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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Adventure · Science Fiction · Family · 1982

An alien is left behind on Earth and saved by the 10-year-old Elliott who decides to keep him hidden in his home. While a task force hunts for the extra-terrestrial, Elliott, his brother, and his little sister Gertie form an emotional bond with their new friend, and try to help him find his way home.

Movie details

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

“He is afraid. He is totally alone. He is 3,000,000 light years from home.”

1982 Adventure · Science Fiction · Family 1h 55m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.5 / 10

Community rating

An alien is left behind on Earth and saved by the 10-year-old Elliott who decides to keep him hidden in his home. While a task force hunts for the extra-terrestrial, Elliott, his brother, and his little sister Gertie form an emotional bond with their new friend, and try to help him find his way home.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Steven Spielberg

Written by

Melissa Mathison

Henry Thomas

Henry Thomas

Elliott

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore

Gertie

Robert MacNaughton

Robert MacNaughton

Michael

Peter Coyote

Peter Coyote

Keys

Dee Wallace

Dee Wallace

Mary

Erika Eleniak

Erika Eleniak

Pretty Girl

K.C. Martel

K.C. Martel

Greg

Court is in session

Put E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.