An oddly-shaped alien with a glowing finger lands on Earth and befriends a young boy named Elliot and his immediate family after being lured into their house by Reese's Pieces candy. At the same time, a government agency is chasing after the alien with much less benign intent. As time passes, E. T. learns English from television, and develops a psychic link with Elliot. The agents draw closer to the house, eventually locating the family, and placing them (and the alien) under quarantine. However, the film ends well (if sadly) with a daring escape, and everybody learning a life lesson.