E.T. made Steven Spielberg want to be a father

Famous filmmaker Steven Spielberg recently shared how making the beloved sci-fi movie E.T. influenced his thoughts about family and fatherhood. At a panel during the TCM Classic Film Festival celebrating the film’s 40th anniversary, Spielberg reflected on how the experience of filming led him to reconsider his busy life as a Hollywood director and his desire to become a father.

E.T., often hailed as one of the greatest movies ever, tells the touching story of a young boy named Elliott (played by Henry Thomas) who forms a friendship with a lonely alien accidentally left behind on Earth. The film also stars Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace, and Peter Coyote, and follows Elliott and his alien friend as they try to find a way to get him back home.

While directing this family-oriented tale, Spielberg had a major revelation. At that time, he had never really thought about becoming a father because his life was filled with non-stop film projects. But while working on E.T., something shifted in him. He explained, “I didn’t want to have kids because it didn’t seem to fit into my busy schedule of going from one movie to the next. It never really crossed my mind until halfway through E.T. that I was kind of acting like a parent on set.”

He felt a protective instinct toward his young cast members, especially Drew Barrymore, who was just six years old. This experience sparked a thought in him: “Maybe someday, being a dad could be part of my life.” He began to see parallels between being a director and being a parent, saying, “In a way, being a director is like being a dad or a mom. I felt like that could be my biggest project.”

When someone jokingly asked if he actually went on to become a father after this realization, Spielberg responded with a laugh, “I have seven kids and six grandchildren. So, I guess E.T. worked out really well for me!” His journey from a busy director to a family man shows how a film can profoundly influence not just art but also personal life choices.