We are marking 34 years since the release of Spielberg’s movie classic ‘E.T. Extra Terrestrial’ with some E.T. film trivia and a fun 80s movie quiz to test your knowledge.
Released on June 11, 1982 by Universal Pictures, E.T was the highest grossing film of the 1980s and, indeed, the highest-grossing film of all time for eleven years — Jurassic Park, another Spielberg film, took the title in 1993.
The story follows an alien accidentally left behind on earth when his spaceship and friends take-off in a hurry. 10-year-old Elliot finds E.T. and the two begin to communicate and learn from each other - developing a close bond. Critics acclaimed it as a timeless story of friendship.
The film won four Oscars (including one for Best Original Score for John Williams), two Golden Globes and a BAFTA, along with a multitude of others awards. But here are some facts about the film, courtesy of IMDb, you may not know:
1. Steven Spielberg shot most of the film from the eye-level of a child to further connect with Elliot and E.T.
2. Harrison Ford was initially intended to have a cameo role in the film as Elliot’s school headmaster, but the scene was cut.
3. The script was largely written while on location filming for Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) during filming breaks.
4. According to the film’s novelization, E.T. is over ten million years old.
5. ET’s face was modeled after poet Carl Sandburg, Albert Einstein and a pug dog.
6. With the exception of Elliot’s mum, no adults’ faces are shown until the last 30 minutes of the film.
7. Steven Spielberg is reported to have spent $100,000 digitally removing guns from the 20th Anniversary re-release of the movie in 2002. He regretted using the scene and said he would remove it if he ever re-issued the film.
8. Juliette Lewis auditioned for the role of Gertie, but her father reportedly made her turn it down (Drew Barrymore took the role).
9. E.T. provided the inspiration for Neil Diamond’s song ‘Heartlight’ but no mention is ever made of the movie in the lyrics.
10. The working title for the film was “A Boy’s Life”. It was changed during production.
If you are a film fan, don’t forget to test your knowledge of the 80s with our Movie Quiz and let us know your favourite films below.
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