Steven Spielberg, Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas at the 20th Anniversary showing of E.T.
© Terri Griffin

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E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL premiere pics

It's hard to believe that E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL, the story of a limpid-eyed alien that stole the hearts of audiences worldwide, was released 20 years ago.

It held first place in the box office grosses for over a decade until JURASSIC PARK, another Steven Spielberg masterpiece, was released.

Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment recently held the premiere for the release of the film's updated 20th Anniversary edition at the famous Shrine Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles, Calif. A benefit for the Special Olympics, this once-in-a-lifetime event featured five-time Academy Award winning composer John Williams conducting a 100-piece orchestra in a live score-to-film performance -- the first time in history a non-silent film has been seen accompanied by a full orchestra.

Seen on the red carpet were the stars of the film who, 20 years ago, were kids: Drew Barrymore, Henry Thomas, Robert MacNaughton, C. Thomas Howell and Erika Eleniak. Also from the film were Dee Wallace Stone, Peter Coyote, screenwriter Melissa Mathison and the mastermind himself... Steven Spielberg.

Joining the stars to celebrate the re-release were Haley Joel Osment (A.I. ), Alyson Hannigan (BUFFY) with boyfriend Alexis Denisof (ANGEL), Melissa Joan Hart (SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH), Matthew Lillard (SCREAM), Casper Van Dien (STARSHIP TROOPERS), the SPY KIDS (Alexa Vaga/Daryl Sabara) and many others.

E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL is now playing nationwide and includes never-before-seen footage, state of-the-art computer-generated enhancements and a digitally-remixed soundtrack.