National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

Universal Pictures released E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in June 1982, and Steven Spielberg's science fiction fable became one of the defining cultural events of its decade, surpassing Star Wars as the highest-grossing film of all time at that point. Shot on 35mm by cinematographer Allen Daviau, the film balanced intimate domestic drama with genuine wonder, earning four Academy Awards and cementing its place in American cinema history.

This cell, titled Elliott, captures three consecutive frames from a striking overhead shot looking down into a large circular spiral structure, with Elliott's small figure visible at the center below the concentric rings. The composition emphasizes his solitude and smallness against the geometric environment, a quietly arresting image drawn from Spielberg's carefully constructed visual language throughout the film.