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Celluloid
FamilySci-Fi

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Directed by Steven Spielberg · 1982 ·

Answer Summary

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) earns a 84% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics (99%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (72%).

Quick Verdict

Averaged from five public sources (critic, audience, Metascore, Letterboxd, IMDb). See how we calculate scores.

84%
Celluloid Score Recommended

Five-source breakdown

99% Critic Score
72% Audience
91 Metascore
★★★½☆ Letterboxd 3.9
7.9 IMDb /10
Runtime
1h 55m
Cast
Henry Thomas , Dee Wallace , Drew Barrymore

Why this score?

  • Strong critic approval (99% positive).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (72%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (91/100).
  • Celluloid Score 84% averages all five public rating sources — our own composite, not a third-party trademark score.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded family, sci-fi pick
  • Critics' darlings — stronger with reviewers than general viewers

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial worth watching?

    Yes — E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial earns a 84% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.

    Critics Consensus

    Spielberg's suburban fairy tale remains the gold standard for family science fiction and pure wonder.

    Celluloid Critics Consensus

    Critics (99%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (72%).

    What is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial about?

    A lonely boy befriends a stranded alien and helps him contact his home planet while hiding him from government agents in suburban California.

    Critic Reviews

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