ET: The Extra Terrestrial is one of cinema’s most successful and beloved films. It tells the story of Elliott, a young boy who befriends an alien abandoned on Earth when his spaceship flees.
The movie was released in 1982 and was an instant success. It starred Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, and Drew Barrymore. ET became the highest grossing movie in history, a record it held until it was topped by Jurassic Park in 1993.
ET was set in the San Fernando Valley, which is located just over the Hollywood Hills from Los Angeles. The filming focused on the areas of Tujunga and Porter Ranch.
Elliott’s House
Elliott and his family live in a typical suburban Valley house. The production used a house in Tujunga at 7121 Lonzo Drive. The house is on a corner, with the mountains behind it, providing a picturesque setting.
The first time I went to see the ET house, I didn’t time it very well. The sun set before I made there. As you can see below, my first picture of the house was a bit of a dud. I went back the next morning and got the above photos, much better if I’m being honest.
While the backyard scenes were primarily filmed on a soundstage, they were based on the real layout of the yard. There was no pool in the movie though.
The street area in front of the house was also seen a couple times in the movie, like when Michael rides his bike and when the government trucks are approaching.
Valley View
We get a view of the San Fernando Valley when the investigators are using tools to hunt for ET. These shots were taken on a residential hill along Stewarton Drive. This is also the location where Gertie hands off her bike to Elliott and ET later in the story.
Bus Stop
The bus stop where the kids catch their school bus is located in Porter Ranch, at the corner of Vista Grande Way and Capistrano Lane.
School
Scenes set at the school were filmed at Culver City High School. We don’t see much of the school’s exteriors, as most scenes take place in the classroom. This is the location where Harrison Ford was brought in to play the principle. After filming, his scenes were cut from the film, and we only get a brief peek at the back of his head.
Trick or Treating
On Halloween, the kids use trick or treating as an excuse to get ET out of the house. This is where ET comes across a kid in a Yoda costume. He thinks it’s a fellow alien and tried to follow him. This scene was filmed at the intersection of Granada Circle and Killimore Avenue.
Bike chase
The bike chase sequence near the end of the movie was filmed at numerous locations around the Porter Ranch community. Much of the area was still being developed when the movie was filmed, so you’ll see a drastic different in some of these comparisons.
I don’t normally use screenshots on my site, but for this section, it will give context to the photos I took.
Porter Ridge Park Playground
Michael’s friends lead the bike chasers to a playground with a climbing caterpillar. This same playground is still there, but has changed a lot over the years. The trees have gotten much bigger, and the playground is a lot more developed. However the caterpillar is still there, just like it was in the film.
Bike escape fly from cops
Just when it looks like the authorities are going to catch ET and friends, he helps their bikes take off and start flying. This scene was filmed in the neighbourhood of Grenada Hills, along White Oak Avenue at Tulsa Street.
ET Models
There were numerous models of ET created for the film. I’ve come across two on display. Back in 2014, Universal Studios Hollywood had a display of props from various films. One of the items was an ET model. I’ve been back since, and the display and props were no longer there. But if you visit Universal Studios, make sure you look around cause they might bring the display back. There’s also often some ET merchandise in the stores.
The other model I’ve seen is at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Their ET model is on display in a room of props and characters. I highly recommend visiting if you’re in LA, as it’s a pretty fascinating museum with a lot of changing exhibits.
