Steven Spielberg’s classic “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” screens at sunset on Saturday, September 2 in the latest installment of Movie Under the Stars, presented by the Weston Commission for the Arts.

The family-fun program starts at 5:30 on the middle school field and features music by The Bar Car Band. Food trucks will be on hand as well.

You may already know some or all of the story, even if until now you never had a chance to enjoy it under the stars. Aliens secretly visit Earth, one of them is left behind, government agents swarm in, and E.T. finds a protector in a boy named Elliott. Anything more could be a spoiler for some.

You may not know that the movie is inspired by true events. Not really. But it did originate, sort of, when Mr. Spielberg in his youth created an imaginary friend to cope with his parents’ divorce.

Years later the story was developed, scripted, and offered to Columbia Pictures. It was rejected. The studio doubted its commercial appeal. Executives at Universal Pictures saw things differently.

The movie cost $10.5 million to make and grossed more than that on opening weekend. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won four. It became the highest-grossing film of all time, a record only surpassed 11 years later when Mr. Spielberg released “Jurassic Park.” To date, adjusted for inflation, “E.T.” has grossed an estimated $1.33 billion.

It’s free on September 2. Or September 3, if it rains on the 2nd.

The Bar Car Band