Editing E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (section)

==Reception==
===Release and sales===
''E.T.'' was previewed in Houston, Texas, and premiered at the [[1982 Cannes Film Festival]]'s closing gala on May 26, 1982,<ref name="second coming">{{Cite news| first = Roger | last = Ebert | author-link = Roger Ebert |title=E.T.: The Second Coming|publisher=Movieline|date=August 9, 1985}}</ref><ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/1558/year/1982.html |title=Festival de Cannes: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial |work=Festival de Cannes |access-date=June 13, 2009 |publisher=festival-cannes.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103001651/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/1558/year/1982.html |archive-date=January 3, 2014}}</ref> and was released in the United States on June 11, 1982. It opened at [[List of 1982 box office number-one films in the United States|number one at the US box office]] with a gross of $11{{nbsp}}million, and stayed at the top of the box office for six weeks; it then fluctuated between the first and second positions until October, before returning to the top spot for the final time in December during a brief holiday season re-release.<ref>{{cite web | title = E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial&nbsp;— Weekend Box Office | website = [[Box Office Mojo]] | url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=et.htm | access-date = April 18, 2007 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130921144022/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=et.htm | archive-date = September 21, 2013 }}</ref> In its second weekend, it recorded the highest-grossing second weekend of all time, surpassing the record of $10,765,687 set by ''[[Superman II]]'' in 1981.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Daily Variety]]|date=October 27, 1982|page=46|title=Biggest North American Film Boxoffice Weekends in History|last=Murphy|first=A.D.}}</ref> In its fourth weekend, it recorded the highest-grossing weekend of all time, surpassing the record of $16,706,592 set earlier that year by ''[[Rocky III]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1982W27/occasion/us_july4_weekend/|title=Domestic 1982 Weekend 27|access-date=May 14, 2020|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|archive-date=July 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731022534/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1982W27/occasion/us_july4_weekend/|url-status=live}}</ref> It had a record eight weekends with a gross of over $10 million, a feat not matched until ''[[Home Alone]]'' (1990),<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Daily Variety]]|page=107|date=October 28, 1991|title=Gross Out|last=Murphy|first=A.D.}}</ref> and set a [[List of films with the most weekends at number one|record for being at number one]] for 16 weeks in total.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010044059/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/bestranked.htm?page=WKNDSAT1&p=.htm|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/bestranked.htm?page=WKNDSAT1&p=.htm|archive-date=October 10, 2018|access-date=May 14, 2020|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|title=BEST RANKING MOVIES by Weekend Rank, 1982–Present}}</ref>

The film began its international rollout in Australia on November 26, 1982, and grossed $839,992 in its first 10 days from nine theatres, setting five weekly house records and 43 daily records. In South Africa, it opened in late November and grossed $724,340 in eight days from 14 screens, setting 13 weekly highs. In France, it opened on December 1, and had 930,000 admission in its first five days on 250 screens, setting an all-time record in Paris for most daily admissions (Saturday, December 4). In Japan, it opened on December 4, and grossed $1,757,527 in two days from 35 theatres in 11 cities, setting 10 house records on Saturday and 14 on Sunday.<ref name=world/> In the United Kingdom, it opened on December 9 after a charity performance in London and grossed a record £1 million in its opening weekend.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=December 10, 1988|page=1|title=Rabbit claims UK box office record}}</ref> The film added another 138 screens in Japan on December 11, with advance sales of 1.3 million tickets.<ref name=world>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Daily Variety]]|page=1|title=E.T. Taking Over the World|date=December 7, 1982}}</ref> It later opened in the Philippines in January 1983.<ref>{{cite news|last=Daza|first=Paul|title=Better, more magical 20 years later|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0lg1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=iyUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2414%2C3360203|access-date=June 10, 2023|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=April 8, 2002|page=A28}}</ref> In Finland, Norway, and Sweden, the film had minimum age ratings of 8, 12, and 11, respectively, while Denmark had no minimum age limit. There were Swedish people who were opposed to the age limit.<ref>{{cite web|last=Soderlind|first=Rolf|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1899&dat=19830120&id=tQpHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iPMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3254,2312589|title=Scandinavian censors ban ET|newspaper=[[The Lewiston Journal]]|via=[[Google News]]|date=1983-01-20|agency=[[Associated Press]]|page=5}}</ref>

