MovieChat Forums > E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Discussion > Your first time seeing E.T. Where, when...

Your first time seeing E.T. Where, when, what was it like?

posted 9 years ago by DarthSil
32 replies | jump to latest

I saw it the year it opened in 1982 at Lakeside Theater in New Orleans, which was a single screen at the time. And sadly, that theater, like so many others, is now gone.

I was still in school at the time, so I had to wait for the weekend so my father could drop me off at the theater. The anticipation was sick for this movie! There was a mob of people waiting to get in and every single show was sold out. The buzz about it was Star Wars like huge at the time.

And yes, I loved every second of it. It was one of those rare moments when it feels like the entire theater falls madly in love with a film. Doesn't happen too often, but E.T. was special and made people feel good.

Please share some of your memories of seeing E.T. for the first time.

"A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference." Eeyore

[–] pjl69 (2647) 4 years ago

Yeah, theater was packed where I saw it in 1982. The movie didn't impress me that much. Moonraker (1979) and Superman the Movie had much bigger impact on me. Both movies played a big part in making me a soundtrack enthusiast and collector. Didn't see the original Star Wars, but The Empire Strikes Back was also huge when I saw it.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (14392) 4 years ago

I don't actually remember the first time I saw it, but I know that I was very young when I watched it at home. Even as a kid, I could tell it was a very deep, moving film, and not just for the kids.

See, I wasn't born until '86, so I didn't get a chance to really start even remembering movies until I was 3, and remembering better when I was 5.

[–] Quint (957) 4 years ago

At the christmas of 1982. Tried to get tickets for E. T. at the native language cinemas of my town. But there wasnt the smallest chance to get one for the next few weeks. And then I tried it at some english language cinema. And they had tickets for the next screening. Bought them instantly and saw one of the best movie experiences of my lifetime. Watched the movie back then at least half a dozen times at the cinemas.