It's one of cinema's most beloved pictures and is often cited as the most heartwarming and euphoric film of Steven Spielberg's legendary career. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial utterly wowed audiences upon release and continues to do so today. The story of Elliott and his alien friend did far more than just increase the sales of Reese's Pieces, it inspired decades of adoration from fans and helped cement Spielberg as one of Hollywood's greatest talents.
Rather incredibly, E.T. even defeated Star Wars to become the highest-grossing picture of all time, and it would hold that record for 11 years, only to be surpassed by another timeless Spielberg masterpiece: Jurassic Park. Looking back at the intergalactic adventure, there's plenty of reasons why this huggable alien and his story will remain at the forefront of sci-fi cinema forever.
10 John Williams' Iconic & Unforgettable Score
It's perhaps the most wondrous, awe-inspiring aspect of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: John Williams' magnificent score takes an expertly crafted movie packed with dazzling visuals and lifts it into one of the all-time great sci-fi adventures.
Uplifting and magical, and at times haunting and heartbreaking, Williams' soundtrack unsurprisingly won the Academy Award for Best Original Score. Nearly 40 years on, the music within Spielberg's awesome alien adventure remains one of its most outstanding qualities.
9 Steven Spielberg's Trademark Quality Direction Shines Throughout E.T.
By 1982, Steven Spielberg had more than proven himself a capable filmmaker. He had even done so as a science fiction director with 1977's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. E.T. would only further cement Spielberg as one of the greats, and though the Jaws director has become known as the king of family-friendly cinema, few of his films can match E.T. when it comes to touching the hearts of viewers.
The breathtaking action, the inspiring performances, and the stellar pacing are all examples of a master at work. Spielberg has one of the most impressive resumes in cinema history, and E.T. features the legend at his very best.
8 The Award-Winning Acting Performances Are A Delight To Experience
From Dee Wallace as Elliott's loving, understanding mother, to young Henry Thomas as Elliott himself, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is filled with believable, heartwarming, and most importantly captivating performances.
Drew Barrymore of course made her mark as a child star in the film, as Erika Eleniak's brief role set her up for a career in Hollywood as both an actress and a model, and Robert McNaughton earned himself multiple young actor awards for his role as Elliott's brother. Pat Welsh can't go unmentioned either, as her vocal performance as the titular alien remains one of the movie's most enduring and endearing qualities.
7 The Themes That Spielberg Explores Within E.T. Remain Highly Relevant Today
Tolerance and growing up make up the heart of E.T.'s story, with both being regular ideas explored within Spielberg's movies. Elliott the loner finding his friend in a most unusual place makes for a timeless tale, and one that resonates with audiences whatever their generation.
Some critics even saw similarities between E.T. and the biblical story of Jesus, though Spielberg dismissed these— and if the parallels were prominent, it would likely have stunted E.T.'s reach worldwide, and perhaps even have limited the sci-fi adventure's ability to age as gracefully as it has.
6 E.T.'s Visual Effects Are Good Enough To Stand Next To Any Modern CGI
Another one of E.T.'s four Oscar-winning components, the film's visual effects are arguably the most impressive thing about the film when viewed by a modern audience.
From E.T.'s design to the phenomenal flying bicycles, Spielberg's classic delivers one jaw-dropping sequence after another, and unlike many sci-fi films that came in the years after, there are no visual spectacles within E.T. that break the viewer's immersion. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial manages to retain its magnificent sense of wonder all the way through, and this is in large part thanks to its groundbreaking special effects work.
5 The Action Sequences Remain Brilliant & Breathtaking
Steven Spielberg has never been a stranger to edge-of-your-seat action— this is the man that directed Jaws after all— and some of E.T.'s most hair-raising sequences are simply a further testament to Spielberg's incredible skill when it comes to raising the stakes.
Watching the boys and their bikes take off with E.T. piloting from the basket is one of cinema's most iconic and exciting scenes, and whether it's your first time witnessing it or your three-hundredth, the chase is a truly enchanting sight to behold and left many viewers breathless back in 1982.
4 E.T.'s Cinematography Is A Masterpiece Of Movie Visuals
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has all the ingredients of a heartwarming, wholesome picture, but just how beautiful the film looks remains one of its most underrated aspects. Allen Daviau made his feature film debut as E.T.'s cinematographer and his efforts in making E.T. extra easy on the eye earned him multiple award nominations.
With his first film, Daviau really showed his skill. He would become a frequent collaborator with Spielberg, going on to lend his talents to The Color Purple and the Christian Bale-starring Empire of the Sun.
3 Its Sound Design Is Underappreciated Today, Yet It's One Of E.T.'s Strongest Aspects
An aspect of the movie that's debatably far less noticeable than the usual award-winning components, E.T.'s sound design is just as vital as any of the film's ingredients.
The science-fiction adventure's tones won the Academy Award for both Best Sound and Best Sound Editing, and this coupled with John Williams' electric score, ensures that Spielberg's classic remains just as much a delight on the ears as it is on the eyes.
2 Melissa Mathison's Wonderfully Warm Screenplay Fully Deserved Its Oscar Nod
An Oscar nominee for Best Original Screenplay, Melissa Mathison's E.T. script is where the other-worldly adventure all began, and everything from the unforgettable dialogue to the story itself holds up perfectly under scrutiny today.
Spielberg receives most of the credit for the masterpiece that is E.T., yet Mathison's crafting of the story and her ability to create such a sense of wonder on the page deserves far more recognition than it currently receives.
1 The Little Candy-Loving Alien, E.T. Himself, Is Still A Pop Culture Icon
Despite Steven Spielberg declaring the original E.T. puppet something "only a mother could love," the adorable alien went on to capture the hearts of children and adults alike upon the film's release in 1982. With a design from Oscar-winning effects artist Carlos Rambaldi and some engaging eyes created by staffers of the Jules Stein Eye Institute, E.T. became one of the most recognizable creatures in the history of cinema.
Due to the painstaking work and detail that went into the alien creation, the little intergalactic being looks just as good today as he did in the early-1980s.