Captivating audiences of all ages, this timeless story follows the unforgettable journey of a lost alien and the 10-year-old boy he befriends. Join Elliot (Henry Thomas), Gertie (Drew Barrymore) and Michael (Robert MacNaughton) as they come together to help E.T. find his way back home, E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL is “one of the great American films” (Leonard Maltin) that forever belongs in the hearts and minds of audiences everywhere.
For thoughts on E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial once again comes to 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a stunning 2160p transfer that allows the film to dazzle from beginning to end. This 40th anniversary release comes from the same 4K scan used on the previous 4K UHD Blu-Ray release from five years ago. While we do not have that disc to compare, they should offer fundamentally the same experience with maybe minor encode differences that all but the most avid videophiles would probably miss. When compared to the older Blu-Ray release included in the package, this 4K disc offers lovely improvements in almost all respects. The natural film grain remains in the transfer, but it has been processed a touch which keeps it from appearing 100% natural. There is still enough present to give some pleasing texture and detail to the transfer. The image delivers a miraculous amount of depth that makes this setting feel more three dimensional than ever.
The improvements in contrast and overall clarity are outstanding, especially when it comes to how the film handles the optical effects. Black levels are very deep and allow the picture to maintain an excellent amount of depth and detail in darker environments. The film as a whole has a slightly darker, more nuanced appearance than the Blu-Ray which blends the matte lines more covertly. White levels offer a greater stability without veering into blooming. There is so much fine detail that was being obliterated on the overlit Blu-Ray. The colors are rendered with precision and warmth in a way that really pops with HDR. Skin tones look natural and the clarity of the transfer gives you a great amount of facial detail. This transfer is a treat for fans of this classic.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with both DTS-X Master Audio and DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio original theatrical lossless audio tracks that offer a perfect representation of the film. From the opening notes of the John Williams score, the track comes alive with a swelling energy that envelops the room. Every instance of its implementation provides an impressive amount of clarity and fidelity. Music is used skillfully throughout the presentation, but it never overpowers the dialogue or other important information. There are countless instances where the track gets to show off, as the soundscape of the story creates a completely lived-in environment that is quite wonderful.
This track repeatedly demonstrates how open and rich it is in its nuanced execution. The addition of the height channels does not fundamentally change the experience, but it complements the remaining speakers for a more fully immersive time. The dialogue comes through clearly and never falls victim to any digital anomalies. Rear speakers get quite a bit of activity throughout, especially to ratchet up the chaos of the climactic escape from the powers that be. The low-end support is quite effective when it comes to realizing the more kinetic moments within the mix. While the film has always had a pretty decent audio track in the high definition age, anyone who checks this out is sure to be impressed by how well this one serves the film. There are English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles provided.
Special Features
- 40 Years Of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: A new 20-minute retrospective featurette in which various participants including J.J. Abrams, Chris Columbus, Leonard Maltin and more discuss their history with E.T., what makes the film so special, how they interpreted various narrative elements, the visual effects, the score, the enduring legacy and more.
- TCM Classic Film Festival – An Evening With Steven Spielberg: A new 27-minute panel with Spielberg at the TCM Classic Film Festival in which he reflects on his life and his career from his beginning directing Joan Crawford in Night Gallery into his personal experiences and how they filtered into E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. They explore his early critical failure of 1941 and his rebound with a particular focus on E.T. including the casting and the larger impact it had on his personal life. This is a lovely conversation.
- The E.T. Journals: A two-part 54-minute documentary shot during the production of the film which takes a fly-on-the-wall approach to the filmmaking including a plethora of candid interviews and meaningful moments of Spielberg interacting with his cast and crew.
- Deleted Scenes: A four-minute collection of unused footage including shenanigans in the bathroom and mischief on Halloween.
- Steven Spielberg & E.T.: A nearly 13-minute featurette in which Spielberg recalls the genesis of this project, the personal aspects of the story, the development of the production, the decision to tell the story from a child’s point of view, the development of the script, the positive reception of the film and more.
- A Look Back: A 38-minute piece from the 20th anniversary release in which Spielberg and company discuss the film at large, working with the children, the direction of Spielberg, the voice of E.T., initial screenings and more.
- The Evolution And The Creation Of E.T.: A 50-minute exploration of some of the same topics regarding the production and legacy of the film with interesting interviews from the cast and creative team.
- The E.T. Reunion: An 18-minute reunion from the 20th anniversary with Steven Spielberg, Henry Thomas, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote and producer Kathleen Kennedy in which they share some lovely memories of their experiences with the film.
- The Music Of E.T. – A Discussion With John Williams: A 10-minute discussion with John Williams who recalls the initial meetings with Spielberg regarding the sound of the film and its legacy as a classic.
- The 20th Anniversary Premiere: An 18-minute piece which takes a look at the 20th anniversary screening of the film with a full symphony orchestra performing the film’s score for a live audience.
- Designs, Photographs and Marketing: There are image galleries provided for E.T. Designs, Spaceship Designs, Production Photographs, Marketing Material and more.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
- Special Olympics TV Spot: A minute-long TV spot is provided here featuring E.T.
Final Thoughts
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial is a stone cold classic which has endured for four decades without signs of slowing down. Steven Spielberg knows how to deliver effective sentimentality and wonder on screen like no one else. He truly believes in this world, and by extension the audience completely invests in this larger than life adventure. While elements such as the special effects and thrilling sequences stand out, it always comes back to the emotional depth of the narrative which really cements it as an everlasting piece of cinema. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has knocked it out of the park with this 40th anniversary 4K UHD Blu-ray that sports a fantastic A/V presentation and an eye-popping amount of special features. The two new exclusive features are quite enjoyable, but if you have the previous 4K UHD Blu-Ray you might want to weigh how important those supplements are to you. If you have yet to pick this up on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, this is a must for film fans. Essential
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: 40th Anniversary is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.