Spielberg’s Iconic Childhood Film Banned for Kids for 43 Years!

In 1982, Steven Spielberg gifted us with a beautiful film about childhood through the lens of science fiction: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. This movie quickly ascended to become one of the greatest classics in the history of cinema, grossing nearly $800 million worldwide after its massive box office success.

Although the film became an international cultural phenomenon, it sparked controversy in Scandinavia. Originally intended as a horror story, Spielberg transformed E.T. into a universal family tale. However, this interpretation did not sit well with our Nordic friends.

Banned for Kids!

According to Caroline Madden from Slashfilms, Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) found E.T. too frightening for children. As a result, their local film rating boards decided to prohibit the film for children under the age of 11! By contrast, E.T. was rated PG in the United States, which stands for “Parental Guidance Suggested.”

In 1983, Gunnel Arrback, a Scandinavian censorship director, explained that “Spielberg’s celestial fantasy might cause mental harm to children due to its menacing and frightening atmosphere and its depiction of adults as enemies of the children.”

While it’s true that some scenes in E.T. might be scary, particularly when government agents appear, it’s somewhat surprising that it led to a ban for the film’s primary audience—children.

According to Slashfilms, “the notion that young children can’t handle E.T. is ludicrous, as Spielberg poured all his emotional pain, childhood memories, and sorrow from his parents’ divorce into the film,” the media outlet notes.

Furthermore, Spielberg would later use this type of cinematic therapy in his recent work, The Fabelmans. “The story of Elliott and his little alien friend reminds us that children feel difficult emotions and challenges just as intensely and deeply, even though adults often try to shield them,” states Slashfilms.

A Significant Life Lesson

Elliott is heartbroken when he realizes he must say goodbye to E.T., just as children are devastated when they learn their parents will no longer be together. As they grow, children also come to understand that adults don’t always make the best decisions.

“E.T. teaches an important lesson to children—that adults are not infallible and can sometimes be dangerous. Spielberg’s refusal to sanitize what would really happen if an alien landed on Earth is what makes E.T. a legendary film. Scandinavia did not act in the best interests of children by trying to shield them from these heavier themes,” concludes Slashfilms.

As a reminder, the film is set near Los Angeles. One night, a spaceship lands. Several aliens, sent on a botanical exploration mission, exit the craft, but one ventures beyond the clearing where the shuttle is parked. This one heads toward the city, marking its first encounter with human civilization.

Soon pursued by the military and abandoned by its own kind, the frightened little creature named E.T. takes refuge in a suburban home. Elliott, a ten-year-old boy, discovers him and builds a shelter in his closet. Connected by a telepathic exchange, the two quickly become friends. Aided by his sister Gertie and his older brother Michael, Elliot then attempts to keep E.T.’s presence a secret.