‘ET’ lands top spot as best-loved childhood film

The 1980s has been voted the best decade for films with ET the Extra-Terrestrial taking the top spot as the best-loved childhood movie.

According to a survey, Steven Spielberg, who directed and co-produced the 1982 classic, is also film fans’ favourite director.

Action and adventure was the most popular film genre, with romance trailing behind comedy and science fiction for preferred viewing.

The poll, commissioned to mark the launch of Samsung Smart TV’s S Recommendation technology, found that the film people couldn’t get enough of and voted to watch again and again was The Shawshank Redemption.

And the line: “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn” from Gone with the Wind was chosen by one in 10 people as the best film quote.

While tastes may vary, 72% of people chose relaxation and escapism as the reason why they watch movies on average two to four times a month.

If it was easier to find films they liked, 30% of people said they would see more movies and more than a third of people use trial and error to decide what to watch.

The OnePoll survey asked 1,500 people in the UK about their favourite films.

Top fives

Top five favourite childhood movies:

1. ET

2. Bambi

3. The Goonies

4. The Lion King

5. Toy Story

Top five films people would most like to see again:

1. The Shawshank Redemption

2. Harry Potter (any)

3. Star Wars (any)

4. The Lion King

5. The Godfather (any)

Top five popular film lines:

1. “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn”, Gone with the Wind,

2. “Go ahead: Make my day”, Dirty Harry

3. “Nobody puts Baby in a corner”, from Dirty Dancing

4. “I’ll be back”, The Terminator

5. “Life is like a box of chocolates”, Forrest Gump.