Steven Spielberg’s 1982 science fiction classic, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, is once again climbing streaming charts following its addition to Apple TV earlier this month. The enduring popularity of the film, which focuses on a lonely boy who befriends a stranded alien, comes as Spielberg himself returns to science fiction with his recent film, Disclosure Day.
Disclosure Day, which premiered earlier this year, saw significant success both critically and commercially. The sci-fi thriller, starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, and Colman Domingo, opened at number one in domestic and worldwide box office receipts, marking one of Spielberg’s biggest openings for an original movie. Critics, including Polygon, praised Disclosure Day for capturing a sense of childlike wonder reminiscent of Spielberg's earlier works like E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, while also delivering modern thriller pacing.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial tells the story of Elliott, a 10-year-old boy who discovers an alien accidentally left behind on Earth. Elliott and his siblings hide the alien, which they name E.T., and attempt to help it contact its home planet before government scientists can capture it. The film, directed by Spielberg, transforms this premise into an emotional narrative exploring themes of childhood, friendship, loneliness, and farewell. This blend of intimate family drama and grand science fiction spectacle contributed to E.T.'s status as a cultural phenomenon upon its release.
The film was a significant commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of its time and cementing E.T. as a pop-culture icon. The image of Elliott and E.T. soaring across the moon on a bicycle has become one of cinema's most enduring and recognizable shots.
Following the success of Disclosure Day, audiences are revisiting Spielberg's earlier work, with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial enjoying a resurgence on streaming platforms. While Spielberg's next announced project is a Western, the director's continued exploration of science fiction themes with Disclosure Day appears to have reignited interest in his foundational sci-fi classics.