Revisiting classic movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 40 years after its UK release

Virgin Radio

10 Jun 2022, 13:13

E.T. the extra terrestrial

Credit: Rex

Can you believe that Steven Spielberg’s science-fiction adventure film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was released in the UK 40 years ago.

The film landed in UK cinemas on 9th December 1982, having originally been released in the US on 11th June of the same year.

In case you have somehow managed to not see the film at any point in the past four decades, it tells the story of Elliott, a young boy who befriends an alien that has inadvertently been left behind on Earth after its spaceship secretly visits Earth at night to gather specimens. 

Spoilers ahead (although can you really have spoilers for a film that is 40 years old?): Along with the help of his friends and family, Elliott helps E.T. find a way back home while avoiding being captured by pesky government officials. 

Spielberg apparently drew inspiration from his parents' divorce when he was a child, and more specifically by the fact that he coped by pretending he had an imaginary alien companion.

The film stars Henry Thomas as Elliott, and also launched the career of a young Drew Barrymore, who played his mischievous younger sister Gertie. It also featured Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton and Dee Wallace.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was an absolutely massive hit, picking up four Academy Awards, and perhaps the reason it struck such a chord with audiences and critics - and has stood the test of time so well - is due to its relatability. Sure, it’s a fantastical sci-fi romp with aliens and flying BMXs, but when you boil it down, it’s about family, friendship and growing up in suburbia.

There are many memorable scenes in the film, such as Elliott using M&Ms to entice the strange being that has found its way into his garden, and E.T. hiding amongst Gertie’s cuddly toys and being dressed up as a beautiful lady. And then there is the scene where E.T. gets proper drunk, causing Elliott - whose physical reactions become linked to those of the alien - to also feel the effects of the alcohol while at school. Chaos ensues.

When things take a dark turn, who can forget the part where E.T. looks all pale and ill, like he’s been on a massive night out, or the subsequent scene where, thankfully, his heart starts to glow red again? 

And then, there is the iconic scene with the flying BMXs, and the emotional denouement in which Elliott and E.T. say their sad goodbyes. “I’ll be right here”, he says, leaving the young boy with tears for souvenirs. 

The film stayed at the top of the US box office for six weeks upon its release, and then returned to number one in December. In 1983, after its release around the world, the movie surpassed Star Wars to become the highest-grossing film of all-time at that stage. 

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was released to universal acclaim. It won four of the 11 Oscars for which it was nominated, and legendary reviewer Roger Ebert wrote: “This is not simply a good movie. It is one of those movies that brush away our cautions and win our hearts.” Meanwhile, review aggregating site Rotten Tomatoes scores it a very-nearly-perfect 99 percent.

A 20th Anniversary version of the movie was released in 2002, in which CGI was used to modify several shots, including some of E.T. and the design of the spaceship. However, for the film's 30th anniversary release and for its 35th anniversary release on Blu-ray and digital, only the original theatrical edition was released, and the 20th anniversary edition is now out of circulation.

Back in September of this year, the film was screened in cinemas again as part of National Cinema Day, whereby punters could get tickets for a bargain price of £3.

The loveable alien has remained in popular culture since the original film’s release, with E.T. being the subject of various video games, theme park rides, and adverts. At Spielberg's suggestion, George Lucas included members of E.T.’s species as background characters in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

And if you were a child of the 80s, there’s a very good chance you had an E.T. toy, lunchbox, stationary set, or other such merchandise.

If you want more Spielberg in your life (and, let's be honest, we all do, don't we?), then his new film, The Fabelmans, will be released on 27th January, 2023.

This year, the celebrated filmmaker directed Marcus Mumford's music video for Cannibal.

Advertisement

Advertisement