Dr. Mac Christian Movie Reviews: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

“Phone home? More like phone VidAngel first if you want this Spielberg classic squeaky clean.”

Classic movie poster for "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," showcasing the iconic moment of connection between a human hand and an alien finger, set against a backdrop of space and Earth.

📖 Quick Snapshot

A lonely boy named Elliott discovers a stranded alien (E.T.) and hides him from the government. Together with his siblings, he helps E.T. return home. It’s magical, heartwarming, and one of the most iconic family films of all time. But parents — don’t be fooled by the glowing finger and Reese’s Pieces. There’s more under the hood.

🗣️ Language & Profanity

• At least 35 curse words, mostly from kids — including “d***,” “h***,” “s***,” and God’s name misused.

• Some shocking scenes where young kids hurl insults (“penis breath” being the infamous one).

• Parents are often surprised at how much swearing is in this “family classic.”

😬 Inappropriate or Questionable Content

• Scary scenes: Government agents in hazmat suits storm the house, E.T. nearly dies — very intense for little ones.

• Alcohol: Elliott gets drunk telepathically when E.T. drinks beer. Yes, a child character acting drunk.

• Lying to parents: Elliott hides E.T. and deceives adults through much of the movie.

• Spiritual/moral themes: The story leans into magic/science fiction with telepathy and healing powers.

✝️ The Christian Parent Grading Scale

Category	Grade	Explanation
Biblical Truth & Redemption	D	Beautiful themes of love and sacrifice, but no Gospel truth.
Suitability for Kids (6–12)	C	Scary moments, heavy profanity, and the “drunk kid” scene are red flags.
Language & Cleanliness	F	Way too much profanity for children’s ears.
Family & Emotional Engagement	A-	One of the most emotionally powerful kids’ films ever.
Overall Christian Values	C-	Friendship and selflessness shine, but profanity and lying undercut it.

🛠️ The Filter Fix

• VidAngel or Enjoy Movies Your Way can clean this up nicely.

• Remove profanity, Elliott’s drunken antics, and trim scary intensity for younger kids.

• Once filtered, the film becomes much more aligned with its heartwarming message.

🧑‍⚕️ Dr. Mac’s Verdict

🚦 Yellow Light (filtered) | Red Light (unfiltered) — A masterpiece, yes, but without filters it’s not a safe “kids movie.” With filtering, it transforms into the powerful friendship story you thought you were watching back in the 80s.

Best Age Range: 10+ (filtered)

Family Discussion Starter: “What does true friendship look like? How do we show sacrificial love — and who showed us the ultimate sacrifice?” (John 15:13).