E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Christian Movie Review (1982)

Guidance: Talk Together

This is a warm, memorable family sci-fi story with strong themes of compassion and loyalty, but it also includes some crude kid language, scary moments, family tension, and a few fantasy-game references. For many Christian families, the larger need is conversation about truth, fear, authority, and where hope and healing ultimately come from.

Why This Guidance Level

This lands in the middle because the movie is gentle in many ways, but it still brings repeated suspense, crude insults, and a meaningful worldview conversation about family pain, secrecy, and distrust of authority. Many families will not be troubled by the surface content alone, yet the emotional and moral themes are worth discussing rather than leaving unexplored.

Faith & Worldview Perspective

The film celebrates mercy, loyalty, and the dignity of a vulnerable outsider, which fits well with biblical concern for the weak and lonely. It also portrays children as more trustworthy than adults for much of the story, and it places wonder, healing, and emotional rescue in a supernatural friendship outside any reference to God. Christian parents may want to discuss how compassion is good, but ultimate hope, healing, and resurrection belong to Jesus Christ, not to a creature with unusual powers.

Truths Reflected

• The vulnerable should be protected rather than exploited.
• Love often involves sacrifice, courage, and faithful presence.

Tensions to Discuss

• The story can encourage secrecy and deception toward parents and authorities when fear takes over.
• Its sense of wonder and healing is spiritually undefined, so parents may want to contrast that with Christian hope in Christ.

Content & Discernment Markers

Occult & Spiritual Content

• Occult material does not stand out as a major concern, but the opening game scene includes fantasy role-play language such as “resurrection,” “undead,” and “death spells.” This is framed as kids playing a tabletop game, not practicing real spirituality. Parents may want to explain the difference between make-believe fantasy language and real spiritual truth.

Sexuality & Relationships

• Sexual content is very light. The main issue is crude schoolyard-style talk rather than sexual behavior, including insults that use body-related language.

Identity Themes

• The story centers on a lonely child who feels dismissed and unseen in a hurting family. The film treats his bond with the outsider creature as a source of belonging and comfort. Parents may want to discuss where children should ultimately look for identity, security, and love.

Violence & Intensity

• Several scenes build suspense around a hidden creature in the yard and toolshed, with frightened children shouting, “There’s something out there!” Family members grab knives before realizing they do not understand what is happening. The tension is more scary than violent, but it can unsettle younger viewers.
• There is threatening dialogue such as “I’m going to kill you,” spoken in family conflict rather than carried out violence. The line is sharp enough that some parents may want to note how anger is expressed in the home.
• A troubling line imagines authorities taking the creature away and giving it a “lobotomy” or doing experiments on it. The moment matters because it frames adult power as frightening and invasive.

Language & Humour

• Kid and teen dialogue includes insults and coarse phrases such as “you geek,” “douche bag,” “penis breath,” “shut up,” “damn it,” and a lyric with “health s***.” This language is not constant, but it is memorable and sharper than light teasing.

Other Content Notes

• Family strain is a real part of the story. The children talk about their father being away in Mexico with another woman, and there is visible hurt and anger in the home. This gives the film emotional weight beyond its adventure plot.
• There is sickness material, including fever talk and repeated lines about needing to throw up. Sensitive children may react more to the illness scenes than to the sci-fi elements.

Notable Moments

• Fantasy game talk: The opening game includes dramatic fantasy terms that may catch some parents off guard, though the scene is clearly make-believe play.

  “Don’t worry. I got resurrection. I’m already one of the undead. I can still throw death spells.”

• Toolshed scare: A frightened Elliott insists something is outside, and the family reacts with alarm and defensive fear.

  “There’s something out there! In the toolshed. It threw the ball at me.”

• Crude insult: One of the film’s more memorable lines is a crude insult spoken by a child during family banter.

  “It was nothing like that, penis breath!”

• Fear of authorities: The children imagine officials harming the creature if adults get involved.

  “They’ll give it a lobotomy…or do experiments on it or something.”

Discussion Prompts

• Caring for the vulnerable: Why do you think Elliott wants to protect someone others might fear or use?
  • Biblical guidance: Scripture calls us to show mercy and kindness to the weak and overlooked, while still acting in truth and wisdom.
  • Scripture: Micah 6:8, Proverbs 31:8-9, Luke 10:33-37
• Secrecy, truth, and authority: When is it right to tell a parent or trusted adult something scary, even if you are afraid of what will happen next?
  • Biblical guidance: Children are called to honesty and to honor parents, while parents are called to protect and listen well.
  • Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4, Colossians 3:20, Proverbs 12:22
• Family pain and anger: How does the father’s absence affect the way the family talks and reacts to each other?
  • Biblical guidance: Broken family situations bring real grief, and God cares for the hurting. Christian hope points children to the faithful love of the Father through Jesus Christ.
  • Scripture: Psalm 34:18, Psalm 68:5, John 14:18
• Wonder, healing, and true hope: What does the movie make you feel about healing, life, and saying goodbye? How is Christian hope different?
  • Biblical guidance: Stories can stir longing for restoration, but the deepest answer to that longing is found in Jesus Christ, who gives true life and lasting hope.
  • Scripture: John 11:25, Revelation 21:4-5, 1 Peter 1:3