Featured Audience Ratings

• Candy R

  
  Excellent movie about a boy who finds an alien and tries to help him get home. I cry every time I watch this movie. My favourite scene is the iconic bicycle ride by moonlight. Amazing!

• Tyler R

  
  If you have not seen this movie at least once, then I must ask you one thing: Why? E.T. is about an alien who is accidentally left on Earth by his spaceship and he befriends a young boy named Elliot who soon discovers him. I want to start by saying that the opening title for the movie… More
  If you have not seen this movie at least once, then I must ask you one thing: Why? E.T. is about an alien who is accidentally left on Earth by his spaceship and he befriends a young boy named Elliot who soon discovers him. I want to start by saying that the opening title for the movie is just plain eery. There's a weird and deep sound playing in the background it doesn't really sound like music. Then it just shows these short, dark figures moving around in the dark and isolated forest. I was about 5 or 6 years old the first time I saw this so I was under the assumption that this was some kind of horror movie. As the movie progresses, we're introduced to Elliot and his family. Elliot is played by Henry Thomas and he's really good in his role. Most kid actors usually suck, but Thomas is an exception. Drew Barrymore plays Elliot's little sister and she's the most well-known person in the movie. Yep, despite the success of E.T., most of the actors careers never got boosted and Barrymore was able to move on to other stuff like.....Family Guy? Anyway, I also feel the need to address a scene that scarred me as a child: The scene in the cornfield when Elliot is looking for E.T. in the beggining of the movie. It's a very creepy and tense scene and when the climax of the scene hits, your kids might end up having nightmares. When Elliot and E.T. eventually see eachother properly for the first time, the friendship starts and you immediately buy it. Elliot is the middle child in his family, his parents are divorced and you obviously get the sense that he's a lonely person in need of a companion. If he didn't meet E.T., I'm pretty sure he would become a drug addict. All the scenes with Elliot and E.T. are really well done. They're full of humor, emotion, a strong sense of curiosity and understanding and it makes for a great story of friendship. The special effects for E.T. are also fantastic. I've always preffered puppetry over CGI and this is one of those movies that shows why. It just pisses me off that Steven Spielberg went back and updated the film so that E.T. is a shallow piece of computer animation in the DVD. Not only that, but he also did a lot of stupid shit like digitally replacing all the guns with walkie-talkies. It may seem like I hate CGI, but I don't. I think it's a great and useful tool, but I just hate the people who overuse and abuse it. I'm just glad I own the original VHS copy of this movie. While speaking on technical aspects, I also have to praise the music for the film. John Williams did such an excellent job on creating a memorable score. It's an unforgettable piece of music and it's one of my all time favorite scores. Without spoiling anything, I'm also going to comment on the ending. It's such an emotional scene that always overwhelms me. It perfectly ends the movie and it's one of those things that just makes you sad. E.T. is one of my all time favorite movies and I don't see myself getting bored with it. It's a classic and if you haven't seen it, then find a way to watch it.

• Eugene B

  
  Spielberg breaks boundaries and moves mountains with this phenomenal blend of sci-fi and family fun. The young kids (including and up-and-coming Drew Barrymore) present brash enthusiasm and classy acting to go along with the brilliant effects and score. E.T. is a beautiful picture to… More
  Spielberg breaks boundaries and moves mountains with this phenomenal blend of sci-fi and family fun. The young kids (including and up-and-coming Drew Barrymore) present brash enthusiasm and classy acting to go along with the brilliant effects and score. E.T. is a beautiful picture to view over and over again. 4/5

• Jason S

  
  classic

• Emil K

  
  For me this fantasy classic has always seem a bit overrated sweet little film from one of the most talented directors of all times. Here you can see a great director working with more weaker material than he usually does. There is many familiar themes here that has been evident in… More
  For me this fantasy classic has always seem a bit overrated sweet little film from one of the most talented directors of all times. Here you can see a great director working with more weaker material than he usually does. There is many familiar themes here that has been evident in many other Spielberg productions, but he might try even a bit too hard to be touching and oddly fails to connect with our hearts fully. Only in the final fifteen minutes Spielberg manages to awaken his film from sleep and give it some of that majestic magical charm which it so badly needs. Maybe it is the fact that Spielberg is pulling our emotional strings so obviously here and therefore makes it all seem a bit forced. From the outside it reminds of many other Spielberg's films, most notably the better Close Encounters of the Third Kind and the fantastic and much more philophical fantasy masterpiece of his Artificial Intelligence. There is no doubt that this was a important film considering for Spielberg's own career and it also was a important film for many people who saw it back in the 80's and still is, but i find it a overreted work in Spielberg's own filmography. It is still a well meaning film and certainly does have it's moments. John Williams legendary theme is possibly the film's finest thing.

