History Film / ETTheExtraTerrestrial

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

** (Considering what "penis breath" is implying).

* {{Bowdlerise}}: For the 2002 GeorgeLucasAlteredVersion, 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.

*** Years later Spielberg admitted it was a mistake and restored the shotguns along with the 1982 version in the Blu Ray release.

* CastTheExpert: The doctors are real doctors. The commentary mentions that this was because actors wouldn't quite speak as if they had been using the proper terms for years because, well, they hadn't been.

* HotMom: Mary.

For information on the infamous video game adaption, go '''[[VideoGame/ETTheExtraTerrestrial here]]'''.

''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'', ''Film/{{Tron}}'', ''TheSecretOfNIMH'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn'' and ''Film/TheDarkCrystal'' 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.

* EverytownAmerica

* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: When Elliott goes to the forest at Halloween and his mother asks where he is. Gert: "Anyways, why would Elliott go to the forest? Why would he do such a thing?"

''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'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn'' and ''Film/TheDarkCrystal'' 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.

* ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve: Mary is reading the {{trope nam|ers}}ing section of ''PeterPan'' to daughter Gertie at one point, foreshadowing E.T.'s recovery in the climax.

** Even more blatant in an episode of ''{{Animaniacs}}'', where the Warners are helping Michaelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel. For the centerpiece, they paint E.T. and Elliot in place of God and Adam.

** Two to buddy GeorgeLucas' ''Franchise/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.

* TheRival: ''[[Film/TheThing1982 The Thing]]'' was this to ''E.T.'', one of the reasons it didn't get any notice until a decade later, was because many people watching ''E.T.'' didn't like the idea of an evil alien.

* YouCanTalk

* DisneyDeath: [[spoiler: E.T.]]

** Two to buddy GeorgeLucas' ''Franchise/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.

* TheRival: [[TheThing1982 The Thing]] was this to E.T. one of the reasons it didn't get any notice until a decade later, was because many people Watching E.T. didn't like the idea of an evil alien.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Averted nicely unlike a lot of 80s movies. You can tell it was filmed in the 1980s due to the cars, the TV, and the family owning an Atari2600 but it doesn't stick out like other examples. Many of the pop culture references they make like StarWars or TheTwilightZone are still known by today's audiences.

** Even more blatant in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/Animaniacs'', where the Warners are helping Michaelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel. For the centerpiece, they paint E.T. and Elliot in place of God and Adam.

** Spielberg himself has said he never intended the film to be interpreted as a religious fable, and has himself joked about it.

* GadgeteerGenius: E.T., surprisingly, considering he's a ''botanist'': He builds a wind-operated emergency beacon, transmitting in his own language, out of spare parts (and a Speak and Spell). [[spoiler:What's more, his ship ''hears'' his transmission and comes back for him!]]

* GadgeteerGenius: E.T., surprisingly, considering he's a ''botanist'': He builds a wind-operated emergency beacon out of spare parts (and a Speak and Spell), what's more, his ship ''hears'' his transmission.

Down in that suburb live Elliott, his older brother Michael, and his little sister [[DrewBarrymore Gertrude]], the products of a broken home with an overworked mom named Mary (the dad is absent). Over the course of a few days, lonely Elliott encounters the stranded alien and lures it to his house with Reese's Pieces, offering it shelter and naming it E.T.

** Some sources say it was DrewBarrymore who asked for the guns to be edited out.