Video Interview with the LA Times: How much was 'Super 8' influenced by 1980's films?
From the L.A. Times:
As 15-year-old Joel Courtney, who has the largest role of any teen in the film, came to understand it: "‘E.T.’ kind of brings a little bit of sci-fi to it. ‘Goonies’ brings that group of kids to it. And ‘Jaws’ and ‘Jurassic Park’ brings that terror to it."