alien discovery, secrecy, and magical escape.
E.T.'s homesickness and the children's fear of losing him give the adventure a sustained atmosphere of tenderness and impending separation.
E.T. is realized through expressive animatronic and practical effects that keep the alien physically present within family spaces.
Films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and why
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
shared family-friendly science fiction, child protagonists, wonder, and an emotionally warm encounter with the unknown
The Goonies
shared suburban childhood adventure, imaginative friendship, nostalgic warmth, and heightened visual wonder
The Iron Giant
shared gentle extraterrestrial premise, homesickness, empathy, and heartfelt family-oriented storytelling
The Last Starfighter
shared child-centered fantasy adventure, secret friendship, and bittersweet emotional stakes
Movie Details
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Release Date
- 1982-06-11
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (12291)
Cast
- Henry Thomas
- Drew Barrymore
- Robert MacNaughton
- Peter Coyote
- Dee Wallace
- Erika Eleniak
- K.C. Martel
- C. Thomas Howell
- Sean Frye
- David M. O'Dell
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial about?
- A lonely suburban boy hides and protects a stranded alien whose friendship turns an ordinary childhood into a luminous adventure of empathy and goodbye.
- What is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
- What did critics think of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a landmark family science-fiction classic, praising Spielberg's emotional direction, memorable practical effects, and ability to turn a simple alien premise into deeply affecting wonder.
- Which films are like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial?
- Films with a similar feel include Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Goonies, The Iron Giant, and The Last Starfighter.
- How long is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial?
- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial?
- In United States, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling.
