E.T.’s human qualities make him relatable to us. His physical structure, his head, his torso, arms, and feet are all in the same place as for humans. He shows compassion for where he can find shelter and learn how to speak English. Yet these familiarities are why we can look at him as the “Other”. The concept of the “Other” is namely not applicable to for example, animals or fantasy creatures (Zimmerman, 2002). They do not look like humans, but E.T. in a way does.
In fictional stories, entities, and magical aspects show escapism. Escapism allows audiences to detach themselves from the real world and the problems they have. They immerse themselves in stories that are about adventure or romance, without deeper reflection (Nichols, 1976). In the film E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial the real world is blended with fantasy aspects. Befriending an alien seems impossible but E.T. himself feels real.
If we can empathise with a fictional alien, why do we struggle to understand marginalised groups in our own world? The fear of E.T. in the films stems from him being an alien and coming from out of space. The fears of Islamophobia and transphobia, for example, are often rooted in misconceptions and a sense of difference, even though they concern fellow human beings (Brons, 2015). E.T. challenges us to rethink this fear.