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# Sotheby’s E.T. Auction: A Piece of Cinematic History Prepares for Liftoff
- URL: https://www.artwalkway.com/sothebys-et-auction-2025/
- Published: 2025-03-23T19:58:00.000Z
- Updated: 2025-03-23T19:58:00.000Z
- Description: Sotheby’s is auctioning off the original E.T. model used in the 1982 Spielberg classic, with bids expected to reach $1 million.
- Author: ART News
- Tags: Latest Art News

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**.

**ART Walkway News**

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