Bring on the tough stuff. There’s not just one right answer.
- Why did E.T. get left behind on Earth?
- How does E.T. himself challenge or support your preconceived notions about aliens in terms of appearance, intelligence, etc.? What about his spaceship? Is it what you think a spaceship would look like?
- What role does family play in E.T.? We're talking about Elliott's family, of course, but think about the concept of family in general, too.
- Speaking of family: Is Mary a good mom?
- How long do you think Elliott's dad has been gone? It's never explicitly stated. Do you think he's ever coming back? How would the film be different if he'd been around for E.T.'s visit?
- John Williams' score for E.T. is legendary. It even won him an Oscar! Still, some people deride it for being too bombastic and heavy-handed. What do you think? Does it manipulate your emotions?
- How are Elliott and E.T. similar? How are they different? And whom do you think would win in a dance battle?
- Have you ever felt like an alien? What happened?