E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) is a classic science fiction family film directed by Steven Spielberg, centering on the extraordinary friendship between a lonely young boy named Elliott and a gentle alien, E.T., who is stranded on Earth. The narrative follows Elliott, his older brother Michael, and younger sister Gertie as they endeavor to keep E.T. a secret from the adult world, particularly from government agents who are attempting to capture him, all while trying to help the alien return to his home planet. The movie explores universal themes of friendship, empathy, and belonging, capturing the wonder and challenges of childhood. It is widely recognized for its emotional depth, memorable score by John Williams, and iconic imagery, such as the bicycle flight across the moon.
Concerns
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe movie contains several intense and potentially frightening scenes, particularly for younger viewers. These include the initial separation and fear of E.T., the pursuit by government agents, and E.T.'s severe illness and apparent death.
1. The opening sequence involves E.T.'s species being frightened by approaching men, with aliens running screaming back to their spaceship, leaving E.T. behind. E.T. himself appears somewhat scary with bulging eyes when first encountered by Elliott, and eerie music plays throughout. 2. E.T. suffers a severe illness, appearing discolored and near death in a stream, and later seemingly passes away in an examination tent. This scene is depicted as quite traumatic for Elliott, who screams and begs E.T. to live. Government agents wearing space suits and breathing apparatus invade the house, surrounding it with the army, soldiers, and police.
Violence
MediumViolence is mild and mostly non-graphic, focusing on chase sequences and emotional distress rather than physical harm. There are scenes of government agents pursuing E.T. and the children, and some minor physical confrontations and accidental injuries.
1. Government agents are depicted actively pursuing E.T. and the children, creating suspense and a sense of threat, especially when they invade Elliott's home and set up roadblocks. In the original cut, agents carried guns, which were later replaced with walkie-talkies in the 2002 Special Edition but restored in the 40th-anniversary release. 2. Elliott cuts his finger on a saw blade, showing a drop of blood on his fingertip and the blade, which E.T. then heals. Additionally, Michael and Elliott engage in name-calling and bullying, leading to a mild physical altercation on a school bus.
Profanity
MediumThe film contains some coarse language and name-calling, including mild expletives and a notable offensive term used by a child character. The frequency is not high, but certain words may be concerning for some parents.
1. Elliott calls his older brother Michael 'penis breath' during an argument. 2. Michael uses the 'S' word a few times in the movie. Other crude expressions and exclamations of 'Oh my G-d,' 'Oh G-d,' and 'G-d' are also present, along with 'S.O.B,' 'h*ll,' and 'd*mn.'
Substance Use
MediumThe film depicts instances of substance use, including underage smoking and E.T. consuming alcohol, leading to mild intoxication in both E.T. and Elliott due to their telepathic link.
1. Michael's friends are shown smoking cigarettes when they are first introduced in the film. 2. E.T. drinks a can of beer from the family's fridge, which causes him to become dizzy and fall over. Due to his psychic connection with E.T., Elliott also experiences intoxication in class, exhibiting signs of being drunk and falling out of his desk chair.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThemes of disrespect and rebellion are present, primarily through the children's actions of hiding E.T. from their mother and defying adult authority, as well as minor acts of defiance and name-calling.
1. Elliott, Michael, and Gertie conspire to keep E.T. a secret from their single mother, Mary, highlighting a deliberate act of concealing significant information from a parent. Elliott also feigns illness to stay home from school to care for E.T. 2. The film portrays adults, particularly the government agents, as antagonists who are not to be trusted. This 'kid empowerment flick' sends messages that adults are often oblivious or harmful, with kids needing to take matters into their own hands, such as when Elliott cuts a plastic tunnel loose from a van containing government agents.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowThe film does not contain explicit LGBTQ+ characters or storylines. Director Steven Spielberg stated that E.T. was conceived as a 'plant-like creature' that was 'neither male nor female,' which can be interpreted as a non-binary presentation for the alien. Academic interpretations suggest the film allows for 'playing gender' through E.T.'s unsexed body.
1. When Gertie dresses E.T. in a wig, make-up, jewelry, and a skirt, her brothers Elliott and Michael express outrage, telling her to 'Give him his dignity back.' This scene has been interpreted academically as a reaction to perceived 'gender transgression' and allowing children to 'play gender' on E.T.'s unsexed body. 2. Steven Spielberg, the director, described E.T. as a 'plant-like creature' that was 'neither male nor female,' indicating an intentionally non-gendered or non-binary design for the alien character.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowRomantic and sexual content is minimal and generally innocent. It includes a brief kiss and some suggestive dialogue or actions among children.
1. Elliott kisses a girl in his class (Erika Eleniak's character) because E.T. is watching a romantic movie (The Quiet Man) and telepathically influencing Elliott's emotions. 2. Michael's friend licks his finger and playfully reaches for Elliott's mother's butt when she bends over while wearing a robe. Michael also jokes about a potential intruder being a 'pervert,' and another boy makes a pun about E.T. being from 'Uranus' ('Your anus').
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere is no explicit witchcraft or occult content. E.T. possesses supernatural abilities, such as telekinesis, telepathy, and healing, but these are presented as alien biological functions rather than magical or occult practices.
1. E.T. demonstrates telekinetic abilities by levitating several balls to represent his planetary system, and later uses his powers to make Elliott and his friends' bicycles fly. This is presented as an inherent ability of his species. 2. E.T. possesses healing powers, shown when he instantly heals a cut on Elliott's finger and later revives a dead chrysanthemum. These acts are depicted as natural to E.T.'s physiology rather than magic.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe film does not contain explicit anti-Christian themes. Instead, some critics and viewers have identified strong Christological parallels within the narrative, such as E.T.'s arrival from the heavens, his ability to heal, his apparent death and resurrection, and his final message, which can be interpreted as aligning with Christian symbolism.
1. E.T.'s story arc draws parallels to the life of Jesus, including his arrival on Earth from the heavens, his ability to perform 'miracles' like healing Elliott's finger and reviving a plant, and his 'crucifixion by military science' followed by 'resurrection by love and faith.' 2. The iconic image of E.T.'s and Elliott's fingers touching is seen by some as an inverse homage to Michelangelo's 'The Creation of Adam.' E.T.'s final message to Elliott, 'I'll be right here' while pointing to Elliott's head, has been likened to Christ's promise of the Holy Spirit.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Parental Guidance for children under 8, suitable for children aged 8 and older. The film is rated PG for some intense emotional scenes, mild thematic elements, and infrequent coarse language. Younger children may find E.T.'s illness and the government pursuit frightening, while older children and pre-teens will likely appreciate the themes of friendship and protecting the vulnerable.
Additional Notes
The 2002 Special Edition of the film made some content changes, most notably replacing government agents' guns with walkie-talkies and adding CGI enhancements, which were met with mixed reception. However, the original theatrical version with guns was restored for the 40th-anniversary release in 2022. Parents should be aware of these differences if selecting a specific version for viewing. The film's depiction of a broken nuclear family (Elliott's parents are divorced) is also a significant thematic element that some parents might wish to discuss with their children.
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