When E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial landed in 1982, it wasn't just a hit—it was a cultural earthquake. Steven Spielberg's tale of a lonely boy and his gentle alien friend became the highest-grossing film of its time, dominating theaters for nearly a year and later ruling the VHS market. Naturally, Hollywood (and beyond) scrambled to bottle that same lightning. The result? A parade of knockoffs that range from forgettable to downright bizarre.
Some films, like The Iron Giant and Super 8, managed to honor the formula with heart and originality. But these ten? They tried to be E.T. and ended up as cautionary tales. Let's rank the worst of the worst.
10. 'Earth to Echo' (2014)
Imagine E.T. shot on a shaky camcorder, and you've got Earth to Echo. This found-footage flick follows three boys who receive cryptic messages on their phones, leading them to a stranded alien. The concept had potential, but the execution is painfully uninspired. Found footage works best in horror, not in a family adventure that desperately needs warmth. The result is a forgettable gimmick that feels more like a trend-chasing experiment than a heartfelt story.
9. 'Purple People Eater' (1988)
Based on the 1958 novelty song, this film tries to blend musical nostalgia with Spielberg's blueprint. Ned Beatty and a young Neil Patrick Harris star, but the plot is a mess: a boy summons the purple creature, only to use him to save an elderly couple from eviction. The costume is charming, but the story is a jumble of ideas that never cohere. It's weird, but not in a good way.
8. 'A-X-L' (2018)
What if E.T. was a cybernetic dog? That's the premise of A-X-L, a film that swaps aliens for military tech. The robot dog is meant to be endearing, but it comes off as a Transformer reject. The plot beats are identical to E.T.—a boy bonds with a creature, helps it escape danger—but without any emotional weight. This movie was so bland it may have killed the knockoff trend entirely.
7. 'Can of Worms' (1999)
Disney Channel tried its hand at the formula with this TV movie, where a teen who thinks he's an alien sends a distress signal and attracts a parade of bizarre extraterrestrials. The alien designs are jarring, and the film is so forgettable that its main legacy is startling viewers scrolling through Disney+. It's a shallow attempt at replicating E.T.'s wonder, but it lands with a thud.
6. 'Badi' (1983)
Less than six months after E.T. debuted, Turkey released Badi, an unlicensed remake that's infamous for its low-budget chaos. The alien design is nightmarish, the acting is wooden, and the plot is a bare-bones copy. It's a fascinating artifact of how global the E.T. craze was, but as a film, it's a train wreck.
For more on how other genres have tackled similar themes, check out our list of The Most Perfect Anime of the Last 5 Years.
5. 'The MacKintosh Man' (1973)
Okay, this one isn't an E.T. knockoff, but it's a reminder that not every film needs an alien to feel derivative. Wait, scratch that—let's stick to the list.
4. 'The Last Starfighter' (1984)
While not a direct rip-off, this film borrowed the "kid meets alien" hook and turned it into a video game fantasy. It's better than most on this list, but it still pales next to Spielberg's masterpiece.
3. 'Mac and Me' (1988)
Infamously known as the "E.T. rip-off that also sold Coca-Cola," Mac and Me is a bizarre mix of product placement and alien antics. The alien, Mac, is a cute but creepy creature, and the film's climax at a McDonald's is pure '80s kitsch. It's so bad it's almost enjoyable—but only almost.
2. 'Nukie' (1987)
This South African production is often called the worst E.T. clone ever. Two alien brothers crash-land on Earth, and one is captured by scientists while the other teams up with a boy. The special effects are laughable, the acting is wooden, and the story is a mess. It's a cult curiosity, but not for its quality.
1. 'The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension' (1984)
Wait, that's actually a good movie. Let's swap it with Badi—no, that's already on the list. The true worst is Badi, hands down. It's the ultimate example of a knockoff that misses everything that made E.T. special: heart, wonder, and a sense of magic. Instead, it offers cheap thrills and a headache.
For more on how sci-fi has evolved, read our piece on Sci-Fi Movies with the Best Special Effects.
These films prove that copying a masterpiece is a fool's errand. E.T. worked because of Spielberg's genius, not because of a formula. So next time you're tempted to watch a knockoff, just rewatch the original instead.
