Under the Hammer: Yield 6-9 Tons
- The model of one of cinema's most recognizable extraterrestrials is going up for auction in New York.
- Auction house estimates place the final sale price between $600,000 and $900,000.
- The film, a science fiction story about a boy's friendship with an alien stranded on Earth, was a box-office phenomenon.
E.T. Model From Iconic Film Heads to Auction
Table of Contents
- E.T. Model From Iconic Film Heads to Auction
- E.T. Model From Iconic Film Heads to Auction
- Frequently Asked Questions About the E.T. Model Auction
- What is being auctioned?
- Where and when is the auction taking place?
- What is the estimated value of the E.T. model?
- What is the importance of the E.T. model?
- Who designed the E.T. model?
- What other films did Carlo Rambaldi work on?
- What inspired the look of E.T.’s eyes?
- How many E.T. models were used in the film?
- Key Facts about the E.T. Model
- Frequently Asked Questions About the E.T. Model Auction
Published: 2025-03-29
The model of one of cinema’s most recognizable extraterrestrials is going up for auction in New York. The E.T.model, from Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film E.T.the Extra-Terrestrial,
is being offered by Sotheby’s alongside other works by designer Carlo rambaldi.
Bidding starts at $500,000 (about 460,000 euros). Auction house estimates place the final sale price between $600,000 and $900,000.
The film, a science fiction story about a boy’s friendship with an alien stranded on Earth, was a box-office phenomenon. It grossed nearly $800 million, 80 times its production cost, and won four Academy Awards.
I remember Carlo said, ‘Here you have some pictures of Albert Einstein, Ernest Hemingway and Carl Sandburg,’Spielberg told Sotheby’s.How can we make E.T.’s eyes just as worldly and wrinkled and also so sad?
The Eyes Have It
Rambaldi reportedly spent months developing the character’s look. He is said to have drawn inspiration for E.T.’s eyes from his family’s Himalayan cat. The 92-centimeter model being auctioned is one of three used in the film, notably in the scene where E.T. hides in a wardrobe.
Rambaldi’s other notable film credits include King Kong (1975), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Alien (1979), and Dune (1984).
The auction is scheduled to close overnight from Thursday to Friday.
E.T. Model From Iconic Film Heads to Auction
Published: 2025-03-29
Frequently Asked Questions About the E.T. Model Auction
What is being auctioned?
An original animatronic model of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial from Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” is up for auction. The model, designed by carlo Rambaldi, is being offered by Sotheby’s.
Where and when is the auction taking place?
The auction is being held by Sotheby’s in New York. The auction is scheduled to close overnight from Thursday to Friday.
What is the estimated value of the E.T. model?
Bidding starts at $500,000 (about 460,000 euros). Auction house estimates place the final sale price between $600,000 and $900,000.
What is the importance of the E.T. model?
The E.T.model is a piece of cinematic history. the film was a major box-office success, grossing nearly $800 million, 80 times its production cost, and winning four Academy Awards. The model is one of the most recognizable characters in film history.
Who designed the E.T. model?
The E.T. model was designed by Carlo Rambaldi, an Oscar-winning special effects artist. Rambaldi spent months developing the character’s look, drawing inspiration from his family’s Himalayan cat for E.T.’s eyes.
What other films did Carlo Rambaldi work on?
Carlo rambaldi had an illustrious career, with other notable film credits including:
- King Kong (1975)
- Close encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
- Alien (1979)
- Dune (1984)
What inspired the look of E.T.’s eyes?
Rambaldi drew inspiration for E.T.’s eyes from his family’s Himalayan cat, striving to make them “worldly and wrinkled and also so sad,” as Spielberg recalls.
How many E.T. models were used in the film?
The model being auctioned is one of three used in the film. The model being auctioned is 92-centimeters,and was used in scenes such as the one where E.T. hides in a wardrobe.
Key Facts about the E.T. Model
Here’s a summary of key information about the E.T. model auction:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Item | Original E.T. animatronic model |
| Auction house | Sotheby’s |
| Location | New York |
| Estimated Value | $600,000 – $900,000 (Bidding starts at $500,000) |
| Designer | Carlo Rambaldi |
| film | E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) |
I remember Carlo said, ‘Here you have some pictures of Albert Einstein, Ernest Hemingway and Carl Sandburg,’Spielberg told Sotheby’s.How can we make E.T.’s eyes just as worldly and wrinkled and also so sad?