In 1983, ''E.T.'' surpassed ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' to become the highest-grossing film of all time;<ref name="Dirks (2010)">{{cite web | last = Dirks | first = Tim | title = Top Films of All-Time: Part 1&nbsp;– Box-Office Blockbusters | publisher = [[Filmsite.org]] | url = http://www.filmsite.org/greatfilmssummary.html | access-date = March 4, 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131014123530/http://www.filmsite.org/greatfilmssummary.html | archive-date = October 14, 2013 }}</ref> by the end of its theatrical run, it had grossed $359{{nbsp}}million in the United States and Canada and $619{{nbsp}}million worldwide.<ref name=BOM/><ref>{{cite news |last=Wuntch |first=Philip |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |title=Return of E.T. |date=July 19, 1985 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_text_direct-0=0ED3CD81CFEA1C2E&p_field_direct-0=document_id |access-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-date=May 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517022355/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_text_direct-0=0ED3CD81CFEA1C2E&p_field_direct-0=document_id |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Box Office Mojo]] estimates that the film sold over 120{{nbsp}}million tickets in its initial U.S. theatrical run.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=May 31, 2016|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=et.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|title=E.T.:The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)|website=Box Office Mojo|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804215933/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=et.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|archive-date=August 4, 2016}}</ref> Spielberg earned $500,000 a day from his share of the profits,<ref>{{Cite news | title = Spielberg's Creativity | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = December 25, 1982 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/25/business/spielberg-s-creativity.html | access-date = April 17, 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090605190909/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/25/business/spielberg-s-creativity.html | archive-date = June 5, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="secrets">{{Cite news| first = Jim | last = Callo | title = Director Steven Spielberg Takes the Wraps Off E.T., Revealing His Secrets at Last | work=[[People (magazine)|People]] | date = August 23, 1982}}</ref> while [[The Hershey Company]]'s profits rose 65% due to the film's prominent placement of [[Reese's Pieces]].<ref name="Biema 1982 Candy"/> The "Official E.T. Fan Club" offered photographs, a newsletter that let readers "relive the film's unforgettable moments [and] favorite scenes", and a vinyl record with "phone home" and other sound clips.<ref name="ahoy198401">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/Ahoy_Issue_01_1984-01_Ion_International_US#page/n89/mode/2up | title=Yours Free From E.T. With Membership | work=Ahoy! | date=January 1984 | access-date=June 27, 2014 | page=91 | type=advertisement | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316052336/https://archive.org/stream/Ahoy_Issue_01_1984-01_Ion_International_US#page/n89/mode/2up | archive-date=March 16, 2016 }}</ref>

