E.T. the Extra-Terrestrialwas a massive success, critically and financially. This was more than just a pop-cultural moment.E.T.broke records, becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time in 1982 with a cumulative worldwide box office gross of $797,307,407 over the course of this film’s lifetime (viaBox Office Mojo).
While it held this achievement for some time, in 1993,another film would take this title, and it would be from none other than Steven Spielberg himself. Spielberg is one of the biggest directors still working in the industry, withthe newest Spielberg movie getting an official release dateof August 22, 2025. Without Spielberg, there are noIndiana Jones,E.T.,Jurassic Park,Jaws, and so many other cinematic achievements. It’s no wonder that multiple films of his have broken box office records; although, both of these movies would eventually be topped by James Cameron’s first Oscar-winning film.
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Became The Highest Grossing Movie Of All-Time In 1982
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Stole Jaws' Title Of Steven Spielberg’s Biggest Film In 1982
Steven Spielberg helped define the summer blockbuster withJawsback in 1975. However, this would not be Spielberg’s only blockbuster. Come 1982,Spielberg would make history once more, this time by directing a film that would have the highest box officeever. That movie wasE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,whichSpielberg thinks is a “pretty perfect” movie, as revealed in an interview with Stephen Colbert.
Wicked Box Office Reaches Major Global Milestone As It Prepares To Pass Kung Fu Panda 4 & Godzilla x Kong
Wicked crosses another major global box office milestone, as it prepares to pass both Kung Fu Panda 4 and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
To putE.T.’s financial success into perspective,Star Wars: A New Hope’sinitial box office in 1977 was $307,263,857, andE.T.‘sinitial box office in 1982 was $359,200,799 (viaBox Office Mojo). Even with the 1982 re-release’s box office of $15,476,785,A New Hopecould still not toppleE.T.‘sbox office numbers of that same year.
Steven Spielberg Broke E.T.’s Box Office Record 11 Years Later With Jurassic Park
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial Still Has A Higher Domestic Box Office Though
WhileStar Wars: A New Hopecould not bestE.T.,another movie would take the top spot on this list by 1993 with over $600 million, and that film wasJurassic Park. Also directed by Spielberg, this movie is a pop-cultural moment. UnlikeE.T., though,Jurassic Parkwould become a full-on franchise, still going on to this day. Meanwhile,anE.T.sequel never happened, as Spielberg wanted to preserve the original’s integrity.
$359,200,799
Jurassic Park
$978,167,947
There is the originalJurassic Parktrilogy, which would eventually lead to theJurassic Worldfranchise in the 21st century. Initially a trilogy, there is afourth film in the works titledJurassic World: Rebirth. Along with this franchise still going on,the franchise is following in the original’s T-Rex-sized footsteps, withJurassic Worldbeing one of the top all-time box officehits at $1,018,130,819.
Expanding the top 10 box office films worldwide to the top 100 on Box Office Mojo,Jurassic World’sfollowup films,Fallen KingdomandDominion, are on the list at numbers 22 and 55, respectively. EvenJurassic Parkis still present at the 38th spot at $1,104,379,926nowadays, but it is much further down than the film that originally usurped its position.
Steven Spielberg Only Held Onto Jurassic Park’s Record For Four Years
Titanic Stole Jurassic Park’s Place And Is Still A Box Office Darling
While it took 11 years forE.T.to be overtaken byJurassic Park, it only held that spot for four years.The 1993 Spielberg film would succumb to none other than James Cameron’sTitanicin 1994. At the time of this writing,Titanichas a box office total of $2,264,750,694, a near $1 billion more thanJurassic Park’sbox office (viaBox Office Mojo).
Moana 2 Box Office Reaches Another Huge Milestone As It Passes Dune 2 Globally
After thriving at the box office, Moana 2 reaches another major milestone, as it passes the critically acclaimed Dune: Part 2 in global gross.
Along with that,Titanicis the only highest-grossing movie domestically to come out before the 21st centuryout of the top 10 films. It sits comfortably in ninth place domestically, right aboveJurassic World, which has an estimated $20 million smaller domestic box office performance.Titanicwould maintain its top position until 12 years later, when Cameron’sAvatarwould take the top spot,almost repeating Spielberg’s trajectory while off by one year.
Jurassic Park & E.T. Are Still Steven Spielberg’s Biggest Box Office Hits
Jurassic Park Is Still In The Top 50 Worldwide Box Office
WhileJurassic ParkorE.T.are no longer in the top ten at the worldwide box office, they are still landmark films.E.T.was nominated for Best Director and Best Picture, the first Best Picture nomination for Spielberg. Meanwhile,Jurassic Park,as mentioned above, has led to the expansiveJurassic ParkandWorldfranchisethat’s still in full force and has been a financial success for decades.
Along with that, they are both Spielberg’s biggest box office hits. WhileE.T.andIndiana Jonesand the Kingdom of the Crystal Skullgrossed a similar amount of money with an estimated $6 million difference inE.T.‘sfavor,Jurassic Parkblows all of Spielberg’s other films out of the water, grossing an estimated $1 billionover time.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
War of the Worlds
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
$1.04 Billion
As reported byCollider,Spielberg is Hollywood’s highest-grossing director at the box office. Between his 33 films, his box office total is $10.7 billion worldwide. He is even ahead of James Cameron, who usurpedJurassic Park’snumber one spot withTitanicin 1997, by $2 billion.
There is no denying the impact Spielberg and his films have had on cinema and the public at large. No amount of money can quantify his significance as one ofHollywood’s most iconic directors; however, the numbers do emphasize what audiences and critics already know. Spielberg’s films have been and continue to be in high demand, withJurassic ParkandE.T. the Extra-Terrestrialbeing his top-grossing films of all time.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Cast
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, directed by Steven Spielberg, follows a young boy named Elliot who befriends an alien accidentally left on Earth. As the task force searches for the extraterrestrial, Elliot, his siblings, and their newfound friend form a deep connection while attempting to return the visitor home.
