E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

An unbreakable bond forms between a young boy and the friendly alien he finds abandoned on Earth in Steven Spielberg's bona fide family classic.

Ten-year-old Elliott is a suburban Los Angeles boy coming to terms with his parents’ separation. After discovering an alien that has been left behind on Earth, a friendship is forged. However, when government agents close in, Elliott enlists his older brother and little sister to help him keep E.T. hidden – and to get them home.

Curator's note
Emblematic of Gen X but still connecting with children more than 40 years on – not to mention a key inspiration for Stranger Things (2016–2025) – E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a family classic.

Many will remember it for its iconic lines (“E.T. phone home”) and that indelible image of a BMX silhouetted against a full moon. But at its heart is a boy chastised for not thinking about his mother’s feelings, who then befriends a mostly non-verbal alien who we’re told can’t read minds, but can read feelings.

Tickets to Kids' Flicks with Feelings sessions include a pre-screening talk that introduces the concept of emotional intelligence to younger viewers, as well as a take-home activity kit.