TV FILMS of the week

1E.

T: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL

Tomorrow, ITV2, 3.25pm The childhoods of an entire generation were moulded by three simple words: “E.T. phone home”. The memories (and the tears) come flooding back from the opening frames of Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece. Forty years after its initial release, E.T: The ExtraTerrestrial has lost none of its power to enchant. Henry Thomas plays the wideeyed 10-year-old Elliott who stumbles across the titular friendly visitor from space. But more than that, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial reminds us of the power of cinema to transport us away from the monotony of everyday life.

2

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (2017) Monday, BBC1, 2.30pm

Strong-willed bookworm Belle (Emma Watson) rebuffs the amorous advances of preening Gaston (Luke Evans) before trading places with her inventor father Maurice (Kevin Kline) as the prisoner of a cursed Beast (Dan Stevens, pictured with Watson) in his crumbling stronghold. A ravishing live-action remake of the 1991 Disney animation.

3MY

BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING Tuesday, Film4, 6.40pm

Julia Roberts is on top form in this subversive romantic comedy. Julianne (Roberts) realises her friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney) is the love of her life just as he’s about to marry heiress Kimmy (Cameron Diaz, pictured with Roberts). So, Julianne resolves to break them up, roping in sceptical pal George (a scene-stealing Rupert Everett).

4FANTASTIC

MR FOX Wednesday, Film4, 3.20pm

Hip indie director Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel) brings his offbeat sensibilities to Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story. The charming titular character (pictured, voiced by George Clooney) puts his community in danger when the farmers he raids retaliate. The stop-motion animation is a refreshing change from CGI fare.

5KING

KONG (1933) Thursday, BBC4, 10pm

A film producer and his crew visit a remote island where they encounter a 50ft ape, pictured, which takes a shine to their leading lady – but taking the creature back to America proves a bad idea. Original scream queen Fay Wray gives an iconic performance as the object of Kong’s affections in this unmissable classic monster movie.

6CREED

II

Friday, ITV, 10.45pm

More than 30 years after his epic fight with Rocky (Sly Stallone), boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) is living in ignominy, haunted by defeat. In search of redemption, Ivan moulds his only son Viktor (Florian Munteanu), into a fearsome contender for the heavyweight belt in the possession of Rocky’s protégé, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan, pictured).

7FUNNY

GIRL

Saturday, BBC2, 2.05pm

Celebrate Barbra Streisand’s 80th birthday with the musical that landed her the Best Actress Oscar. Fanny Brice (Streisand, left) escapes the slums of New York to become one of the star performers at Ziegfield Follies. However showbiz success contrasts sharply with her personal life as her marriage to suave Nick Arnstein (Omar Sharif) falters.