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42 Years Later: The Exact Year E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Came Out And What Its Cast Is Doing Now

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Few films in cinematic history have captured the global imagination quite like the story of a lost alien and the boy who befriended him. The simple question, "What year did the movie *E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial* come out?" opens the door to a sprawling legacy of box office records, technological innovation, and the enduring careers of its iconic cast members, with new updates continuing into late 2024 and 2025.

The original, heartwarming science-fiction masterpiece, *E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial*, was released by Universal Pictures on June 11, 1982. Directed by visionary filmmaker Steven Spielberg and written by Melissa Mathison, the film became an immediate cultural phenomenon, defining a generation of cinema and shattering box office records that stood for over a decade.

The E.T. Cast: Complete Biography and Current Status (2024–2025)

Forty-two years after its premiere, the main cast of *E.T.* continues to be highly active in Hollywood, with several major projects slated for release in 2024 and 2025. This section provides a look at the key actors' careers, from their start in the classic film to their most recent professional endeavors.

Henry Thomas (Elliott Taylor)

  • Role in E.T.: Elliott, the lonely 10-year-old boy who discovers and protects E.T.
  • Born: September 9, 1971 (Age 53 as of late 2024).
  • Post-E.T. Career Highlights: Thomas successfully transitioned into adult roles, establishing a strong working relationship with director Mike Flanagan, starring in Netflix horror series such as *The Haunting of Hill House*, *The Haunting of Bly Manor*, and *Midnight Mass*. He also appeared in films like *Gangs of New York* and *Legends of the Fall*.
  • Current Status (2024–2025): Thomas is currently active in the horror genre, starring in the 2024 film *The Curse of the Necklace*. He also reprised his role as Elliott (now an adult with a family) for the 2019 Xfinity commercial/short film, *A Holiday Reunion*, which served as a soft sequel to the original movie.

Drew Barrymore (Gertie)

  • Role in E.T.: Gertie, Elliott's younger sister, notable for her iconic scream upon first seeing E.T. and her charming delivery of the line, "I'll be right here."
  • Born: February 22, 1975 (Age 49 as of late 2024).
  • Post-E.T. Career Highlights: Barrymore became one of Hollywood’s most successful actresses and producers, starring in hits like *The Wedding Singer*, *Charlie's Angels*, *50 First Dates*, and *Scream*. She is the founder of the production company Flower Films.
  • Current Status (2024–2025): Her primary focus is her successful daytime talk show, *The Drew Barrymore Show*. In a major announcement, Barrymore was tapped to star as the center square in the highly anticipated reboot of the game show *Hollywood Squares*, which is set to premiere on CBS in January 2025.

Dee Wallace (Mary Taylor)

  • Role in E.T.: Mary Taylor, the children's single mother, who remains oblivious to E.T.'s presence for most of the film.
  • Born: December 14, 1948 (Age 76 as of late 2024).
  • Post-E.T. Career Highlights: Wallace is a prolific "scream queen" and veteran of the horror genre, known for roles in *Cujo*, *The Howling*, and *Critters*.
  • Current Status (2024–2025): Wallace continues her work in the indie and genre film space. She is set to star in the indie thriller *Godmother* and has been cast in *The Boroughs*, a new Netflix series from the creators of *Stranger Things*, which is expected to premiere in 2025.

The Monumental Box Office Records E.T. Broke

The success of *E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial* was not just critical, but a financial earthquake that reshaped the film industry. The movie's release year, 1982, marked the beginning of a record-breaking run that few films have ever matched.

The film earned a staggering $11.9 million in its opening weekend. More importantly, it had incredible "legs," meaning it stayed in theaters and continued to draw audiences for months, a rarity in modern cinema.

The Highest-Grossing Film of All Time (For a Decade)

During its initial theatrical run, *E.T.* quickly surpassed the domestic and worldwide box office totals of the previous record holder, George Lucas's *Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope* (1977). It held the title of the highest-grossing film of all time for a remarkable eleven years.

The film’s original 1982 run alone grossed $359.2 million domestically and $619 million worldwide. Thanks to several re-releases, including a 1985 run, a 20th-anniversary edition in 2002, and a 40th-anniversary re-release in IMAX in 2022, the film’s total worldwide gross has climbed to nearly $797.3 million.

The Enduring Legacy: Why E.T. Remains Relevant Today

While the film's release date was in 1982, its themes and influence are continually revisited, making it a "current" topic for film historians and pop culture critics alike. Its enduring relevance is rooted in several key factors, including its creative origins, technological impact, and a surprising 2019 return.

The Concept’s Personal Origin

Steven Spielberg conceived the idea for *E.T.* following his parents' divorce, which led him to create an imaginary friend—an alien—to cope with the loneliness. This deeply personal foundation is what gives the film its potent emotional core and universal appeal, focusing on themes of friendship, innocence, and loss.

The screenplay, written by Melissa Mathison, was initially titled *A Boy's Life* and was praised for its authentic, child-centric dialogue and emotional depth, which contrasted sharply with the more action-oriented science fiction of the time.

The Controversial 2002 CGI Changes

For the film's 20th-anniversary re-release in 2002, Spielberg made several controversial changes using CGI, most notably replacing the guns held by government agents with walkie-talkies. He later regretted this decision, calling it a mistake and confirming that all subsequent releases, including the 40th-anniversary version, would revert to the original 1982 cut, preserving the film's original integrity. This commitment to the original vision keeps the film's artistic history an active discussion point.

The 2019 "Sequel" for Xfinity

One of the most significant recent updates to the *E.T.* canon was the 2019 short film, *A Holiday Reunion*. Produced as a four-minute commercial for Xfinity, the short brought back Henry Thomas as the adult Elliott, who now has his own family. E.T. returns to Earth during the holiday season, where he learns about modern technology like the internet and VR headsets from Elliott’s children, providing a touching, modern continuation of the original story’s themes of connection.

Topical Authority Entities & Keywords

  • Director: Steven Spielberg
  • Screenwriter: Melissa Mathison
  • Production Company: Amblin Entertainment
  • Studio: Universal Pictures
  • Main Cast: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton
  • LSI Keywords: Highest-grossing film, science fiction classic, *A Holiday Reunion* short film, 40th Anniversary re-release, E.T. puppetry, John Williams score, *Close Encounters of the Third Kind*, *Jurassic Park*, *Star Wars*, *The Haunting of Hill House*.
42 Years Later: The Exact Year E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Came Out and What Its Cast Is Doing Now
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