History Film / ETTheExtraTerrestrial

* {{Bowdlerise}}: For the 2002 special edition re-release of the film, the guns of the cops at the end of the film were digitally replaced by CGI walkie-talkies (Spielberg, now a father himself, felt the shotguns could have been too frightening for his children) and "terrorist" changed to "hippie" (referring to Michael's Halloween costume). When the film eventually was released on DVD, the initial run saw both the 2002 release and the original theatrical cut packaged together in one set.

* SistineSteal: One that ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' hilariously brought full circle in one short: The Warner siblings help Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel and the result is that Elliott and E.T. are depicted upon it.

''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' is perhaps Creator/StevenSpielberg's signature fantasy film. It was the biggest blockbuster of 1982[[hottip:*:the same year ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', ''Film/BladeRunner'', ''{{Tron}}'', ''TheSecretOfNIMH'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn'' were released]] and, in fact, TheEighties as a whole. JohnWilliams' score, flying bicycles, and an UglyCute alien hero are just the tip of the iceberg here.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome

* [[ChekovsGun Chekov's Walkie Talkie]]: [[spoiler:E.T. being able to make Elliot's bike fly.]]

* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler:E.T. being able to make Elliot's bike fly.]]

''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' is perhaps Creator/StevenSpielberg's signature fantasy film. It was the biggest blockbuster of 1982[[hottip:*:the same year ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', ''Film/BladeRunner'', ''{{Tron}}'', ''TheSecretOfNIMH'' and ''TheLastUnicorn'' were released]] and, in fact, TheEighties as a whole. JohnWilliams' score, flying bicycles, and an UglyCute alien hero are just the tip of the iceberg here.

* ActuallyPrettyFunny: Mary fails to contain her laughter when reprimanding her son Elliott for calling Michael "penis breath."

''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' is perhaps Creator/StevenSpielberg's signature fantasy film. It was the biggest blockbuster of 1982[[hottip:*:the same year ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', ''BladeRunner'', ''{{Tron}}'', ''TheSecretOfNIMH'' and ''TheLastUnicorn'' were released]] and, in fact, TheEighties as a whole. JohnWilliams' score, flying bicycles, and an UglyCute alien hero are just the tip of the iceberg here.

* DropWhatYouAreDoing

* EnforcedMethodActing: When Gertie bursts in on Elliot and sees E.T. for the first time, Drew Barrymore was actually scared when E.T. suddenly stretched his neck up.

** Two to buddy GeorgeLucas' ''StarWars'' franchise: Elliott shows E.T. some of his action figures, and one of the trick-or-treaters is dressed as Yoda. (Notably, E.T. appears to ''recognize'' Yoda. Perhaps he's just happy to see someone who isn't freakishly tall and smooth-skinned, but then...) John Williams even sneaks "Yoda's Theme" from Empire Strikes Back into the score at that moment.
*** Also, when the goverment agents invade Elliot's house, the astronauts get a [[VaderBreath well known breath]].
*** Came full circle when members of E.T.'s species appeared in the Galactic Senate in ''ThePhantomMenace''.

*** And in ''RevengeOfTheSith'', Yoda's departure from Kashyyk looks much like ET's departure from Earth.

''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' is perhaps StevenSpielberg's signature fantasy film. It was the biggest blockbuster of 1982[[hottip:*:the same year ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', ''BladeRunner'', ''{{Tron}}'', ''TheSecretOfNIMH'' and ''TheLastUnicorn'' were released]] and, in fact, TheEighties as a whole. JohnWilliams' score, flying bicycles, and an UglyCute alien hero are just the tip of the iceberg here.

* ArmiesAreEvil: Averted. They're more like obstructive and arguably they have a point.

-->'''Michael:''' I'm gonna crash and we're all gonna die and ''they'll never give me my license!''

* TheBigDamnKiss: {{ParodiedTrope}} by Elliott, who is subliminally reenacting ''TheQuietMan''. Interspersed with actual footage (which E.T. is watching on TV) for bonus points.

* OneHeadTaller: {{Played for laughs}}; Elliott has to climb on top of [[ScullyBox a fallen classmate]] to kiss the girl.

* PlotHole: As the ''MADMagazine'' parody asked, why couldn't E.T. heal himself with his own finger when he fell ill, or fly to escape the scientists at the beginning?

*** Also, when the goverment agents invade Elliot's house, the astronauts get a [[VaderBreath well known breath]].

"{{This is reality}}, Greg!"
* SistineSteal: One that ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' hilariously brought full circle in one short: The Warner siblings help Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel and the result is that Elliott and E.T. are depicted upon it.

''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' is perhaps StevenSpielberg's signature fantasy film. It was the biggest blockbuster of 1982[[hottip:*:the same year ''StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', ''BladeRunner'', ''{{Tron}}'', ''TheSecretOfNIMH'' and ''TheLastUnicorn'' were released]] and, in fact, TheEighties as a whole. JohnWilliams' score, flying bicycles, and an UglyCute alien hero are just the tip of the iceberg here.

''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' is perhaps StevenSpielberg's signature fantasy film. It was the biggest blockbuster of 1982 and, in fact, TheEighties as a whole. JohnWilliams' score, flying bicycles, and an UglyCute alien hero are just the tip of the iceberg here.

* TheBigDamnKiss: {{Parodied|Trope}} by Elliott, who is subliminally reenacting ''TheQuietMan''. Interspersed with actual footage (which E.T. is watching on TV) for bonus points.

** There's also a shout-out to [[StarTrek that other Star-thing]]:

** [[LewisBlack "And you know what they're saying into those walkie-talkies? 'Where the hell are our guns? We're trying to stop an alien from escaping!'"