The film was also a merchandising success, with dolls selling {{nowrap|15 million}} units by September 1982 and becoming the best-selling toy that Christmas season.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Labov |first1=William |last2=Browne |first2=Ray Broadus |last3=Browne |first3=Pat |title=The Guide to United States Popular Culture |date=2001 |publisher=[[Popular Press]] |isbn=978-0-87972-821-2 |page=244 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U3rJxPYT32MC&pg=PA244 |language=en |access-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914010615/https://books.google.com/books?id=U3rJxPYT32MC&pg=PA244 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''E.T.'' went on to generate over {{US$|1 billion|long=no}} in merchandise sales by 1998.<ref>{{cite book |last=Knight |first=Bertram T. |title=Steven Spielberg: master of movie magic |date=1998 |publisher=Crestwood House |isbn=9780382395079 |page=48 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gfkinz9_0SQC&q=billion+merchandise |quote=In addition, more than $1 billion in ''E.T.'' merchandise was sold |access-date=August 16, 2018 |archive-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801112136/https://books.google.com/books?id=gfkinz9_0SQC&q=billion+merchandise |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the success of the film, [[Kuwahara (bicycle company)|Kuwahara]], the company that created the [[BMX bike]]s featured in the film, began producing red and white "E.T." models in three price and quality levels.<ref>[http://www.dreamgate.ne.jp/kuwahara/history/et.html ET Kuwahara]</ref> Kuwahara reissued the E.T. model in 2002, as part of the film's 20th anniversary, and again in 2022 as part of the film's 40th anniversary.<ref>{{cite news | first=Jenna |last=Busch| url=https://www.slashfilm.com/846086/elliotts-bike-from-e-t-the-extra-terrestrial-can-soon-be-yours-but-dont-you-dare-try-to-fly-it/ | title= Elliott's Bike From ''E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial'' Can Soon Be Yours, But Don't You Dare Try To Fly It | work=/Film | date=April 27, 2022 | access-date=June 17, 2022}}</ref>

{{Multiple image
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| image1            = ET 1985 re-release.jpg
| image2            = ET 2002 re-release poster.jpg
| image3            = ET IMAX poster.jpg
| footer            = Posters of the 1985, 2002 and 2022 re-releases
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The film was re-released in 1985 and 2002, earning another $60{{nbsp}}million and $68{{nbsp}}million respectively,<ref name="BOM 1985">{{cite web |title=E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (Re-issue) |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=et85.htm |access-date=March 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530183914/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=et85.htm |archive-date=May 30, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="BOM 2002">{{cite web |title=E.T. (20th Anniversary) |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=et20th.htm |access-date=March 6, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305171100/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=et20th.htm |archive-date=March 5, 2012}}</ref> for a worldwide total of $792{{nbsp}}million with $435{{nbsp}}million from the United States and Canada.<ref name=BOM/> It held the global record until it was surpassed by ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]'', another Spielberg film, in 1993,<ref>{{cite web |title=Jurassic Park (1993)&nbsp;– Miscellaneous notes |publisher=[[Turner Classic Movies]] |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/80025/jurassic-park#notes |access-date=November 20, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002025740/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/80025/Jurassic-Park/misc-notes.html |archive-date=October 2, 2013}}</ref> although it managed to hold on to the United States and Canada record for a further four years, until the release of the Special Edition of ''Star Wars''.<ref>{{cite web | last = Dirks | first = Tim | title = Greatest Movie Series Franchises of All Time: The Star Wars Trilogy – Part IV | publisher = [[Filmsite.org]] | url = http://www.filmsite.org/series-starwars4.html | access-date = March 4, 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131003231735/http://www.filmsite.org/series-starwars4.html | archive-date = October 3, 2013 }}</ref>

It was re-released in [[IMAX]] on August 12, 2022, in the United States and Canada, to commemorate the film's 40th anniversary, alongside an IMAX and [[RealD 3D]] reissue of another Spielberg film ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'' scheduled for September 2. Jim Orr, Universal's president of distribution remarked "No filmmaker, it's fair to say, has had a greater or more enduring impact on American cinema or has created more indelible cinematic memories for tens of billions of people worldwide. We couldn't think of a more perfect way to celebrate the anniversary of ''E.T.'' and the first Universal-Spielberg summer blockbuster, ''Jaws'', than to allow audiences to experience these films in a way they've never been able to before."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/et-the-extra-terrestrial-and-jaws-set-for-first-ever-imax-release-1235041696/ | title=Steven Spielberg's Classics 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial' and 'Jaws' Set for First-Ever Imax Release | date=June 9, 2022 }}</ref> The IMAX release grossed $490,000 on its first day from 389 theaters, for a three-day total of $1.07 million and a $438{{nbsp}}million running total.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/box-office-bullet-train-bodies-bodies-bodies-pete-davidson-1235091498/ | title='Bullet Train' Second Go-Round Now At $13.4M As Summer 2022 Clocks Lowest Weekend To Date With $66M – Sunday Box Office Update | date=August 14, 2022 }}</ref>

