Early movie aliens were strange beings from another planet who mankind learned to fear, but somewhere along the way movie aliens became cute (albeit odd looking) visitors who came to teach us lessons about ourselves.
E.T. is one of the best known movie aliens, but where E.T. (arguably) succeeded in being more cute than creepy others missed the mark by an Endorian mile.
Remember that E.T. ripoff sponsored by McDonald’s called Mac and Me? That alien's stupid face haunted me after I took my little sister to see that movie in the theater, and then my sis had a hard time sleeping because she thought Mac was in her closet!
Check out this totally classic io9 article from a few years back about 12 Aliens That Were Supposed To Be Cute But Are Actually Creepy and see if you agree with their choices.