Steven Spielberg Finally Answers Burning Question About Ending of Beloved 1982 Classic — And Fans Are Not Happy

The year 1982 saw maybe the most defining family movie release of all time with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Topping the box office for 6 weeks straight, the film was a smash hit that furthered the ’80s into a decade of event films and coming of age style narratives. Going into 1983, the film became the highest-grossing film of all time for a number of years until Jurassic Parkbroke that record in 1993.

Part of the film’s appeal was its relatability to people of all ages. The story captured a sense of wonder and childlike escapism that audiences really connected with. That keeps the film in the public consciousness today, with famous quotes and moments living in the hearts and minds of people all over the world. This longevity has led to a burning question fans have harbored for years: did Elliot ever see E.T again? Steven Spielberg has finally answered that.

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Thank you for the confirmation Steven 🤝👽 🎙️: ‘Happy Sad Confused’ @joshuahorowitz #disclosureday #emilyblunt #stevenspielberg #joshoconnor #happysadconfused

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“No. Never saw him again,” Spielberg definitively said, putting the speculation to bed. The emotions and feelings tied to these beloved characters inspired a hope that Elliot would reunite with his friend in the future, but that is no longer something that can be considered.

Spielberg expanded on his point, stating, “He did dream about him. There was a psychic link between them.” This is in reference to the iconic moment at the end when E.T presses his finger to Elliot’s forehead, which is now one of the most referenced parts of the film.

Fans were up in arms about the confirmation, taking to the comments to voice their opinions.

“He’s just making up lore! 😂”

“Xfinity says differently. 🤷🏻‍♂️”

“If he dreams about him, specifically through a psychic link, I feel like that would mean he DOES see him again.”

“This makes me want to cry.”

Regardless of your opinion, E.T has obviously connected with many people to make them question and debate this point nearly 45 years after the film’s original release.

Related: I Saw 19 Films at Tribeca 2026 — These Are the Ones You’ll Be Talking About

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