The film would remain one of Universal's top three highest-grossing films of all time in North America, behind ''[[Jurassic World]]'' (2015) and ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'' (2023), until 2024 with the release of ''[[Wicked (2024 film)|Wicked]]'', the first installment of [[Wicked (musical)|the musical]]'s [[Wicked (film franchise)|two-part film adaptation]]. As of 2025, the film remains the studio's fifteenth highest-grossing film of all time worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://collider.com/wicked-top-3-highest-grossing-univeral-movies/ |title='Wicked' Just Passed an Alien To Become One of the Highest-Grossing Universal Movies Ever |work=Collider |last=Blevins |first=Adam |date=January 14, 2025 |access-date=January 31, 2025}}</ref>

===Home media===
''E.T.'' was eventually released on VHS and LaserDisc on October 27, 1988. The videos were priced with a recommended retail price of $24.95, the lowest initial price at the time for a major movie compared to the normal price of $89.95.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harmetz|first=Aljean|title='E.T.,' Box-Office Champ, Sets Video Records|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/27/movies/et-box-office-champ-sets-video-records.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 27, 1988|access-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref><ref name=hvsi/> To combat piracy, the tapeguards and tape hubs on the videocassettes were colored green, and the tape itself was affixed with a small, holographic sticker of the 1963 Universal logo (much like the holograms on a credit card), and encoded with [[Analog Protection System|Macrovision]].<ref name="Must own DVD"/> The film doubled the record pre-orders of ''[[Cinderella (1950 film)|Cinderella]]'' released the same month and went on to sell over 15{{nbsp}}million VHS units in the United States, and grossed over {{US$|250 million|long=no}} in video sales revenue.<ref name=hvsi>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=September 24, 1988|page=1|title=E.T. home and dry for video record}}</ref><ref name="Hall">{{cite book |last=Hall |first=Sheldon |title=Epics, Spectacles, and Blockbusters: A Hollywood History |date=2010 |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |isbn=978-0814336977 |page=238 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ro0hASPfC68C&pg=PA238 |access-date=August 16, 2018 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020072345/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ro0hASPfC68C&pg=PA238 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=VCR: a boon for the bargain hunter |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/10/24/VCR-a-boon-for-the-bargain-hunter-Electronics/4030899165864/ |work=[[United Press International]] |date=October 24, 1988 |access-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905215004/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/10/24/VCR-a-boon-for-the-bargain-hunter-Electronics/4030899165864/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The VHS cassette was also rented over six million times during its first two weeks in 1988, a record it held until the VHS release of ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'' the following year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Batman' sets video rental record |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/12/13/Batman-sets-video-rental-record/5316629528400/ |work=[[United Press International]] |date=December 13, 1989 |access-date=August 16, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140918/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/12/13/Batman-sets-video-rental-record/5316629528400/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Conservative Christians who were still angry about Universal's release of ''[[The Last Temptation of Christ (film)|The Last Temptation of Christ]]'' earlier in the year called for a boycott of this release.<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-09-10.pdf Billboard - September 10, 1988]</ref> Initial orders internationally exceeded $30 million despite the film often being sold at full price, setting records in the United Kingdom with over 81,000 units and Australia with 35,500 units. It initially shipped 152,000 units in Japan and 87,000 in Germany.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=November 5, 1988|page=2|title=E.T. video notces $30m for CIC, $150m for MCA Home Video}}</ref> In 1991, [[Sears]] began selling ''E.T.'' videocassettes exclusively at their stores as part of a holiday promotion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-27-ca-222-story.html|title='E.T.'...Call Sears : Giant Retailer Uses Giant Film to Ring in Holiday Ratings, Shoppers|last=CERONE|first=DANIEL|date=November 27, 1991|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |issn=0458-3035|access-date=September 8, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829010239/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-11-27/entertainment/ca-222_1_sears-stores|archive-date=August 29, 2016}}</ref> It was reissued on VHS and LaserDisc again in 1996, with the latter including a 90-minute documentary produced and directed by [[Laurent Bouzereau]]; it included interviews with Spielberg, producer Kathleen Kennedy, composer John Williams, and other cast and crew members, as well as two theatrical trailers, an isolated music score, deleted scenes, and still galleries. The VHS included a 10-minute version of the same documentary from the LaserDisc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/'E.T.+the+EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL'+RETURNS%253B+MULTI-MILLION+DOLLAR+CROSS...-a018394628|title='E.T. the EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL' RETURNS; MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CROSS PROMOTION WITH PILLSBURY ANNOUNCED|publisher=PR Newswire via the Free Online Library|access-date=September 14, 2016|archive-date=January 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111142759/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/%27E.T.+the+EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL%27+RETURNS%253B+MULTI-MILLION+DOLLAR+CROSS...-a018394628|url-status=live}}</ref> Both 1996 home video releases of the film were also [[THX]] certified as well.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkshire-eagle-funny-to-some-upset/156372099/ |title=Funny to some, upsetting to others |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001193639/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkshire-eagle-funny-to-some-upset/156372099/ |date=October 4, 1996 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |page=35 |publisher=[[The Berkshire Eagle]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref> The 2012 release of ''E.T.'' on DVD and Blu-ray grossed {{US$|24.4 million|long=no}} in sales revenue {{as of|2017|lc=y}} in the United States.<ref name="et-numbers">{{cite web |title=ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) – Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/ET-The-Extra-Terrestrial |website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |access-date=June 10, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143601/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/ET-The-Extra-Terrestrial |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Critical response===
[[File:ET Moon.jpg|thumb|''Empire'' magazine called Elliott and E.T.'s flight to the forest "the most magical moment in cinema history".<ref>{{Cite news|title=50 Most Magical Movie Moments|page=127|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|date=January 2004}} {{cite web|title=ET's bike flight 'cinema's most magical moment'|work=Breaking News |date=November 30, 2003|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/entertainment/kfcwmhojgboj/|access-date=May 17, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202111331/http://www.breakingnews.ie/entertainment/kfcwmhojgboj/|archive-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref> The scene is a tribute to the 1951 [[Vittorio De Sica]] film ''[[Miracle in Milan]]'', one of Spielberg's favorite films.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cracked.com/article_19826_6-iconic-scenes-ripped-off-from-lesser-known-movies.html|title=6 Iconic Scenes Ripped Off From Lesser-Known Movies|date=May 14, 2012|publisher=Cracked|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711035638/http://www.cracked.com/article_19826_6-iconic-scenes-ripped-off-from-lesser-known-movies.html|archive-date=July 11, 2016}}</ref>]]

