Steven Spielberg was extremely nervous... this was the most personal project he had ever created, and he wondered if he had made a huge mistake. That project was E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, a movie that, at its core, is about a child dealing with divorce and loneliness.

The movie had come together well, but was anyone going to see it, especially since it featured unknown actors, and no one had any idea what the alien even looked like?

Not only did people show up, but they showed up in historic numbers. ET not only touched an entire generation, but quickly became the most successful movie in history. A title it would hold for more than a decade.

• Support the show and get bonus 1980s content: Patreon.com/80s