E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Name	E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Director	Steven Spielberg
Producer	Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy
Writer	Melissa Mathison
Starring	Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote
Music	John Williams
Cinematography	Allen Daviau
Editing	Carol Littleton
Studio	Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures
Released	June 11, 1982
Runtime	115 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$10 million
Gross	$792.9 million

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a classic Science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Melissa Mathison, released in 1982 by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. The film tells the story of a young boy who befriends an alien, played by Pat Welsh and E.T., who is stranded on Earth. The movie features a cast of talented actors, including Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote, and was produced by Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy. The iconic score was composed by John Williams, who also worked on other notable films such as Star Wars and Jaws.

Production

The production of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial began in 1981, with Steven Spielberg and Melissa Mathison working together to develop the story and script. The film was shot on location in California, with Allen Daviau serving as the cinematographer and Carol Littleton as the editor. The special effects were created by Industrial Light & Magic, a company founded by George Lucas and John Dykstra. The film's budget was $10 million, which was relatively low compared to other Science fiction films of the time, such as Blade Runner and The Thing. The production team included other notable individuals, such as Harrison Ford, who was a friend of Steven Spielberg and visited the set during filming, and Martin Scorsese, who was a fellow director and admirer of Spielberg's work.

Plot

The plot of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial follows a young boy named Elliott, played by Henry Thomas, who befriends an alien, played by Pat Welsh and E.T., who is stranded on Earth. The alien, who is referred to as E.T., is accidentally left behind by his spaceship and must find a way to contact his spaceship and return home. Elliott and his siblings, Michael and Gertie, played by Robert MacNaughton and Drew Barrymore, help E.T. to evade the authorities, led by Keys, played by Peter Coyote, and find a way to contact his spaceship. Along the way, E.T. and Elliott form a strong bond, and E.T. learns about human culture and emotions, including the concept of Christmas and the music of John Williams. The plot is reminiscent of other classic Science fiction films, such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind and The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Characters

The characters in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial are well-developed and complex, with each one bringing their own unique personality to the story. Elliott, played by Henry Thomas, is a young boy who is struggling to cope with the divorce of his parents, Mary and Steve, played by Dee Wallace and Robert MacNaughton. E.T., played by Pat Welsh and E.T., is a kind and gentle alien who is desperate to return home to his planet and his family, including his Mother and Father. The characters are influenced by the works of other notable authors and directors, such as H.G. Wells and Stanley Kubrick. The film also features a number of notable actors, including Harrison Ford, who was considered for the role of Keys, and Richard Dreyfuss, who was a friend of Steven Spielberg and visited the set during filming.

Release

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was released on June 11, 1982, by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. The film was a major commercial success, grossing $792.9 million at the box office and becoming the highest-grossing film of 1982, surpassing other notable films such as Rocky III and An Officer and a Gentleman. The film received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising the film's story, characters, and special effects, which were created by Industrial Light & Magic. The film was released in a number of different formats, including VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray, and has been re-released several times over the years, including a 20th-anniversary edition in 2002 and a 30th-anniversary edition in 2012.

Reception

The reception of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was overwhelmingly positive, with many critics praising the film's story, characters, and special effects. The film holds a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics praising the film's ability to balance action, adventure, and emotion, much like other classic Science fiction films such as Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. The film was also a major commercial success, grossing $792.9 million at the box office and becoming the highest-grossing film of 1982. The film received a number of awards and nominations, including four Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards, and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

Legacy

The legacy of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is immense, with the film being widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, alongside other classic Science fiction films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner. The film has been named as an influence by a number of other filmmakers, including James Cameron, Guillermo del Toro, and J.J. Abrams, and has been referenced and parodied in a number of other films and television shows, including The Simpsons and Family Guy. The film's iconic score, composed by John Williams, has become one of the most recognizable and beloved film scores of all time, and the film's characters, including E.T. and Elliott, have become cultural icons, symbolizing the power of friendship and the human spirit, much like other notable characters such as Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. The film has also been recognized by a number of notable institutions, including the American Film Institute and the British Film Institute, and continues to be celebrated and enjoyed by audiences around the world, including fans of Science fiction films and Fantasy films.

Category:Science fiction films