How to watch E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial for free

E.T. might not be a traditional Christmas film, but it is a classic that’s stood the test of time. And if you’re looking for a great film that everyone can enjoy this festive season, it’s one of the very best.

In case you’re unaware, it stars Henry Thomas as Elliott, a young boy who finds a friendly alien that has crash-landed on Earth. The two develop a great bond before Elliott eventually helps E.T. to return to his home planet.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, the 1982 movie also features Drew Barrymore in one of her earliest appearances.

Here’s how to stream, rent or buy E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial this Christmas. You may also be interested in our guide to the best UK Christmas TV this year.

How to stream E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial in the UK

In the UK, you can stream E.T. via Apple TV+. A subscription costs £8.99 per month, but Apple offers a seven-day free trial if you haven’t signed up before.

That means you can sign up and cancel immediately, then watch E.T. and any of the other great movies or TV on Apple TV+ for the next week, all free of charge.

E.T. is also available via Sky Cinema, which starts at £25 per month for a Sky Stream bundle, or £10 per month on top of an existing plan, all for 24 months.

However, if you just want to watch E.T. and other great movies, it’s easier to simply get a Now Cinema subscription. This currently starts at £6.99 per month or £13.99 per month when combined with Entertainment, though you have to commit to at least six months upfront.

Those prices don’t include Now Boost, which costs either £6 per month (Boost) or £9 per month (Ultra Boost) extra.

How to stream E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial in the US

In the US, E.T. is also available via Apple TV+. Instead of paying the $9.99 per month subscription free, there’s also a seven-day free trial for new customers.

That means you can sign up and cancel immediately, then watch E.T. and any of the other great movies or TV on Apple TV+ for the next week, all free of charge.

The movie is also on the Starz channel within Amazon Prime Video, though you can also get a seven-day free trial before the $10.99 monthly fee kicks in.

If you’re not satisfied with the options above, there are a few other ways to watch E.T. at home.

The first is by renting it for a short time. In the UK, you can do so via Amazon for £3.49 (4K UHD), Microsoft for £2.49 (SD) or £3.49 (HD), Apple TV for £3.49 or Sky Store for £3.49 (HD).

In the US, it’s $3.79 from YouTube or $3.99 from Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango and Microsoft.

However, you may prefer to purchase the digital version. In the UK, this costs £8.39 in the UK from Amazon or £9.99 from Microsoft.

iTunes . In the US, head to Amazon, Apple TV, Microsoft, Fandango or YouTube, where it’s $14.99.

If you prefer physical media, you can also get the E.T. DVD from Amazon for £4.99/$5.

On Blu-ray, it’s £7.85/$9.99.

There’s also a way to lease the E.T. DVD for free. Cinema Paradiso is a DVD rental subscription service which offers a 14-day free trial on all the plans available. After that, it’s either £15.99 or £29.99 per month.

Cafe DVD is a good equivalent in the US, but there’s no free trial available, with plans starting at $9.99 per month.