and one of the few to support “Star Wars: Attack of the Clones,” but when Steven Spielberg brought “E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial” to audiences, his effort to phone home was not welcomed in Scandinavia. In 1982, E.T. and his illuminated finger were capturing hearts worldwide, one shattered moment at a time. Scandinavia, however, had imposed limitations on children younger than 10 from viewing the delightful tale of a boy and his extraterrestrial friend.
It’s not uncommon for certain movies to be prohibited internationally, as was the case with “Akira” in Russia. However, concerning “E.T.,” a UPI article from 1983 noted that the film depicted adults unfavorably, particularly with respect to the alien’s fleeting demise. Spielberg himself contested the review, advocating for a reduction of the age limit to 7 rather than 10. Instead, the Council of Children’s Films countered with a conclusive remark, stating, “The council’s view is that the film ‘E.T.’ could pose psychological harm to children aged over 7 but under 11 years.”
The then head of censorship, Gunnel Arrback, stated, “A significant portion of the film is embedded in a menacing and alarming atmosphere, rendering it unsuitable for children aged 7-8.” This ruling incited protests from children outside cinemas. While Spielberg attempted to present his argument for the film, it would take years before he modified the adult roles in the movie, leading to backlash for doing so.