When you think of movies that defined the ’80s, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) probably rockets to the top of the list. It’s one of those rare films that managed to strike a perfect chord between heartwarming and otherworldly. But imagine if there had been an E.T. 2.

Yeah, I know—kind of hard to picture, right? Well, believe it or not, that almost happened. But thanks to Steven Spielberg, it didn’t.
At a recent TCM Classic Film Festival event in New York, Spielberg opened up about how he had to fight tooth and nail to keep E.T. from getting the sequel treatment.
“That was a real hard-fought victory because I didn’t have any rights,” Spielberg said. Before E.T., he had some say in what happened with his films, but not enough to block sequels or remakes completely. He lacked what’s called “the freeze,” meaning he couldn’t just pull the plug on any follow-up ideas studios might cook up.
But even Spielberg admitted he was tempted at one point. He “flirted with” the idea of an E.T. sequel and even went as far as trying to develop a concept. That brainstorming session led to E.T.: The Book of the Green Planet, a novel that explored E.T.’s life back on his home planet.
But as Spielberg reflected on it, he realized that the story worked better as a book than it ever would have as a film. And honestly, he was right.
Drew Barrymore, who stole hearts as little Gertie in E.T., was at the event with Spielberg and agreed wholeheartedly with the decision to leave the film untouched.
“They’re just going to compare it to the first and leave something that’s perfect alone in isolation open to scrutiny,” she said. I mean, can you argue with that? Some movies are just meant to be one-and-done, and E.T. is the perfect example.

When E.T. hit theaters in 1982, it wasn’t just a box office success—it was a phenomenon. It raked in $359.2 million domestically, dethroning Star Wars as the highest-grossing film at the time.
The film snagged nine Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, and took home four wins for Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Effects Editing, and Best Original Score. It’s safe to say Spielberg knew he had something special on his hands.
Now, the closest we’ve ever gotten to a sequel wasn’t even in theaters. Remember that 2019 Xfinity commercial where an adult Elliott, played by Henry Thomas, reunites with E.T. during the holidays? It was a sweet little nostalgia trip, but as Thomas later mentioned, that’s “as close to a sequel as [Spielberg is] willing to go.” And honestly, that’s probably for the best.
Spielberg has always had a personal connection to E.T. The story was partially inspired by his own experience as a child of divorce, which is likely why he was so protective of it. And let’s be real—any sequel would’ve run the risk of tainting the original’s magic.
Plus, Spielberg’s clout in Hollywood gave him the leverage to convince Universal to back off. After all, this was the guy who gave us Jaws (1975) and Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Universal knew better than to mess with him, especially since they’d go on to partner with Spielberg for blockbusters like Jurassic Park (1993) and Schindler’s List (1993).
In today’s era of legacy sequels and reboots, it’s almost shocking that E.T. never got dragged back into theaters. Studios love revisiting old franchises, hoping to cash in on nostalgia, but not every film needs a round two. E.T. is one of those rare gems that got it right the first time, telling a complete, emotional story that resonated with audiences of all ages.
So, while it’s fun to imagine what a sequel might’ve looked like, ultimately it might’ve been for the best.