Steven Spielberg: The Spotlight Collection—E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982) 4KUHD + Blu-ray

Details: By Loron Hays; 06 July 2026

I can't remember the first time I saw E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Like a lot of people my age, it feels like a movie that's simply always been there. Every few years I revisit it expecting to notice something new, and every time I'm reminded why it has survived when so many family films from the early '80s have faded into nostalgia.

Most people remember the bicycle flying across the moon. I remember being scared.

Not by E.T. himself, but by the hospital sequence. Watching Elliott and E.T. grow pale and weak while adults in hazmat suits rushed around them absolutely wrecked me as a kid. I remember lying in bed afterward, convinced E.T. was going to die. Looking back, Spielberg deserves a lot of credit for never talking down to young audiences. He understood that children could handle fear, sadness, and uncertainty—as long as there was hope waiting at the end.

"You could argue about which Spielberg film is the greatest, but this is the one that probably defines him best"

That's really what E.T. has always been about. The alien is the hook, but the story belongs to Elliott, a lonely kid trying to make sense of a family that's quietly fallen apart. Henry Thomas never plays him like a movie kid. He feels awkward, emotional, stubborn, and real. That's why his friendship with E.T. works. Neither one fits where they are, and neither has anyone else to lean on.

The supporting cast is just as memorable. Drew Barrymore is effortlessly funny as Gertie without ever becoming precious. Robert MacNaughton gives Michael enough skepticism to feel like an actual older brother, and Dee Wallace carries the exhaustion of a single parent without the screenplay ever needing to underline it.

Spielberg shoots much of the film from a child's eye level, often pushing adults into the background or cutting them off at the shoulders. It's a simple choice, but it completely changes the way the story feels. Allen Daviau's cinematography wraps suburban California in soft light and deep shadows, turning ordinary neighborhoods into places where an alien landing somehow seems believable.

And then there's John Williams.

You can't really separate this film from its score. The music doesn't tell you what to feel—it gets there before you do. By the time the bikes lift into the sky, Williams and Spielberg have created one of those moments that reminds you why movies can be magical.

Watching E.T. now, I'm struck by how unhurried it is. Spielberg isn't racing toward the next effects sequence because he knows the audience has already invested in the characters. Carlo Rambaldi's practical effects still hold up because E.T. was built as a performer first and an effect second. You believe he's alive.

That's probably why E.T. has lasted. It's science fiction, but it doesn't rely on science fiction. Strip away the spaceship and the glowing finger, and what's left is a story about friendship, loss, and saying goodbye. Those things don't age.

It's easy to see why Amazon included E.T. in its exclusive eight-film Steven Spielberg: Spotlight Collection. You could argue about which Spielberg film is the greatest, but this is the one that probably defines him best. It's funny without trying too hard, emotional without becoming sentimental, and imaginative without ever losing sight of the people at its center. More than forty years later, it still feels like coming home.

5/5 stars

Jaws (1975)

4k details divider

Steven Spielberg: The Spotlight Collection –Indiana Jones (1977) 4K UHD Steelbook

Home Video Distributor: Universal Pictures
Available on Blu-ray - June 9, 2026
Screen Formats: 2.39:1
Subtitles: English SDH; French; Spanish
Video: Native 4K; Dolby Vision; HDR10+
Audio: Dolby Atmos; Dolby TrueHD 7.1; DTS 2.0 Mono
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; Twenty-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial remains one of cinema's most beloved masterpieces, blending breathtaking imagination with profound emotional honesty. Through the unforgettable friendship between a lonely boy and a stranded visitor from the stars, Spielberg crafts a timeless story of family, compassion, and the courage to let go. Anchored by heartfelt performances, John Williams' soaring Oscar-winning score, and some of the most iconic imagery in film history, E.T. continues to remind audiences of every generation that kindness truly is universal.

VIDEO

Presented in stunning 4K, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial looks nothing short of magical. Allen Daviau's warm, storybook cinematography shines with remarkable clarity, from the amber glow of suburban evenings to the mist-covered forests that give the film its dreamlike atmosphere.

Fine detail is beautifully resolved without sacrificing the organic texture of its filmic roots, while HDR enhances the gentle interplay of light and shadow, making E.T.'s expressive features and the film's iconic nighttime imagery more immersive than ever.

It's a presentation that honors Spielberg's original vision, allowing every heartfelt moment to resonate with renewed visual depth.

AUDIO

The audio presentation is every bit as captivating as the visuals, delivering an immersive soundscape that balances subtle atmosphere with sweeping cinematic scale. Ambient effects—from rustling forests and nighttime insects to the hum of government vehicles—create a convincing sense of place without overwhelming the mix.

Dialogue remains consistently clear and natural, while the emotional centerpiece is, unsurprisingly, John Williams' legendary score. Every note is given room to breathe, building from intimate, delicate passages to the triumphant crescendo of the finale with breathtaking fidelity.

It's a beautifully balanced track that serves the story first, reminding viewers that the film's greatest special effect has always been the emotion carried through its music.

Supplements:

Commentary:

None

Special Features:

The supplemental package offers a comprehensive look at the making and enduring legacy of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Highlights include the excellent 40 Years of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial retrospective, an engaging conversation with Steven Spielberg from the TCM Classic Film Festival, and The E.T. Journals, which provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the production through archival footage.

Additional featurettes explore the creation and evolution of E.T., the film's lasting cultural impact, and the unforgettable score through a discussion with John Williams. Deleted scenes, a cast reunion, archival promotional materials, the original theatrical trailer, and a nostalgic Special Olympics TV spot round out a thoughtful collection that celebrates one of cinema's most cherished classics from nearly every angle.