National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

Universal Pictures released E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in June 1982, with Steven Spielberg directing. The film became the highest-grossing release of its time and remains a defining work of the era, blending science fiction with a deeply personal story of childhood, loneliness, and connection. Its practical effects, John Williams score, and emotional restraint set it apart from the blockbusters that surrounded it.

This cell, titled E.T. and Elliott, captures three consecutive frames from a single take showing Elliott and E.T. together on a wooden floor in warm interior light. The low angle draws the viewer into their shared space. Henry Thomas performed opposite the E.T. puppet voiced by Pat Welsh, and these frames preserve a quiet moment between the two at the heart of the film.