Steven Spielberg, the iconic filmmaker behind some of Hollywood’s greatest films, has always drawn from his personal experiences to shape his cinematic masterpieces. One film, in particular, ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,’ did more than just enhance his storytelling—it fundamentally changed his life, steering him toward fatherhood.
Spielberg’s Shift in Perspective: A Director Turned Dad
While Spielberg is known today as a doting father to seven children, his perspective on parenthood underwent a significant transformation during the making of ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.’ The 1982 sci-fi classic, which celebrated its 40th anniversary, was not only a box office success but also a personal milestone for Spielberg. The film, inspired by his own parents’ divorce, made him rethink his life’s priorities and his role beyond directing.
“No. I didn’t want to have kids because it was not a kind of equation that made sense for me as I went from movie to movie, script to script,”
However, the interaction with child actors on the set, including Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas, ignited a change in his viewpoint. Spielberg felt a deep protective instinct towards his young cast, particularly Barrymore, who was only six years old at the time. This protectiveness made him contemplate fatherhood for the first time.
“I was a parent on that film. I was literally feeling like I was very protective of… my whole cast,” Spielberg reflected. “And I started thinking, ‘Well, maybe this could be my real life someday.’… maybe I could be a dad. And maybe in a way, a director is a dad or a mom.”
Spielberg’s Life Post ‘E.T.’: Embracing Parenthood
This newfound perspective did not take long to manifest into reality. Three years after ‘E.T.’s’ staggering success, grossing $792 million globally, Spielberg welcomed his first child, Max Spielberg, with then-wife Amy Irving in 1985. His journey into fatherhood did not stop there; following his divorce from Irving, Spielberg married actress Kate Capshaw and embraced her children, Jessica Capshaw and Theo Spielberg, as his own.
The Spielberg family expanded further with the addition of four more children: Sasha, Sawyer, Mikaela, and Destry Spielberg. Today, Spielberg not only enjoys the company of his children but also his grandchildren, attributing his fulfilling family life to the profound impact of ‘E.T.’
“I have seven kids and six grandchildren, so E.T. worked for me very well,” Spielberg humorously remarked during his conversation. Steven Spielberg’s transition from a career-focused filmmaker to a family-oriented individual highlights a remarkable personal evolution, spurred by his experiences on the set of ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.’ It is a testament to how life imitates art, and sometimes, art inspires life, shaping personal destinies in the most unexpected ways.