Forty years ago this summer, Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment released E.T., the Extra Terrestrial. The sci-fi family adventure about a gentle alien stranded on Earth, who is then befriended by a 10-year-old boy named Elliott during his stay on this planet, became the highest grossing film of the year.

Edmond Town Hall (ETH), at 45 Main Street, will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the popular film’s release with six free screenings this month.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film stands as the movie with the longest theatrical run, reportedly screened for over a year upon its initial release. E.T. has a running time of 1 hour, 55 minutes and is rated PG.

Audiences are invited to enjoy screenings of E.T. at 1 and 7 pm Friday through Sunday, October 14-16. The screenings are all being sponsored by Ingersoll Auto of Danbury. All tickets are free of charge.

Reservations are already open, and can be made through edmondtownhall.org. Tickets will also be available at the box office prior to each screening.

Special Events

ETH this weekend will host another special screening.

On Friday, October 7, Psycho will be presented on the theater’s movie screen. The 1960 horror/thriller from Alfred Hitchcock starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins has a running time of 1 hour, 49 minutes and is rated R.

Tickets are $3.50 each and can be reserved in advance or purchased at the box office Friday night.

Please note Psycho was originally announced (and advertised in last week’s Newtown Bee) for two screenings. The film will now be screened at 7 pm only on October 7, as announced by event organizers last week.

Later this month, ETH will host the return of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The theater offered five screenings last October, to great response.

This year’s screenings of the cult classic are planned for Friday, October 21, at 7 and 9:30 pm; Saturday, October 22, at 6 and 9:30 pm; and Sunday, October 23, at 7 pm.

Costumes and audience participation are strongly encouraged.

Shadow casts — actors who dress up as characters, act out some of the scenes, and lead the use of props during the run of the film — are planned for both Saturday shows.

The Come Again Players, a performance group based in South Hadley, Mass., who present shadow cast performances of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, are returning this Halloween season after a COVID-19 pandemic hiatus. The October 22 performances in Newtown are two of just five scheduled for the touring troupe this month.

Rocky Horror Picture Show is rated R. It has a running time of 1 hour, 38 minutes.

Tickets are $15, with attendees having the option of purchasing prop bags for an additional $6. Each bag will include a sponge, party hat, rubber glove, noisemaker, glow stick, balloon, confetti, toilet paper, and a sheet of newspaper. Notes within each prop bag will help novice audience members know when and how to use each prop.

Beer, wine and concessions will be available at all shows.

Reservations for these screenings are also already open. For additional information visit the town hall website or call 203-270-4285.

Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.