Media2002

Spielberg's altered 20th-anniversary 'E.T.' returns to theaters

When: Mar 2002
Sources: 3 public sources

Steven Spielberg at a 1982 White House screening of the original E.T. White House Photographic Office, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Universal re-released E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial for its 20th anniversary with added scenes and digital effects. The guns carried by government agents chasing the boys were digitally replaced with walkie-talkies, a change Spielberg later called a mistake.

Sources

Press'E.T.' gets a facelift at age 20 (David Germain, Associated Press) (opens in a new tab)Lawrence Journal-World / 2002-03-24
PressE.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (review of the 20th anniversary reissue) (opens in a new tab)Variety / 2002-03-15
PressSteven Spielberg Regrets Editing Guns Out of 'E.T.' (opens in a new tab)Variety / 2023-04-25

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