National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

Universal Pictures released E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in June 1982, directed by Steven Spielberg. The film became the highest-grossing release of its time and remains a defining work of American cinema, blending suburban realism with science fiction in a way that resonated across generations. Its score by John Williams and its emotional restraint set a standard that influenced popular filmmaking for decades.

This cell, titled Elliott, presents three consecutive frames from a striking aerial composition — a top-down view looking directly down at Elliott standing at the center of large concentric circular patterns etched into earth or sand. The geometry of the image is quietly arresting, placing the solitary figure within a natural formation that feels both grounded and otherworldly.