AFI (2007) • AFI-024
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1982 • Steven Spielberg
AVAILABLE EDITIONS
Physical
ABOUT THIS FILM
RUNTIME
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FAMOUS QUOTE
“E.T. phone home.”
Steven Spielberg’s beloved science fiction fantasy follows Elliott, a lonely suburban boy who discovers and befriends a gentle alien accidentally left behind on Earth. As Elliott and his siblings hide the creature from curious adults and government agents, they form a powerful emotional bond while searching for a way to help E.T. return home. Spielberg tells the story largely from a child’s perspective, blending wonder, humor, and heartfelt emotion. John Williams’s soaring score and the iconic bicycle flight sequence became some of the most recognizable moments in modern cinema. With its themes of friendship, empathy, and belonging, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial remains one of the most cherished family films ever made.
Why it matters
- E.T. captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, blending science fiction with an intimate story about childhood, loneliness, and friendship.
- Spielberg’s decision to frame the story from a child’s perspective gives the film its sense of wonder and emotional authenticity.
- Its enormous success helped define the modern blockbuster while remaining one of the most heartfelt and personal films of its era.
Watch for
- The famous bicycle flight scene silhouetted against the moon, one of the most iconic images in film history.
- John Williams’s emotional score, which builds the film’s sense of wonder and emotional release.
- The way Spielberg films many scenes from a child’s eye level, emphasizing the story’s perspective.
- Quiet moments between Elliott and E.T. that reveal their growing emotional connection.
Vibe
Science FictionChildhood WonderSuburban FantasyFriendship Beyond EarthHomesicknessMoonlit AdventureFamily HealingSpielbergian AweTender FarewellHeartfelt Magic
AFI RANK
1998: #25
2007: #24
▲Moved up 1 spot