A Netflix rescued one of the great classics of science fiction, restoring it to the prominence and affection it deserves.
E.T. – The Extraterrestrial
, masterpiece of
Steven Spielberg
from 1982, it was recently added to its catalog, accompanied by a renewed interest that catapulted it to the top of cinema more than four decades ago.
E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial is not just a film loved by generations: it was also, in its time,
the highest-grossing movie of all time
, deposing even the almighty
Star Wars
de
George Lucas
. At its original release,
raised more than US$ 800 million
,
breaking the record of the 1977 Galactic film
, which had reached 300 million US dollars. A cultural phenomenon, a technical milestone, and a deeply human story that continues to resonate even in the digital age.
An intergalactic friendship that changed cinema forever
The story of E.T. begins with a simple, emotionally powerful premise: a lonely boy named Elliott finds and protects an abandoned alien on Earth. What follows is a journey of discovery, connection, and farewell that resonated with millions of viewers. Directed by Steven Spielberg and written by
Melissa Mathison
, the film is based on an idea from the director himself, which arose after his parents’ divorce. It was filmed in 1981, with a tight budget of $10.5 million, in chronological order to capture more authenticity the emotions of the young cast.
The result was unprecedented success. With 99% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and numerous awards, including four Oscars, E.T. became a global phenomenon, breaking box office records in countries such as Japan, France, and the United Kingdom. It was the first film to receive an “A+” grade from the audience on CinemaScore at its release.
Spielberg vs. himself: Jurassic Park took control
The domain of
E.T. – The Extraterrestrial
In global ticket offices it was absolute … until Spielberg surpassed it
. In 1993, its new technical marvel,
Jurassic Park – Park of the Dinosaurs
, raised more than US$ 900 million and took the throne
.
Still, E.T. was re-released in 1985, in 2002 for its 20th anniversary, and more recently in 2022 in IMAX format to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Even so, it managed to earn an additional $1.2 billion, raising its total to over $792 million, with estimates suggesting that the equivalent today would be more than $2.6 billion, coming only after
Avatar
e
Avengers: Endgame
.
A child who became an icon and the shadows of fame
One of the most recognizable faces from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was
Henry Thomas
, the young actor who played the protagonist Elliott. Despite the movie’s huge success, Thomas confessed years later that he barely earned money for his work, charging the minimum allowed for a child actor at the time. “Universal and Spielberg made a profit. We had to go back to study,” he clarified in an interview with The Mirror.
Although he continued working in cinema and television, including his role in
The Fall of the House of Usher
, on Netflix, the emotional impact of his initial success was not easy to bear: “I was a very shy child. I stopped going out of the house because I felt like an aberration,” he admitted. As a bonus, and considering the millions generated by the movies, Thomas says his salary as the movie’s star was only $10,000.
A classic that never goes out of style
In addition to its records and awards, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is one of those films that transcends time and format. It turned its flying motorcycles into magical cinematic moments, popularized Reese’s Pieces in the United States, generated over US$ 1 billion in merchandise, and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry of the United States for its cultural and artistic value.
Today, available on Netflix and Globoplay, a new generation can discover or relive the story of this unforgettable interplanetary friendship. A movie that had it all: emotion, imagination, a magical soundtrack of
John Williams
It is a message of hope that remains as necessary today as ever.
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