The film that took 6 years to come home to VHS
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial finally arrived on VHS this week in 1988, after a June 11th, 1982 theatrical release.
At the time of its October ’88 home video bonanza, 24.95 was the lowest initial price for a major blockbuster compared to the average priced-to-own SRP of 29.95… not to mention the 89.95 video stores paid for most titles. Pepsi discount notwithstanding.
I was a 9 year-old E.T. mega-fan. I had the trading cards, the sticker album, a few figurines, the storybook, my bedroom wall was literally covered with posters and clippings of anything E.T. related, I even had a basket on my BMX for a few weeks – and that was before I got to see it on the big screen later that summer.
Maybe it was by design, but by the time it arrived on home video, I’d forgotten most of the smaller story details (and classic lines like penisbreath). And even though it was a very different experience seeing it again as a 15 year old, that unconditional love hadn’t dissipated one bit. I understood a few more gags, maybe I sided with the older brother a bit more, but I still cried at the end.
E.T. had stayed with me. Right here. 
E.T. is that non-horror movie that always makes my Halloween marathon playlist. You still get a couple of jump scares, some terrifyingly sad moments that border on the traumatic – but not horror. I love this film. -Pop
