The candy that played a key role in the movie "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" is Reese's Pieces. In a famous scene, the young boy Elliott lures the alien E.T. with a trail of Reese's Pieces candies. Originally, the filmmakers wanted to use M&Ms, but Mars Inc., the owner of M&Ms, refused to give permission. As a result, the filmmakers partnered with Hershey's, owners of Reese's Pieces, which significantly boosted the candy's sales following the movie's release. This product placement became one of the most successful in movie history.