[[Roger Ebert]] gave the film four out of four stars and wrote, "It works as science fiction, it's sometimes as scary as a monster movie, and at the end, when the lights go up, there's not a dry eye in the house."<ref>{{Cite book| last=Ebert| first=Roger| title=Roger Ebert's Four-Star Reviews 1967-2007}}</ref> He later added it to his canon of "Great Movies", structuring the essay as a letter to his grandchildren about watching it with them. Of the scene with the flying bicycles, he writes: "I remember when I saw the movie at Cannes: Even the audience there, people who had seen thousands of movies, let out a whoop at that moment."<ref>{{cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |title=E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (2002)|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-et-the-extra-terrestrial-1982|publisher=RogerEbert.com|access-date=February 9, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129132649/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-et-the-extra-terrestrial-1982|archive-date=January 29, 2016}}</ref> Michael Sragow of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' called Spielberg "a space age [[Jean Renoir]].{{nbsp}}... for the first time, [he] has put his breathtaking technical skills at the service of his deepest feelings".<ref>{{Cite magazine| first = Michael | last = Sragow | title = Extra-Terrestrial Perception | magazine = Rolling Stone | date = July 8, 1982}}</ref> Derek Malcolm of ''[[The Guardian]]'' wrote that "''E.T.'' is a superlative piece of popular cinema [...] a dream of childhood, brilliantly orchestrated to involve not only children but anyone able to remember being one".<ref name="malcolm19821209">{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/1982/dec/09/derekmalcolmscenturyoffilm | title=Raiders of the Ugly Duckling | work=The Guardian | date=December 9, 1982 | access-date=July 17, 2016 | first = Derek | last = Malcolm | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825233105/https://www.theguardian.com/film/1982/dec/09/derekmalcolmscenturyoffilm | archive-date=August 25, 2016 }}</ref> [[Leonard Maltin]] included it in his list of "100 Must-See Films of the 20th Century" as one of only two movies from the 1980s.<ref name="Maltin Top 100">{{cite web |last=Maltin |first=Leonard |url=http://www.filmsite.org/maltin2.html |title=100 Must-See Films of the 20th Century Part 2 |website=[[Filmsite]] |author-link=Leonard Maltin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015115555/http://www.filmsite.org/maltin2.html |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Political commentator [[George Will]] was one of few to pan the film, feeling it spread subversive notions about childhood and science.<ref>{{Cite news| first = George | last = Will | author-link = George Will | title = Well, ''I'' Don't Love You, E.T. | work = [[Newsweek]] | date = July 19, 1982}}</ref>

