The film was nominated for nine Oscars at the 55th Academy Awards , including Best Picture . '' Gandhi '' won that award , but its director , Richard Attenborough , declared , " I was certain that not only would '' E.T. '' win , but that it should win . It was inventive , powerful , and wonderful . I make more mundane movies . " It won four Academy Awards : Best Original Score , Best Sound ( Robert Knudson , Robert Glass , Don Digirolamo and Gene Cantamessa ) , Best Sound Effects Editing ( Charles L. Campbell and Ben Burtt ) , and Best Visual Effects ( Carlo Rambaldi , Dennis Muren and Kenneth F. Smith )
55th Academy Awards
55th Academy Awards
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial