The Best Steven Spielberg Movies

While making some of the best movies of his career, Spielberg also directed this infamous box office blunder. It puts a comedic spin on American paranoia circa WWII, as a California town descends into madness after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

This blockbuster sequel follows a similar template as its predecessor but fails to conjure the same movie magic. The story follows a research team back to the titular theme park, where hordes of deadly dinosaurs are unleashed once again. It all builds toward a bonkers ending ripped straight out of the Godzilla” franchise.

Spielberg’s adaptation of a classic fantasy tale rolled out to high expectations and respectable box office numbers, but disappointed nevertheless. Robin Williams plays a grown-up version of Peter Pan, who returns to Neverland for another showdown with Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman). Critic Gene Siskel called it “a woefully uneven retelling of the ‘Peter Pan’ story.”

Based on H.G. Wells’ novel of the same name, this sci-fi disaster flick takes place during a hostile alien invasion. What begins as a normal day for everyman Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) becomes a harrowing fight for survival across perilous terrain. Reportedly shot on a budget of $132 million, it made over $600 million at the worldwide box office.

This romantic fantasy film stars Richard Dreyfuss as a firefighting pilot, who dies on his final mission and returns as a ghost. It updates the 1943 WWII drama “A Guy Named Joe,” restaging the story in a modern setting. Critic Roger Ebert called it a curiosity, “a remake that wasn’t remade enough.”

This latter-day installment of the popular Indiana Jones franchise was released 19 years after its acclaimed predecessor. Harrison Ford once again plays the titular archaeologist, this time squaring off against KGB agents while searching for alien artifacts. The upcoming “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is the first film in the series not directed by Spielberg.

Spielberg’s team employed a mix of live-action and motion-capture technology when bringing this fantasy adventure to life. It culls from Roald Dahl’s classic novel of the same name, which chronicles the friendship between an orphan girl and massive giant. Against a reported budget of $140 million, it made just $55.5 million at the domestic box office.

Tom Hanks plays Eastern European tourist Viktor Navorski in this feel-good dramedy, loosely based on actual events. Caught in the middle of a diplomatic nightmare, Navorski takes up a long-term residence in JFK airport. The real-life figure who inspired the story spent 18 years at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, dying there in 2022.

Director Stanley Kubrick spent years developing this sci-fi drama before handing over the reins to Spielberg shortly before he passed away. Set in the 22nd century, it follows a young robotic boy (Haley Joel Osment) as he tries to find his place in the world. “If only it knew when to stop,” wrote Time Out critic Geoff Andrew in reference to the film’s protracted ending.

Spielberg’s big-screen directorial debut takes inspiration from real events and falls into the counterculture road trip subgenre. Upon his escape from prison, a convict and his wife (Goldie Hawn) attempt to retrieve their son from the state of Texas. Their subsequent adventure involves kidnapping a police officer and drawing massive media attention.

This WWI drama follows the parallel exploits of a young soldier and his courageous horse. While impressed with the film’s sense of realism, many critics also found it a bit too cloying and sentimental. Over 100 horses were used during production.

Spielberg acquired the rights to “The Adventures of Tintin” comic book series as early as 1981 and spent decades developing the project. Featuring a unique style of photoreal animation, it became the first non-Pixar title to win the Golden Globe for Best Animated Film. Follow the title character as he overcomes various obstacles in his search for hidden treasure.

A bestselling sci-fi novel laid the groundwork for this blockbuster adaptation, which takes place in 2045. To escape his dystopian reality, a teenage boy (Tye Sheridan) enters a virtual world and embarks on a life-changing quest. The film respectively uses live-action and motion capture technology to distinguish between its two planes of existence.

Based on a true story, this historical drama depicts a violent revolt aboard a slave ship and the important trial that followed. Based on a 1987 book, it features a star-studded ensemble cast. Writing for the New York Review of Books, critic Eric L. McKitrick called it “a film of considerable power.”

In the mold of classic political thrillers such as “All the President’s Men” comes this historical drama about the Pentagon Papers. It takes viewers behind the scenes of the Washington Post as various figures grapple with a government cover-up. Spielberg called it a “timely story to tell” in a 2018 interview with the Long Island Pulse.

Some argue that this gripping historical thriller ranks among Spielberg’s most underrated efforts. It takes place during and after the political murder of 11 Israeli athletes in 1972, chronicling the attempt to track down and kill those responsible. Frequent Spielberg collaborator Tony Kushner co-wrote the screenplay.

This divisive sequel took the franchise to some much darker places and prompted the creation of the PG-13 rating. Tasked with retrieving a precious stone, Indiana Jones journeys to a dangerous temple filled with booby traps. In early versions of the story, co-creator George Lucas envisioned wild set pieces such as a hidden valley full of dinosaurs.

Daniel Day-Lewis went deep into character for the role of Abraham Lincoln in this understated historical drama. As the Civil War draws to a close, the president must strategically pass the Thirteenth Amendment and thus preserve the abolishment of slavery. It won two Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Day-Lewis.

Spielberg’s artistic hero David Lean was originally attached to direct this WWII drama, based on J.G. Ballard’s autobiographical novel. It stars Christian Bale as a young boy living in China, whose privileged life is uprooted by the Japanese occupation. A commercial disappointment upon release, the film has earned a loyal following over time.

This sci-fi adventure, loosely adapted from a short story by PKD, takes place in the year 2054. With help from three clairvoyant beings, police officer John Anderton (Tom Cruise) is able to stop crimes before they occur. When Anderton himself is accused of murder, he must solve the mystery of his own future actions.

This TV movie first aired on ABC and quickly distinguished Spielberg as a major directorial talent. While driving through the desert on his way to an appointment, a businessman becomes the target of a maniacal truck driver. It went on to inspire popular thrillers such as 1997’s “Breakdown” and 2001’s “Joy Ride.”

An imaginary friend from Spielberg’s youth inspired this timeless classic, in which a friendly alien and young boy (Henry Thomas) forge a symbiotic bond. The story unfolds against a suburban backdrop and uses clever shots to impart a child’s point of view. When adjusted for inflation, this is one of the highest-grossing movies of all time.

Based on Alice Walker’s award-winning novel, this adult period drama introduced the mature side of Spielberg’s direction. It opens in the early 1900s and spends decades in the life of a Southern Black woman (Whoopi Goldberg) as she struggles against poverty and racism. A talented ensemble cast delivers top-notch performances.

11. The Fabelmans (2022)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (29,228 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (1,000 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (296 reviews)
> Starring: Michelle Williams, Gabriel LaBelle, Paul Dano

Spielberg’s latest offering tells his own semi-autobiographical story, with Gabriel LaBelle starring as the director’s alter-ego. A coming-of-age period drama, it’s also a love letter to the magic of cinema itself. Writing for The Australian, critic David Stratton called it “an affectionate and insightful peep into the inspiration and obsessions of a young filmmaker.”

The Coen Brothers co-wrote the script for this atmospheric thriller, based on the true story of lawyer James Donovan (played by Tom Hanks). Amidst fraught Cold War tensions, Donovan must oversee a prisoner exchange between America and the Soviet Union. Co-star Mark Rylance won an Academy Award for the supporting role of KGB spy Rudolf Abel.

Spielberg drew upon his own previous short film and previous short story when crafting this blockbuster passion project. It stars Richard Dreyfuss as an electric lineman, whose life is changed by a series of UFO sightings and alien encounters. Legendary cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond won the film’s sole Academy Award.

Spielberg was 10 years old when he first fell in love with the Broadway musical that inspired a 1961 film adaptation as well as this recent remake. A reimagining of “Romeo and Juliet,” it chronicles the romance between two youths (Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler) on opposite sides of a gang war. Ariana DeBose won an Academy Award for her supporting performance as Anita.

This epic adventure made groundbreaking use of CGI technology and broke box office records during its theatrical run. It welcomes viewers to Jurassic Park, where advanced cloning techniques have brought dinosaurs back into existence. Mayhem ensues both here and in the multiple franchise installments that followed.

Spielberg brought the Indiana Jones film series back to basics with this third entry, in which the titular hero teams up with his estranged father (Sean Connery). Evading ruthless Nazis and other obstacles, the pair embark on a quest for the mythic Holy Grail. It currently ranks #120 on IMDb’s list of the Top 250 Movies.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays real-life con artist Frank Abagnale Jr. and Tom Hanks the FBI agent on his trail in this thrilling period dramedy. Hopping from one outrageous scheme to the next, Abagnale Jr. takes on a variety of demanding professions. “This is the director’s most likeable film in ages,” wrote critic Geoff Andrew for Time Out.

The film that launched Spielberg’s A-list career also ushered in a new era for blockbuster movie-making. Terror visits a New England beach town in the form of a massive shark with an appetite for human flesh. Various production troubles made the film’s resounding success all the more miraculous.

This WWII drama opens with one of the most harrowing battle sequences in film history. That gives way to the story of eight U.S. soldiers, who must retrieve Private James Ryan (Matt Damon) from duty. Spielberg and star Tom Hanks would reunite for a number of projects, including the acclaimed miniseries “Band of Brothers” (which they co-created).

The movie that introduced audiences to Indiana Jones represented an early benchmark for the modern action genre. In his search for the Ark of the Covenant, the archaeology professor crosses paths with devious Nazis and an old flame (Karen Allen). This was the highest-grossing film of 1981.

Spielberg spent years developing this Holocaust drama and refused to take a salary for the job. Witness the true story of German industrialist Oskar Schindler (played by Liam Neeson), whose efforts saved over a thousand Jewish lives. It won seven Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture.