E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott. Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed, to his brother and his little sister, Gertie, and the children decide to keep its existence a secret. Soon, however, E.T. falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both Elliott and the alien.
Despite its limited budget of $10.5M, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial became a runaway success, earning $797.3M worldwide—a remarkable 7493% return. The film's compelling narrative connected with viewers, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
4 Oscars. 52 wins & 38 nominations
Narrative Tropes
8 totalPlot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) exhibits meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Steven Spielberg's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 55 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Elliott
E.T.
Gertie
Michael
Mary
Keys
Main Cast & Characters
Elliott
Played by Henry Thomas
A lonely 10-year-old boy who discovers and befriends an alien stranded on Earth, forming a deep psychic bond.
E.T.
Played by Pat Welsh
An extraterrestrial botanist accidentally left behind on Earth who seeks to return home while forming a profound connection with Elliott.
Gertie
Played by Drew Barrymore
Elliott's curious and outspoken younger sister who helps care for E.T. and protect the secret.
Michael
Played by Robert MacNaughton
Elliott's skeptical older brother who eventually becomes a loyal ally in protecting E.T. from authorities.
Mary
Played by Dee Wallace
The children's recently divorced mother, struggling to manage her household while unaware of the alien in her home.
Keys
Played by Peter Coyote
A government scientist who has dreamed of meeting aliens since childhood and ultimately helps E.T. return home.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Elliott's ordinary world: a lonely boy in suburban California, overlooked by older brother Michael and his friends, living in a single-parent home. The opening image shows him trying to fit in but being dismissed as too young.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Elliott discovers E.T. In the backyard toolshed. Their first visual contact - eyes meeting across species - disrupts Elliott's lonely existence with the promise of an extraordinary friendship. The alien presence transforms his world from mundane to magical.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 22% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Elliott makes the active choice to reveal E.T. To Michael and Gertie, bringing them into the secret. This irreversible decision commits him to protecting E.T. And marks the transition from solitary discovery to shared mission. "We're in trouble." The ordinary world is left behind., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 45% of the runtime—arriving early, accelerating into Act IIb complications. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat E.T. Makes contact with his home planet using the communicator, achieving his goal but raising the stakes enormously. False victory - "E.T. Phone home" succeeds, but this means E.T. Will leave. The government agents close in, detecting the signal. The fun is over; now there are real consequences., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 77 minutes (67% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, E.T. Dies on the medical table. The monitors flatline. Elliott, connected to his own monitors, also begins to fade. "I'll believe in you all my life, every day." The whiff of death is literal - Elliott loses his best friend, the only being who truly understood him. All hope appears lost., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 71% of the runtime. E.T. Resurrects, revived by the approach of his spaceship. The flower blooms red. "E.T. Phone home" paid off - his people are coming. Elliott sees clearly now: he must help E.T. Get to the rendezvous point in the forest. New hope enables the final push., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial against these established plot points, we can identify how Steven Spielberg utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial within the adventure genre.
Steven Spielberg's Structural Approach
Among the 33 Steven Spielberg films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 5.8, showcasing experimental approaches to narrative form. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Steven Spielberg filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include The Black Stallion, The Bad Guys and Puss in Boots. For more Steven Spielberg analyses, see The Adventures of Tintin, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and War Horse.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Elliott's ordinary world: a lonely boy in suburban California, overlooked by older brother Michael and his friends, living in a single-parent home. The opening image shows him trying to fit in but being dismissed as too young.
Theme
Mary (mother) tells Elliott: "You're not going out looking for some creature." The theme emerges: connection, belief, and seeing beyond surface appearances. Later reinforced when Keys says aliens "came looking for something" - both E.T. and Elliott are searching for belonging.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Elliott's fractured family dynamic: absent father ("in Mexico with Sally"), overworked mother, older brother who dismisses him, younger sister Gertie. Elliott's isolation and longing for connection are established through his exclusion from the Dungeons & Dragons game and his vigilant watching for something beyond his mundane life.
Disruption
Elliott discovers E.T. in the backyard toolshed. Their first visual contact - eyes meeting across species - disrupts Elliott's lonely existence with the promise of an extraordinary friendship. The alien presence transforms his world from mundane to magical.
Resistance
Elliott debates revealing E.T., initially keeping him secret while building trust through Reese's Pieces. He navigates the challenge of hiding an alien while establishing communication. The period includes E.T. learning about Earth, Elliott introducing him to his room, and the beginning of their psychic connection.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Elliott makes the active choice to reveal E.T. to Michael and Gertie, bringing them into the secret. This irreversible decision commits him to protecting E.T. and marks the transition from solitary discovery to shared mission. "We're in trouble." The ordinary world is left behind.
Mirror World
E.T. becomes the mirror character who will teach Elliott about empathy, connection, and selflessness. Their psychic bond deepens - what one feels, the other feels. E.T. represents the friendship and unconditional acceptance Elliott craves, while Elliott represents E.T.'s hope of getting home.
Premise
The "promise of the premise" - a boy and an alien becoming best friends. E.T. learns language, watches TV, gets drunk with Elliott (psychic connection), levitates balls, and the famous bicycle flight. Halloween trick-or-treating provides cover for E.T. to venture outside. The magical friendship the audience came to see.
Midpoint
E.T. makes contact with his home planet using the communicator, achieving his goal but raising the stakes enormously. False victory - "E.T. phone home" succeeds, but this means E.T. will leave. The government agents close in, detecting the signal. The fun is over; now there are real consequences.
Opposition
E.T. begins dying from Earth's environment. Elliott's psychic connection means he suffers too. The government closes in, setting up surveillance. Elliott finds E.T. dying in the drainage ditch. Mary discovers E.T. The house is invaded by hazmat-suited scientists led by Keys. Pressure intensifies on all fronts.
Collapse
E.T. dies on the medical table. The monitors flatline. Elliott, connected to his own monitors, also begins to fade. "I'll believe in you all my life, every day." The whiff of death is literal - Elliott loses his best friend, the only being who truly understood him. All hope appears lost.
Crisis
Elliott grieves in the darkness after E.T.'s death. He says goodbye to the body in the containment unit. This is Elliott's dark night - processing the loss of the friendship that made him whole. Michael stays with him, and the family bonds in shared grief.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
E.T. resurrects, revived by the approach of his spaceship. The flower blooms red. "E.T. phone home" paid off - his people are coming. Elliott sees clearly now: he must help E.T. get to the rendezvous point in the forest. New hope enables the final push.
Synthesis
The finale chase: Elliott and Michael steal the van containing E.T., recruit their friends for a bicycle escape. The iconic flight over the roadblock. They reach the forest clearing. The spaceship arrives. E.T. heals Michael's cut. Elliott demonstrates what E.T. taught him about selfless love by letting him go. "I'll be right here." The goodbye.
Transformation
Elliott, no longer the isolated lonely boy from the opening, stands with his mother, brother, sister, and friends as E.T.'s ship departs. He has been transformed by learning to love selflessly and let go. The family unit is healed, brought together by their shared experience. Elliott looks to the stars with wonder, forever changed.