E.T The Extra Terrestrial

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Review

Let’s start by showing y’all the trailers, shall we?

Since this is a Universal movie, u know what that means? Que Universal Theme!

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Non-Spoiler Plot Overview

A group of alien botanists land on Earth under cover of night to collect plant samples—because apparently aliens are just peaceful gardening nerds. But when government agents close in, one of the aliens is left behind during a hasty escape.

Here’s full clip:
Insert full beginning clip here

The abandoned creature ends up in the care of a young boy named Elliott, who discovers him in the shed behind his house. What follows is a beautiful, quiet, emotionally charged story of friendship, family, and one very illegal bike ride. The film blends childlike wonder with devastating sadness, and somehow still makes you believe a glowing finger could save the world.

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Character Rundown

Elliott (Henry Thomas) – Our main kid protagonist. Sensitive, stubborn, and emotionally raw, Elliott is the first to bond with E.T. and carries much of the film’s emotional weight.

Michael (Robert MacNaughton) – Elliott’s older brother. Initially skeptical, but becomes a key part of the crew. Gets some of the best “older sibling redemption” moments in the third act.

Gertie (Drew Barrymore) – The youngest sibling and peak ‘80s adorable chaos. Delivers some of the film’s funniest moments, including her reactions to E.T. and her classic dress-up scene.

Mary (Dee Wallace) – The kids’ overwhelmed and well-meaning mom. She’s trying her best while navigating divorce, parenting three kids, and unknowingly harboring an alien fugitive.

The Keychain Man (Peter Coyote) – For most of the film, we only see him from the waist down, his identity marked by the jangling of his keys. Spielberg brilliantly holds back his full reveal until deep into the second act, using the sound and visual of his keys as a symbol of mysterious authority. When he finally steps into the light, his presence is calm, haunting, and—oddly familiar. He gave me serious Fox Mulder vibes: someone driven by belief, not just protocol.

Michael’s Friends – They help execute the most iconic pedal-powered jailbreak in cinematic history. They don’t get huge screen time, but they’re clutch in the third act, and add a great “Stand By Me” energy to the group dynamic.

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Pacing / Episode Flow

This movie flows like a bedtime story slowly turning into a myth. The first act is quiet and eerie—Spielberg plays it like a slow-burning sci-fi mystery. The second act is filled with childlike wonder and bonding, with scenes of joy, fear, and goofy misunderstandings (E.T. gets drunk. Yes, really). Then the third act hits like a freight train of emotions.

There’s no fluff. No filler. Just careful emotional build-up and heartbreak in real time. Every beat matters.

Here’s my favorite soundtracks from this film.

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Iconic Lines

“E.T. phone home.”

“I’ll be right here.”

“Ouch.”

Three syllables. Eternal devastation.

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Funny Moments

E.T. getting hammered off Coors while Elliott is at school and experiencing the psychic effects in real-time.

Gertie’s shriek when E.T. mimics her scream during their first meeting.

E.T. in a wig and dress. Enough said.

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Pros

🎬 Spielberg’s direction – This man directed it like a fairy tale horror story with a heart. Every camera angle from the kids’ height? Genius.

👽 E.T.’s design – Ugly as sin. Weirdly lovable. Somehow makes you cry just by looking at him.

🎼 John Williams’ score – Ethereal. Epic. Emotional. Like someone bottled nostalgia and poured it into your ears.

🧒 Child performances – Rarely this believable. Henry Thomas’s crying scene? Devastating.

🔑 Keychain man – Spielberg understood the power of mystery and slow reveals. The keys were a character before the man was.

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Cons

Honestly? Not much. Maybe the pacing might feel slow for modern kids raised on chaos. But for what it is, this film is a near-perfect emotional experience.

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Here’s my favorite songs:

Insert links here

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Final Thoughts

Some movies entertain. Some change you. E.T. does both. It’s not just about a boy and his alien. It’s about loneliness, loss, connection, and finding magic in the mundane. It’s about how grief manifests in weird ways and how healing sometimes comes in the form of something otherworldly.

I watched this as a kid with my sister—and we both cried. Like, sobbing messes. And to this day? It still hits me in the chest like a spaceship made of feelings. This movie didn’t age—it just got deeper.

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Rating

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
10/10 – No notes. Just tears.

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Spoiler Warning

From here on out, emotional spoilers and full plot discussion ahead.

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Spoilers

Here’s full clip: (Beginning scene)

Insert full beginning clip here

The film opens in a misty California forest, with the alien ship quietly landing as the creatures collect plant samples. The ambiance is eerie but tranquil—until the government shows up. The aliens panic, fleeing back to their ship—but one of them is too slow.

Left behind, alone and stranded on Earth, E.T. begins the loneliest journey of all time.

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We see Elliott slowly bond with him—through Reese’s Pieces, shared emotions, and mutual alienation. But while their friendship deepens, the government is closing in.

The Third Act = Pure Emotional Annihilation™

E.T. falls ill. He and Elliott start dying together. The government finds them. E.T. is taken. Medical tech surrounds him—cold, clinical, terrifying. Elliott screams while E.T. flatlines. It’s brutal. This movie doesn’t shy away from grief—it lets you feel it.

Then, the resurrection. The flower blooms. The glowing heart returns. E.T. is alive.

Cue the bike chase. Michael and his friends become every kid’s dream squad—evading government goons, helping their friend escape. The bikes take off into the sky. The moon becomes legend.

Then… the goodbye.

E.T., glowing finger and all, tells Elliott:

> “I’ll be right here.”

And leaves.

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Here’s full clip: (Ending scene)

Insert full ending clip here

Elliott stands heartbroken. The ship departs. And Spielberg lets the score and silence do the rest. No cheap stinger. No twist. Just a kid who loved something strange and lost it—but was forever changed by it.

It broke me. It still does.