• Christopher H

  
  Steven Spielberg's ultimate masterpiece. The film manages to convey the importance of friendship, family, and love in a way that is touching without getting overly-sentimental. Everybody from the child actors to the adults give great performances. The special effects work for… More
  Steven Spielberg's ultimate masterpiece. The film manages to convey the importance of friendship, family, and love in a way that is touching without getting overly-sentimental. Everybody from the child actors to the adults give great performances. The special effects work for the character E.T. are so fantastic that at one point I forgot that E.T. was a special effect. I doubt the movie would have felt complete without the fantastic music score by John Williams. Despite taking place in a suburban town, Williams makes the film feel epic nonetheless. E.T. is a timeless classic that can be appreciated by people of all ages.

• Dan S

  
  A wonderfully constructed sci-fi gem of a film concerning an alien who lands on earth and is accidentally left behind, and takes shelter with a young, isolated boy (Henry Thomas). The biggest thing this film has going for it is its timelessness, being that it shares universal values,… More
  A wonderfully constructed sci-fi gem of a film concerning an alien who lands on earth and is accidentally left behind, and takes shelter with a young, isolated boy (Henry Thomas). The biggest thing this film has going for it is its timelessness, being that it shares universal values, and taps into human's rebellious tendencies, desire for companionship, and nostalgic hey-days of youth so very well. There are a few scenes that probably could have been cut, as well as a little hokey-ness once in a while, but for the most part this is stellar film-making, with a tear-jerking, intense conclusion that would not be as special without John Williams musical score which packs in own emotional wallop. Just a fine all-around movie that will never get old.

• Directors C

  
  E.T is an example of what movies were made to be. I guarantee that this charming adorable film will entertain generations of people for many years to come. Absolutley touching but a bit creepy for its own taste.

• Eric A

  
  It's a shame this film currently has a 65% rating for the audience. I feel that most of these ratings have come from 2005+ which are obviously going to be very different to a review from 1982. This film is nearly 30 years old and it still delivers a strong message to young and… More
  It's a shame this film currently has a 65% rating for the audience. I feel that most of these ratings have come from 2005+ which are obviously going to be very different to a review from 1982. This film is nearly 30 years old and it still delivers a strong message to young and old, but mainly on the younger audience. It displays a remarkable portrait of childhood and growing up. Sure the film is slow at times and it may be a bit predictable, but that is what's special. Films today aren't like they were in 1982, and films will be different in another 30 years from now. It's important to take date into consideration, and not let that skew your judgement. It was an instant hit at release, and will forever be a classic with audiences young and old.

• Joshua W

  
  Greatest film ever. Period. I disagree with every list that doesnt list this with best film. This was made a decade before I was born but I had an emotional connection I cant put into words. When I was a child I wore out a copy my parents owned and they had to get another.… More
  Greatest film ever. Period. I disagree with every list that doesnt list this with best film. This was made a decade before I was born but I had an emotional connection I cant put into words. When I was a child I wore out a copy my parents owned and they had to get another. Because of this film, CGI will always seem fake to me, no matter how realistic they try to make it. P.S.- films around the time this came out have been remade in recent years. Personally I will protest any attempt of remakeing this film with CGI or any format

• Alexander D

  
  If Steven Spielberg took his late-'70s sci-fi flick CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, and allowed the aliens to create a more humane, less mysterious, less eerie relationship with the little boy (and more than just making him constantly recite the film's theme, which in… More
  If Steven Spielberg took his late-'70s sci-fi flick CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, and allowed the aliens to create a more humane, less mysterious, less eerie relationship with the little boy (and more than just making him constantly recite the film's theme, which in both films is composed by John Williams), the result would be a fantastic, touching family movie called E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL. When I first saw this, I was about five, and like most seven-year-olds, my thought for even an ever-so-slightly dated film like this was, "Okay, this is stupid. Let me watch something that's actually EXCITING, Mom and Dad." But when I began to appreciate the art of film more, I rented this once more to watch it and see if my view changed. I loved it so much that I forced myself to watch it again the next day. Even if you think you have grown out of family movies, you will never, never grow out of this Spielberg classic.

