E.T. the Extra Terrestrial Turns 40! Behind-the-Scenes Secrets Revealed

ET looks back at our best moments with the cast of Steven Spielberg’s ‘E.T. the Extra Terrestrial’ in honor of its 40th anniversary.

[@chasehedges6775]

E.T: One of the best films of the 80s and a childhood classic

[@user-dr2yz8um3d]

Man 40 years and this movie is still an essential classic for all time Continues to touch generation after generation Drew definitely tugged at our heartstrings much like Henry

[@christopherrichards2350]

I’m a big fan of E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. Happy 40th anniversary

[@Pankrah1985]

Classic, loveee ET!! the flying theme by John Williams always gave me goosebumps. That scene on the bikes was so special, as a child I remember feeling so happy when they saved ET 🤍 I cry all the time at the last scene of the movie

[@medianeroma75]

40 years DAMN

[@chasehedges6775]

I saw that movie in back in the mid 2000s as a little and I definitely agree

[@janetgates669]

No kidding!!

[@nicholasgarrick7546]

Spiel berg is so passionate on the set, and he made those kids feel so comfortable. We miss directors like that. Cinema today is just business, and politics.

[@cleanhomer]

Happy 40th anniversary ET Extra Terrestrial! Released 06/11/1982!

[@d1nur489]

6.11.1982 - 6.11.2022

[@watchinvidzwatchinvidz7691]

It is magic.. I was Drew's age when it came out it was my first movie I saw in theaters. I remember it like yesterday. I wanted to be Drew's best friend. I rremember my brother who had asthma convinced me he was E.T. I was a gullible child. It's been 40 years & it's has stood the test of time. Happy Birthday E.T. 🎂🎁🎈🌻🌱📡🔦📼🔭🎬📽

[@nsasupporter7557]

I was born in 87, so I didn’t see it when it came out. I showed it to my kids and they loved it. Just like Star Wars… it’s a timeless movie and will always inspire people of new generations

[@nsasupporter7557]

Yes! Happy 40th anniversary ET!

[@redblue151]

What a truly amazing film. I loved every minute!

[@kascnef]

wished it won best picture at the oscars but Gandhi wom instead

[@redblue151]

@@kascnef Oh really? That's a great film too! Good year for cinema.

[@africanqueen2200]

Drew Barrymore still looks the same🥰 And they are all successful and doing well in life. Love it! ❤️❤️

[@dave1986R]

One story I heard about Henry Thomas’s audition was that he started thinking about his dog who had died sometime earlier so it made it easy for him to start crying on the spot.

[@ToyotaGuy1971]

"he's the only father figure I've ever had" That explains a lot!

[@dennishopper2701]

Classic! I definitely have to watch it again. Long time no see. A film from my childhood. Great movie.

[@StaticBlaster]

Happy E.T. Day! 40 years! Wow! I was born in '89. Time certainly flies.

[@nicholasgarrick7546]

This movie had such a profound effect on so many people lives......including mine.

[@matiaspereira9382]

The movie grossed $663 million worldwide in its initial release, which made it at the time the highest-grossing movie in the world (surpassing the original Star Wars movie) until it was surpassed by Jurassic Park 1 in 1993. It's now the 95th highest-grossing movie in the world (it would be the 141st if the original Star Wars movie and it had never been re-released). It was also the 1st movie in history to gross $600 million worldwide. It also became the 1st one to gross $700 million when it was re-released in 1985

[@RapFanatic4ever]

E.T. Came out when I was just 3 years old . U loved it since I was a little kid . I remember the first time I saw it on VHS at 7 years old .

[@DevilDogMuNky]

Here's to another 40 years!

[@janmed1207]

Such a magical movie! Touches the heart, soul, and imagination! They just don't make them like that anymore! Brilliant!!!

[@zachross8081]

yes happy 40th anniversary ET!

[@janetgates669]

I'll never forget seeing this in the theater. Our Dad took us. He was an old cowboy and loved country music. He thought E.T. was a movie about Ernest Tubb.... He was so mad 😂 we left!! So funny 🤣

[@nsasupporter7557]

You mean you didn’t watch the whole movie?

[@Letthembelightpeaceonelove]

So you didn’t actually get to see it in theater then? Did you ever watch the whole movie after that?

[@PetShopMod]

As a 48yo THIS is my childhood!

[@blackphoenix77]

Does anyone remember that ET didn't air on regular TV until the 1990s? I don't remember why, but some kind of legal issues kept it on cable and off broadcast TV throughout the 1980s. Entertainment Tonight did a story about it back then.

[@Ali_Ahmed_Yousuf]

Just watched the movie and i almost cry🥺❤️ the cgi, the bgm, editing everything is on its peak. Hard to say that the movie was shot in 1980's

[@tf8696]

There actually wasn't CGI in it (wasn't available in 1982), unless you were watching the 20th anniversary re-release, which had some CG effects included. I don't like that version as much.

