Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 3 ratings
An alien is left behind on Earth and saved by the 10-year-old Elliot who decides to keep him hidden in his home. While a task force hunts for the extra-terrestrial, Elliot, his brother, and his little sister Gertie form an emotional bond with their new friend, and try to help him find his way home.
E.T. is one of the most emotionally resonant films ever made, with Spielberg drawing genuinely remarkable performances from his young cast — particularly Henry Thomas, whose chemistry with the alien puppet is extraordinary. The cinematography by Allen Daviau is iconic, including the silhouetted bicycle-against-moon shot that became one of cinema's most recognizable images. The film's novelty lies in its singularly empathetic execution: the alien-as-child's-companion premise had been done, but never with this emotional precision and intimacy. The ending delivers one of the most affecting farewells in blockbuster history, earning its tears honestly. The plot itself, while emotionally potent, is relatively straightforward and episodic — its power comes from character and feeling rather than narrative complexity, keeping it at a strong but not exceptional level.