Sotheby’s E.T. Auction: A Piece of Cinematic History Prepares for Liftoff
Sotheby’s is auctioning off the original E.T. model used in the 1982 Spielberg classic, with bids expected to reach $1 million.
The original body model of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial—the one seen bidding farewell to Earth with his glowing chest and soulful eyes—is heading to auction at Sotheby’s, with an expected sale price of up to $1 million.
The 3-foot-tall model, one of just three used in Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film, is part of the upcoming auction “There Are Such Things: 20th Century Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy on Screen”. The sale opens March 21 and closes April 3, and includes an array of legendary props and costumes spanning nearly a century of film history.
The model comes straight from the estate of Carlo Rambaldi, the Oscar-winning special effects artist behind E.T., Alien, and King Kong. Rambaldi’s daughter, Daniela Rambaldi, said her family hopes the sale will “continue to inspire and captivate future generations.”
Also included in the sale are screen-used sandworm models from David Lynch’s Dune and original design sketches from E.T.’s creation, which was famously inspired by Albert Einstein, Ernest Hemingway, Carl Sandburg, and even the Rambaldi family cat.
“This model is a symbol of an era before CGI, when practical effects ruled and artists like Rambaldi crafted characters by hand,” said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s vice-chair. “It’s a rare and emotional object—equal parts nostalgia and artistry.”
Rambaldi’s craftsmanship earned him three Academy Awards, and his work on E.T. alone redefined what emotional expression could look like in creature design. The upcoming auction is a tribute not just to his legacy, but to the tactile magic of pre-digital cinema.
With nostalgia surging and Hollywood collectibles commanding sky-high prices, this sale will test just how far movie lovers are willing to go to own a piece of sci-fi royalty.
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