E.T., E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
This might be a basic answer, but E.T. has been my good friend my entire life. His long neck, healing powers, and killer backstory (a botanist left on Earth because he wanted to check out some flowers) make him the kind of alien you’d like to meet. This beer-swilling, BMX bandit is the perfect analog for adolescent angst: misunderstood, ignored, but with limitless potential. Most importantly, E.T. is there for his human pal Elliott, walking him through his first beer, first kiss, and his first time finding himself at the bottom of a ditch. E.T. prepares you for life, man. [Matt Schimkowitz]