In 1994, the National Film Registry welcomed Spielberg’s immortal “ET” to its list. The beloved film that has forevermore encouraged us to “phone home,” was directed by Steven Spielberg and starred Drew Barrymore, Henry Thomas and C. Thomas Howell.
The Library of Congress’s own Dave Gibson once wrote of the film:
“‘E.T. The Extra Terrestrial’ may be one of the most personal blockbusters ever made. Inspired in part by director Steven Spielberg’s suburban upbringing and his parents’ divorce, the film tells the story of a suburban boy named Elliot, himself a child of divorced parents, who becomes the caretaker of a wise and gentle alien creature, stranded on Earth and desperate to find a way back to its home planet. It is the story of two lost souls, both longing for the comfort and security that only a true home and family can provide, who ultimately rescue each other through the power of love and friendship.”
Read the rest of Gibson’s essay on “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” (PDF).
Title: “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial”
Year of Release: 1982
Year Added to the National Film Registry: 1994 (See all films added to the Registry in 1994.)
Trivia: Some of the other Spielberg classics so far recognized by the Registry are: “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Schindler’s List.”
This blog post is the sixth of 30 in our” 30 Years of the National Film Registry” series which was launched to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Registry. The National Film Registry selects 25 films each year showcasing the range and diversity of American film heritage to increase awareness for its preservation. The 30th National Film Registry selections will be announced on December 12, 2018.