In 1982, Steven Spielberg released E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which became a global box-office hit and eventually ranked among the highest-grossing movies of all time.
The sci-fi movie, which propelled then-6-year-old Drew Barrymore to stardom, ranked No. 121 on Box Office Mojo’s Top Lifetime Grosses list, with a worldwide gross of over $797 million across its original run and theatrical re-releases.
According to the outlet, the Spielberg-directed film earned around $359.3 million globally following its 1982 release, surpassing George Lucas’ 1977 Star Wars as the highest-grossing movie of all time and holding the title for 11 years until Jurassic Park overtook it in 1993.
More than just a sci-fi movie, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was a beloved family classic that centers around a young boy named Elliott, played by Henry Thomas, who came across a lost alien in his yard.
Besides the iconic catchphrase “E.T. phone home,” the movie also introduced young Drew Barrymore to the public as Elliott’s mischievous and sassy younger sister, Gertie.
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Barrymore, now 51, shared on her Instagram a throwback interview where she spoke about the challenges she encountered as a child star.
When asked if it was difficult to learn her lines, the young star confidently said “no,” adding “Sometimes, when I’m doing the shot, I get nervous, but I always say to myself, ‘Everybody makes mistakes,’” she said, accompanied by Barrymore’s caption saying, “This feels like yesterday. I will be forever grateful for ‘E.T.’”
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With its strong public reception and impressive box-office performance, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial took home multiple awards and nominations. These include four Academy Awards for Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Visual Effects, as well as two Golden Globe wins for Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Original Score – Motion Picture.
In addition, the movie also won Grammy Awards for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special, Best Instrumental Composition and Best Recording for Children.
Despite the movie’s massive popularity, Spielberg never produced a sequel and was, in fact, against releasing a follow-up.
“That was a real hard-fought victory because I didn’t have any rights. Before E.T., I had some rights, but I didn’t have a lot of rights,” he explained during a discussion with Barrymore, as part of the TCM Classic Film Festival: New York Pop-Up x 92NY event, as cited by Parade “I kind of didn’t have what we call ‘the freeze,’ where you can stop the studio from making a sequel because you control the freeze on sequels, remakes and other ancillary uses of the IP. I didn’t have that. I got it after E.T. because of its success.”
More than four decades later, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is still recognized for its lasting legacy and was included among the American Film Institute’s 100 Greatest American Movies of All Time.
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