E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is one of Steven Spielberg’s best films. The 1982 science fiction film has rightfully appealed to the viewers because of its innocence and childlike quality. It is primarily filmed from a child’s point of view because Spielberg wanted the audience to have an experience similar to that of his main character, Elliott Taylor, played by Henry Thomas.
It is impressive how Spielberg’s life was significantly impacted by the movie, but this was not just due to how well it did financially or critically. Instead, E.T. owns a special place for the director than viewers may realize.
The touching story of E.T. centered on a boy and his friend who must figure out how to help E.T. after it was left behind on Earth.
Why E.T. Is So Important to Steven Spielberg?
Steven Spielberg is known for a lot of successful films. Even so, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial continues to be the second-highest-grossing film he has ever directed. Accordingly, it is his second-highest earner, right behind Jurassic Park. Also, it surpasses Jaws, Saving Private Ryan, War of the Worlds, and the entire Indiana Jones series.
The 1982 science fiction film, starring Henry Thomas as a young boy who befriends a lost alien, has long been a staple of popular culture. Steven Spielberg, a three-time Academy Award winner, once admitted that almost all of his work had been influenced by his traumatic childhood.
The 76-year-old actor said he was “obviously… very traumatized” by his parent’s divorce and the conflict in his home.
“You know i have been very sad in life at times. I have been, you know, all of us have in pur family- Divorce is something that traumatizes you. And I know, I set out to tell the story of my mom and dad’s divorce when I made E.T.”
The Fabelmans director further added:
“And I had written pages about the divorce and then I carried away becasue, you know, putting something between me and reality- so I put an alien between me and reality of the divorce.”
Steven Spielberg Regretted One Big Mistake in E.T.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial director Steven Spielberg expressed regret over the decision to remove guns from his 1982 film. The story revolved around a young boy named Elliott, who discovered an extraterrestrial, befriended him, and ultimately helped E.T. to return to his planet.
The film became one of the highest-grossing movies after its theatrical release and was also a critical and financial success right away.
The Jurassic Park director spoke about the changes he made to E.T. for its 2002 20th anniversary re-release at the 2023 TIME100 Summit. Police officers carried guns in the movie, which according to Spielberg, it was almost perfect, but he later switched them out for walkie-talkies.
To quote him:
“[Removing the guns] was a mistake. I never should have done that. E.T. is a product of its era. No film should be revised based on the lenses we now are, either voluntarily, or being forced to peer through. E.T. was a film that I was sensitive to the fact that the federal agents were approaching a bunch of kids with their firearms exposed, and I thought I would change the guns into walkie-talkies.”
For the unversed, Steven Spielberg’s E.T. has received nine Academy Award nominations, and it took home four of them for Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Score, and Best Sound.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is available to rent on Apple TV.
Source- YouTube
