5 Fun Facts About ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’

Remind Staff Yesterday, 4:02 pm

E.T., (aka E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL), from left: Henry Thomas, E.T., 1982, — Universal/courtesy Everett Collection

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial landed into theaters on June 11, 1982, and made a staggering $359 million at the domestic box office. Filled with innocence, enchantment and so much heart, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was a gigantic hit from the minute it arrived in theaters, becoming the highest-grossing movies of all time, a record it held for 11 years. The film received nine Academy Award nominations, winning for Best Original Score, Visual Effects, Sound and Sound Effects Editing.

Everett Collection

It is one of cinema’s most beloved tales, rooted in director Steven Spielberg‘s own past, as an imaginary friend helped the famed director through his parents’ divorce. Elliott (Henry Thomas), a lonely 10-year-old, befriends a stranded extraterrestrial and enlists the help of his older brother Michael (Robert MacNaughton), younger sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore), mom (Dee Wallace) and friends (K.C. Martel, Sean Frye and C. Thomas Howell) to save E.T. from the government and get him home. Cue that unforgettable orchestra from John Williams and grab your Kleenex!

Here are a few things you might not have known about E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in celebration of the film’s release on June 11, 1982.

1 Who Played E.T.?

E.T., (aka E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL), E.T., 1982,

Universal/courtesy Everett Collection

In addition to two little people, Tamara De Treaux and Pat Bilon, who played the role of E.T., was 11-year-old Matthew De Meritt, who was born with no legs and walked on his hands. All three inhabited at different times the 4-foot rubber suit that made up E.T. “Spielberg asked me to do all the scenes where E.T. fell over or walked awkwardly. I had an awkward walk compared to Pat and Tamara because I was on my hands,” De Meritt told the U.K.’s The Mirror.

> Why Steven Spielberg Changed His Mind About Making An ‘E.T.’ Sequel

2 It was a sweet success for Hershey

Universal Pictures wasn’t the only one bringing home the money; candy giant Hershey paid $1 million in promotions for their new product Reese’s Pieces in tandem with the film’s release. Their sales tripled within two weeks of the premiere, making it one of the most successful examples of early product placement in movie history. Mars Inc., however, passed on the offer and refused to allow M&M’s as the candy of choice, believing E.T. would frighten children.

3 Indiana Jones made a cameo?

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, Harrison Ford, 1981.

Everett Collection

Harrison Ford made a cameo in the film as Elliott’s principal, who scolded him for letting the frogs free; however, Spielberg thought his voice was too recognizable, and the scene was cut out entirely.

4 Handle Bar Easter Egg

A filming mistake to watch for is when the bikes take off in the air (with E.T. in Elliott’s basket), the handlebars on the bikes all disappear.

5 Backlash over a fixed error

Universal/courtesy Everett Collection

In the 2002 reissue of the movie, Spielberg fixed the closing scene where E.T. touches Elliott’s forehead and says, “I’ll be right here.” There was a continuity error in the film that they never caught, as one shot shows his left hand and the other his right hand. Spielberg fixed it for the 2002 re-release; however, he received so much backlash about all his changes that he pulled all copies in 2011 and advises everyone to see the original.

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