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 science fiction with intimate family drama. Shot by cinematographer Allen Daviau, its visual language — practical effects, low angles, and expressive lighting — gave the story an emotional weight that resonated across generations and cemented Spielberg's reputation as a storyteller of rare instinct.

This cell, titled E.T., captures the overhead composition of the alien's chest as the heart-light glows against a dark background, with a human hand reaching toward him. The repeated framing across the strip reflects the sustained, almost ceremonial quality of the revival sequence, one of the film's most quietly powerful moments.