• Jens S

  
  Charming, magical sci-fi-fairy tale, and a true 80s classic. The excellent child actors carry this film (there is only one adult's face visible for the first 90 minutes), and the E.T. was wonderfully convincing for that time. The message of tolerance and friendship may be naive… More
  Charming, magical sci-fi-fairy tale, and a true 80s classic. The excellent child actors carry this film (there is only one adult's face visible for the first 90 minutes), and the E.T. was wonderfully convincing for that time. The message of tolerance and friendship may be naive and predictable, and the melodrama a bit over the top, but it's hard not to lose your heart to this adorable story. A bit slow at times, the magical, exciting showdown speeds things up really well, leading to a heart-warming solution. Adults may grow out of being fascinated by this film, but it will forever be a movie that brings a glow into children's eyes.

• Ken S

  
  So I finally saw ET. It was probably the biggest film on my "ashamed I haven't seen it list" Really solid film, but why is Elliot's room so smokey in the beginning? Does he smoke cigars? and also the light in the shed is insane bright and always on. Who keeps a… More
  So I finally saw ET. It was probably the biggest film on my "ashamed I haven't seen it list" Really solid film, but why is Elliot's room so smokey in the beginning? Does he smoke cigars? and also the light in the shed is insane bright and always on. Who keeps a 10k in their tool shed?

• Sergio G

  
  I had a huge poster like this in my bedroom. I had also one of those little rubber ETs and some other toys. I cried like Mery Streep. For a 8 year old kid is a very strong movie and teach you to say good bye and let go. That's what I remember. Now 30 years later is definatelly a… More
  I had a huge poster like this in my bedroom. I had also one of those little rubber ETs and some other toys. I cried like Mery Streep. For a 8 year old kid is a very strong movie and teach you to say good bye and let go. That's what I remember. Now 30 years later is definatelly a great story and Spielberg knows how to work with kids in the best way. Introducing Drew Barrymore and the fantastic John Williams song that until now, still gives me the goosebumps.

• Jim C

  
  E.T. is one of the greatest movie ever made. It has intense and amazing scenes and (other than Jaws) Stephen Spielbergs debut masterpiece. Whenever you watch this you cant help but feel the masterful genius behind, that what your watching is quite possibly the king of Close… More
  E.T. is one of the greatest movie ever made. It has intense and amazing scenes and (other than Jaws) Stephen Spielbergs debut masterpiece. Whenever you watch this you cant help but feel the masterful genius behind, that what your watching is quite possibly the king of Close Encounter films. The young actors were tremendous and you could tell Spielberg spent a lot of time with them. The character for ET was great and funny which made him very likeable. The music made this movie even more intense because it mystical composing and great theme, I loved the music. The effects were well done and even if there wasn't much effects when there was it was great. E.T. is Americas history along with Jaws, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Batman, Rocky, and many others, and its not hard to see why.

• Michael E

  
  entertaining, heartwarming, and touching

• Dean M

  
  This is my childhood favourite friendship of alien-human film I ever like it - more emotional and family fantasy classic. A winner, not for the special effects but the extraordinary performances from the kids. Henry Thomas is delightful and the middle child, Elliott who find and… More
  This is my childhood favourite friendship of alien-human film I ever like it - more emotional and family fantasy classic. A winner, not for the special effects but the extraordinary performances from the kids. Henry Thomas is delightful and the middle child, Elliott who find and befriends ET. He is not "too cute", but gives a terrific performance, especially when ET telepathically makes him drunk. Drew Barrymoore is so cute as Elliott's little sister throughout the whole film and she captures the audience every time she appears on screen. Peter Coyote does great with the minimal screen time they chose to give him. The relationship between E.T. and Elliot can be marked as one of the greatest friendships in Hollywood history and in the farewell scene that tears me up.

• Wahida K

  
  InTheBasketProgram Beautiful Movie I have seen it so many times and every time enjoyed it like the first time. Any Movie Buff should have atleast watched it once in their lives. If there is one thing I had chance to say to Steven Spielberg, it would be THANK YOU FOR E.T Mr Spielberg!

• AJ V

  
  The number one kids sci-fi movie of all time! I love this movie, and if you haven't seen it yet, go rent it.

• Nadira I

  
  One of the best childhood classics, every children have to watch it at least once in their lifetime. Heart breaking and touch us from the bottom of our heart. E.T is one of the biggest achievement of Steven Spielberg. Watch it with your family and feel the experience of watching this… More
  One of the best childhood classics, every children have to watch it at least once in their lifetime. Heart breaking and touch us from the bottom of our heart. E.T is one of the biggest achievement of Steven Spielberg. Watch it with your family and feel the experience of watching this outstanding sci-fi movie.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings