Maps of Movies

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Where E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A stranded alien's hideout is a Tujunga house, its rooms are Culver City sets, and its forest is hundreds of miles north.

Scenes and places

The forest where E.T. is left behind (1982)

At night a race of small aliens gathers plant specimens in a California forest. When government agents arrive, the ship leaves, and one of them is left behind alone.

Set in A California forest — A forest where a small group of aliens gathers plant specimens at night.

Redwood country in the far north of California, a long way from the Los Angeles suburbs where the rest was shot.

Filmed at Redwood forest near Crescent City (Del Norte County, California, Crescent City, United States) — The film's last six shooting days were in a redwood forest near Crescent City; sources do not name the exact park. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Elliott's house and the shed (1982)

Elliott leaves a trail of candy to lure the frightened creature into his room and hides it from his mother. He brings in his brother Michael and sister Gertie, and the three keep the secret.

Set in The Taylor family home — The suburban house where Elliott hides the creature from his mother.

The street-side house is a real home in the Tujunga foothills; the bedrooms and backyard are studio sets.

Filmed at House at 7121 Lonzo Street, Tujunga (Tujunga, Los Angeles, United States) — Local-history pages give this address for the house used as Elliott's home; Wikipedia's Tujunga article says the house where Elliott lived was in Tujunga. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at Northridge, Los Angeles (Northridge, Los Angeles, United States) — The crew worked at Northridge and Tujunga for 11 days; sources give no street for the Northridge house. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Filmed at Laird International Studios, Culver City (Culver Studios, Culver City, United States) — The interiors of Elliott's home were built on sound stages here for 42 days; the point is the studio lot, not a source address. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Elliott's school (1982)

At school Elliott feels what E.T. feels at home and ends up tipsy in class. In biology he frees the frogs about to be dissected, because E.T. wants to be rescued.

Set in Elliott's school — The school where Elliott and his classmates are in a biology class.

A real public high school in Culver City, near the studio lot used for the interiors.

Filmed at Culver City High School (Culver City High School, Culver City, United States) — The shoot opened with two days at this high school; sources do not say which scenes were filmed there. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Halloween night in the forest (1982)

On Halloween, Elliott sneaks E.T. into the forest to set up the communicator that will call E.T.'s people. He begs E.T. to stay on Earth with him.

Set in The forest on Halloween — A wooded hillside where the children set up E.T.'s makeshift communicator.

A hillside community at the northwest edge of the San Fernando Valley.

Filmed at Porter Ranch, Los Angeles (Porter Ranch, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, United States) — Wikipedia says the exterior Halloween scene was filmed in Porter Ranch; it names no exact spot. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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The playground where the bikes wait (1982)

Elliott and Michael flee with E.T. and abandon their vehicle at a playground. Michael's friends are waiting with bikes, two of them spare.

Set in A playground — A playground where Michael's friends wait with bicycles.

A neighborhood park in Porter Ranch that locals still call E.T. Park.

Filmed at Porter Ridge Park (Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, United States) — Wikipedia's Porter Ranch article says this park was a filming location of the movie; a local-history page ties it to the film. Which scene was shot where is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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The flying-bicycle chase (1982)

The kids pedal hard toward the forest with E.T. in a basket while pursuers close in. The chase turns into the flying-bicycle sequence the film is remembered for.

Set in The road to the forest — The suburban streets and hills the children race along on bicycles.

Hillside streets in the northwest San Fernando Valley, lined with deodar trees on White Oak Avenue.

Filmed at Killimore Ave to Aliso Canyon Park, Porter Ranch (Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, United States) — A local-history page gives the start of the chase along Killimore, Beaufait and Eddleston to Aliso Canyon Park; Wikipedia only says Porter Ranch. The point is Aliso Canyon Park, one stop on that route. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at White Oak Avenue at Tulsa Street, Granada Hills (Granada Hills, Los Angeles, United States) — Wikipedia says the White Oak Avenue trees are the backdrop of the flying bicycle scenes; the point is the Granada Hills neighborhood, not the intersection. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at 19230 Vista Grande Way, Porter Ranch (Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, United States) — The bus stop where the kids head to school Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Elliott — A ten-year-old boy who finds a stranded alien in his family's shed and hides him.
• Michael — Elliott's older brother, who goes along with the secret.
• Gertie — Elliott's five-year-old sister.
• E.T. — A small alien botanist left behind on Earth.

Questions answered on the map

• Where was the forest at the start of E.T. really filmed?
• Where is Elliott's house from E.T. really?
• Where were the flying bicycles in E.T. filmed?