[@TBevill1231]

This movie, like Jaws, still looks amazing to this day.

[@d1nur489]

I watched this movie yesterday

[@brittanyc.4540]

Happy E.T. Day! 👏🥳 💫 The Flying scene from #ETtheExtraTerrestrial is one of the greatest cinematic pieces ever made in the world of movie-making! 👽🚲✨ I love this movie so much since my childhood and I still love Mr. Spielberg’s timeless classic today!

[@amilieosturrup4482]

Wow it was such a good movie and to see that everyone had a special bond makes the movie 10 better 🥰😁

[@sylviagrice4140]

0:12 So cute!

[@anthonybirkholz6104]

I will love this ICONIC Movie forever. E.T. just fills my heart with joy, love, happiness and it has this magic that no other movie has. It is beloved by everyone. I can watch this movie 50 times (I probably have already) and enjoy it every time.

[@EricaShady10171972]

4:46 Well ... that must have sucked

[@StaticBlaster]

Make sure to see this film again today.

[@StaticBlaster]

"If 2 or 3 people as far apart as E.T. and those children could bridge a gap and fall in love with one another and communicate then there were no two people on Earth that were that far apart, and it just seems prescient to me that in a time like today that's fraught with cultural misunderstandings and danger and enmity and hatred that this message is being replayed and that it happens before your eyes. It's not pretended. The feelings of these child actors were not pretended. They were palpably real. That's why they moved people and I think it's a great thing to remember that if E.T. and these humans can make an understanding, there's nothing preventing any two people or two nations on Earth from doing it." - Peter Coyote, Keys (the government agent).

[@ryanfries6237]

Time for a Remake with a Part for Drew

[@StaticBlaster]

E.T. talks about E.T. LOL.

[@elliedavies7164]

I’m going to watch this movie in the cinema tomorrow as it’s playing for the 40th anniversary 👏🏼 and I honestly cannot wait! Watching it on a bigger screen will hit different always been one of my favourite films of all time 👏🏼♥️ I will be a bucket of tears 😭

[@PeterAckarey]

E.T. is such a cherished film because it focuses on things that unite us, as opposed to modern cinema, which is all about what divides us.

[@KeekCat]

Happy 40th anniversary!!!!! ❤️

[@wobber999]

Drew Is right you find family along the way, I was 12 when I saw ET for the first time wow whatta great movie.

[@martyfer2494]

I just watched w my 9 yo little bro, he loved it and almost cried.. I'm happy it's still an icon

[@stefanjovic2001]

Its the best movie for children ever made !

[@paulsmith9192]

What's crazy, ET are real. Maybe not like this.but,definitely out there

[@chindian3603]

Wow my parents took me to these movie 🎬 my old my old 80,s rule 👀💯✌️🇨🇦E.T phone home 🏡

[@mstwelvedeadlycyns]

My mother too.

[@paulsmith9192]

Dee really hasn't aged much in 40 years.

[@lukegreen5341]

0:01 I've Seen Steven Spielberg's Groundbreaking Masterpiece ET The Extra Terrestrial The 40th Anniversary Edition At Vue Cinema Purley Way Complex Movie Theatre In Croydon Surrey Just Outside The Capital City Of London In England This Year And It Was A No.1 Box Office Movie In The UK And It Was Super Awesome And It A Bit Like Back To The Future And Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Returned To The Big Screen. Thanks Mate. X

[@herbiejr-ty8oh]

you know about it e.t. the extra-terrestrial he promise 45th anniversary 2026

[@shable1436]

ET was such a phenomenon that kids today have no clue about unless you lived through it, absolutely during the beginning of blockbuster genesis. Let the fantasy of the story character development like Daniel day or Pacino does, stay in character, but Steven submerged the actors into the magic of the story so much that they actually believe they are the characters when switching to that mode

[@patriciakenealy9201]

THEY SURE DON'T MAKE MOVIE'S LIKE THIS ONE ANYMORE... SO GLAD THIS ONES UP THERE AS A ALL TIME CLASSIC .. AT LEAST IT IS FOR ME. IN MY TOP 5 ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIES. AND THAT IS A SPAN OF 65 YEARS.😉🥰🤗

[@InsaneKorean77]

E.T. on ET. How did NOBODY else in the comment section make this joke?

[@Pinkielover]

ET the extra testicle.. That's what I used to call it as a kid

[@user-tb4el1sr1q]

Her ain't look even 20 yet

[@o.c.g.m9426]

"To protect those that are different from us"...WHAT !!! I did not watch E.T at a 5 yr old and think that. Jesus Christ they keep tryin to put in these SJW signals. When I was 5 I wanted my own pet Alien to feel like Elliot simple !!🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️

[@rickymunguia1589]

Crazy ! I just randomly played this movie today too 🫡💯🙏

[@irnbrubhoy]

Only film that’s ever made me cry