The perfect movie for Sunday night: ‘ET the Extra-Terrestrial’
Just because Netflix spoils you with choice, it doesn’t ease the delirium of selections.
Sometimes they leave you unfulfilled halfway where you’re forced to find another movie that can compensate for your day off. But by the time you make up your mind on one, it’s already time to retire to bed. So, if you like the choice to be made on your behalf, do it right this Sunday with ET the Extra-Terrestrial.
Sundays are meant for comfort shows and movies. On Netflix, nothing currently screams cosier than Steven Spielberg’s nostalgic 1980s throwback, ET the Extra-Terrestrial. The streamer dropped a bounty of cultural touchstones from the heart of Hollywood at the start of September, the sci-fi film being one among the many.
So, why not make the most of this cinematic presence while there’s time, especially now that Sunday is just around the corner? Rated an eye-watering 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, it stands the test of time. It tells the story of an unlikely friendship between young Elliot and an extraterrestrial stuck on Earth, ET.
Determined to help ET find his way home, Elliot, his friends and family travel to extraordinary lengths to protect him and set him on his way, before the government agents swipe him. From the film’s groundbreaking premise to its unique approach, ET the Extra-Terrestrial was unlike anything the world of cinema had seen before. At the 55th Academy Awards, the film leapt to nine nominations, landing four.
ET the Extra-Terrestrial had the brains as is wont with sci-fi films, but it also had a heart, which made it extremely enjoyable and emotional. Over the course, many alien films have come and gone, but striking the chord of sensitivity was never their cup of tea. Likewise, Hollywood has no shortage of heart-touching tales of friendship, yet nothing hits so viscerally home like this one. This is where Spielberg’s vision takes the cake.
For first-time watchers, this Sunday pick will make your day off, and you’ll be in for a show. And for those on their repeat viewing streak, the best part is that you exactly know what you’re diving into.