Is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial scary?

Only a little. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has a few tense moments, nothing that follows you to bed.

How gory is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial?

No gore and some violence. Squeamish viewers are fine here.

What is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial rated, and is it OK for kids?

It is rated PG and nothing we tagged runs past mild, but a PG from 1982 could carry more than one does now. Check the guide first.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Film · 1h 55m · Rated PG

Adventure, Family, Sci-Fi

A lost alien finds an unlikely family as children protect him from the world and help him return home.

Feel-good and melancholy. A family watch at a measured pace. Emotionally it is heavy.

Streaming on Starz.

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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial parents guide

What we could confirm fits a PG: mild language and a few tense moments.

Scare: Mildly scary; A few tense or eerie moments.
Jump scares: A couple; One or two sudden jolts.
Gore: No gore
Violence: Some violence; Some fighting or peril.
Sex and nudity: None flagged; It is a PG from before PG-13 existed, when a PG could carry more, so treat our zero as unconfirmed.
Language: Mild; Mild words like damn, hell or crap.

How we rate: an AI reads what is known about each title and tags it 0 to 3; we check the tags against a hand-rated set and correct them by hand when readers tell us. Estimates, not a scene-by-scene review. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Three questions

Is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial scary?: Only a little. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has a few tense moments, nothing that follows you to bed.
How gory is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial?: No gore and some violence. Squeamish viewers are fine here.
What is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial rated, and is it OK for kids?: It is rated PG and nothing we tagged runs past mild, but a PG from 1982 could carry more than one does now. Check the guide first.

What is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial about?

An alien is left behind on Earth and saved by the 10-year-old Elliott who decides to keep him hidden in his home. While a task force hunts for the extra-terrestrial, Elliott, his brother, and his little sister Gertie form an emotional bond with their new friend, and try to help him find his way home.

Does it have a happy ending? (spoiler-safe)

Bittersweet. It earns its ending, but not everyone gets what they want.