E.T.: the Extra Terrestrial: The Ultimate Visual History

by Caseen Gaines

The definitive account of the motion picture phenomenon, E.T. the The Ultimate Visual History is a must-have for fans of the beloved Steven Spielberg classic.

Documenting the complete history of E.T. , the book explores Spielberg’s initial inspiration for the story, the challenging shoot, and the record-breaking success, as well as the film’s endurance, examining the merchandising it inspired and the reasons E.T. holds a permanent place in the hearts of movie fans the world over.

E.T. the The Ultimate Visual History features exclusive interviews with key members of the creative team, including cast and crew. Filled with visual treasures, the book also includes rare and never-before-seen imagery from the Amblin Entertainment archives, including on-set photography, concept art, and storyboards, plus a wealth of removable insert items, such as annotated script pages, studio memos, preliminary sketches, and more. The perfect tribute to a film that defines movie magic, E.T. the The Ultimate Visual History is the final word on a modern masterpiece.

Genres: Nonfiction, Media Tie In

257 pages, Hardcover

Published August 30, 2022

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent entry in the Ultimate Visual History series, this time focusing on the film E.T. A magical film for all ages, this book charts its development from the initial story idea through scripting, casting, filming, special effects, post production, distribution, and, of course, how E.T. was designed, produced and animated. It turns out there were several versions of E.T. for different purposes. At the time the film was made, in 1982, CGI was in its infancy, so most of the effects were shot in camera. There is a lot of detail about this as well. In addition, the book is extensively illustrated with photographs and drawings, and includes several inserts to add interest. What is amazing considering how it ended up, is that the film was budgeted and produced as a small film, with apparently no idea to begin with of the hugely popular film it would become.

[Kelsey Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impatiently waiting for E.T. Adventure: The Ultimate Visual History.

[Lynne Stringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so I admit I might be a bit biased here, given E.T. is my favourite movie ever and I doubt it will ever be replaced, but still, there was so much in this book for an E.T. fan to enjoy, even a few things I didn't know.
It brought back memories too, of reading the novelisation (which I didn't like) and my other E.T. memorabilia, including some things I used to own but that gradually wore out (like the faux leather toy and the View-Master gift set).
I didn't like the things they stuck to each page, like movie tickets, etc, but at least they could be removed so that the text under it was readable. And everything else was a joy.
If you love E.T., you definitely need this book.

[Reagan]

E.T. is one of my favorite movies ever for as long as I can remember, so of course I loved this book! I learned things, was reminded of things. Loved the inclusion of the merch, the ride at Universal, and the commercial that came out in 2019.

[Alexia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing

[Zack Teibloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really spectacular analysis of an all-time great film. Some great nuggets on all aspects from pre-production through its massive success in every arena except the Atari game. Deeply enjoyed it.