John Nubbin reviewed ''E.T.'' for ''[[Different Worlds]]'' magazine and stated that "''E.T.'' is a totally enjoyable film. The detail lavished on the movie makes it an exquisite viewing experience well above the crowd of the summer releases."<ref name="dw23">{{cite journal | last = Nubbin |first = John | title = Fantasy & Science Fiction Films | journal = [[Different Worlds]] | issue = 23 | pages =50 |date=August 1982}}</ref>

The film holds a 99% approval rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on 146 reviews, and an average rating of 9.2/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Playing as both an exciting sci-fi adventure and a remarkable portrait of childhood, Steven Spielberg's touching tale of a homesick alien remains a piece of movie magic for young and old."<ref>{{cite web | title = E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) | publisher = [[Fandango Media]] | work = [[Rotten Tomatoes]] | url = https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/et_the_extraterrestrial/ | access-date = December 9, 2019 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131223004034/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/et_the_extraterrestrial/ | archive-date = December 23, 2013 }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it has a weighted average score of 92/100 based on 30 reviews.<ref>{{cite web | title = E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (re-release) Reviews | publisher = [[CBS Interactive]] | work = [[Metacritic]] | url = https://www.metacritic.com/movie/et-the-extra-terrestrial | access-date = October 16, 2008 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131028011401/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/et-the-extra-terrestrial | archive-date = October 28, 2013 }}</ref> In addition to the film's wide acclaim, President [[Ronald Reagan]] and First Lady [[Nancy Reagan]] were moved by it after a screening at the [[White House]] on June 27, 1982.<ref name="secrets"/> [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Princess Diana]] was in tears after watching it.<ref name="20thAnniversaryDVD" /> On September 17, 1982, it was screened at the [[United Nations]], and Spielberg received a [[United Nations Peace Medal|UN Peace Medal]].<ref>{{Cite news| title = U.N. Finds ''E.T.'' O.K. | work = The Twilight Zone Magazine |date=February 1983}}</ref> [[CinemaScore]] reported that audiences polled during the opening weekend gave the film a rare "A+" grade, the first film to earn that grade.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/why-cinemascore-matters-box-office-225563|title=Why CinemaScore Matters for Box Office|first = Pamela | last = McClintock |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=August 19, 2011|access-date=September 14, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426043610/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/why-cinemascore-matters-box-office-225563|archive-date=April 26, 2014}}</ref>