“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” premiered on June 11, 1982, and became one of the most beloved family films ever made.
Directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie tells the story of a young boy who befriends a stranded alien and helps him find a way home. Shot in roughly 61 days on a budget of about $10 million, “E.T.” became a massive box-office success, surpassing “Star Wars” to become the highest-grossing movie ever at the time.
It earned nine Oscar nominations, won four and helped define a generation of family entertainment while cementing Spielberg’s status as one of Hollywood’s leading filmmakers.
– Staff report with AI assist*, The Today 100
*As a company focused on innovative tools to build community, we embrace AI as an editorial resource to help us create relevant content. Every article is reviewed and modified by one of our editors to ensure accuracy.