E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial (1982)
An inspired account from Spielberg of an alien who lands in a
pine forest on the California coast and gets separated from his
people when their spaceship is forced to make a sudden departure.
 Frightened,
alone, and three million light-years from home, the small creature
wanders into the home of a suburban divorcee with three young
children who lure him into the house with Reese's Pieces, then
take on the responsibility for his safety.
The children are first terrified of the creature, who looks
like a walking toad-stool with large myopic eyes, but in time they
learn to share their toys and show the creepy but lovable little
one - whom they call E.T - where he is on their globe.
There is a classic scene where the kids dress their new friend
in a sheet and take him out on Halloween.
The audience roars when E.T., passing a child trick-or-treating
who is dressed like Yoda from Star Wars, almost loses his
sheet in an attempt to communicate with what he thinks is another
alien.
E.T.'s death and eventual rescue by a network of kids on
bicycles are among the most heart-wrenching sequences 80s cinema
had to offer, and for sheer lump-in-the-throat emotion, nothing
surpasses the film's final sequence when earthling and
extra-terrestrial finally take their leave of each other;
 "Stay"
says a weepy Elliott as the two friends embrace. "Come"
replies E.T.
Each knows however, that unless Spielberg decides to bring them
together at some stage in a sequel, they will never meet again.
E.T smashed all existing box office records for
Universal Studios, and within just three months of its initial
release it was well on the way to becoming the top money-making
film of all time (at the time).
Harrison Ford was cast as the school principal, but his only
scene was cut. Director Steven Spielberg decided his presence in
the film would be too distracting.
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