Flavorwire

It’s no secret that J.J. Abrams’ new film Super 8 is a lover letter to its producer Steven Spielberg that also pays homage to the art of filmmaking in general — especially the kind that dominated the landscape as its director was coming of age. As such, many of the reviews for the film, which is currently at a 83% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, read like the rental queue of a dude in his 30s who’s going through a nostalgic phase. Only one that we’ve read so far (Andrew O’Hehir at Salon) has managed to avoid mentioning E.T. directly, and even he alludes to “some darker-hued borrowing from Spielberg’s biggest hit.” Curious as to what other films you’ll be seeing references to when you check out Super 8 this weekend? Click through for our critical roundup.

A.O. Scott, The New York Times
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
E.T.

Andrew O’Hehir, Salon
Persona
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Phantasm
Stand by Me
It

Tom Long, The Detroit News
E.T.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Poltergeist
Goonies
Stand by Me
WarGames
Independence Day
Gremlins
Duel
Mulholland Drive

Dana Stevens, Slate
E.T.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times
The Goonies
E.T.
Knowing
The Thing

Chris Bumbray, JoBlo
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
E.T.
Jaws
The Goonies
Cocoon
Stand By Me
Let Me In

Kenneth Turan, LA Times
E.T.
Stand By Me

Steven Persall, St. Petersburg Times
E.T.
The Goonies
Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
E.T.
Jaws

David Edelstein, New York Magazine
Jaws
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
E.T.