Top 10 Steven Spielberg Movies of All Time
It’s a name that, even if you rarely go to the cinema, you’ll instantly recognise. Steven Spielberg is, without a doubt, one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. Under his inspired direction, some of the greatest films of the 20th and 21st centuries lit up cinema screens, establishing this visionary director as a true Hollywood great.
Born in 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Spielberg had an upbringing that embraced the family’s Jewish Ukrainian roots. At an early age, he developed a passion for filmmaking, creating his first feature-length film at just 16. His love of movies led him to study film at California State College, Long Beach (now California State University.) But studying wasn’t enough for Spielberg, who couldn’t wait to drop out of college and dive straight into the industry, directing TV shows.
The rest, as they say, is history, with a catalogue of blockbuster films, innovative storytelling, and a uniquely detailed approach to the art of filmmaking that created masterpiece after masterpiece. Let’s take a look at the ten greatest Steven Spielberg movies of all time.
Jaws (1975): The Movie That Created the Summer Blockbuster
No Steven Spielberg filmography is complete without the ultimate summer blockbuster, Jaws. This epic flick went beyond the usual mindless monster intent on wreaking havoc, instead giving the huge great white shark real menace by affording it a degree of intelligence. After beachgoers start getting chomped and a young boy is killed at Amity Island, a bounty is placed on the shark’s head by the distraught mother. Quint, a local fisherman, offers to hunt down the shark for a fee. With police chief Brody and marine biologist Matt Hooper, they set off to take on the ocean’s greatest predator. However, to quote a famous line from the film, they’re ‘gonna need a bigger boat’ as the shark begins to hunt them instead. Starring Roy Scheider as Brody, Robert Shaw as Quint, and Richard Dreyfuss as Hooper.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): The Birth of Indiana Jones
From the moment that famous theme tune kicks in, you know you're in for a rip-roaring adventure. Non-stop action, exceptional special effects that were to become a signature of a great Spielberg film, and stunning performances from leading man Harrison Ford, Raiders of the Lost Ark has everything you could wish for in a fantasy adventure. Spielberg’s skill as a storyteller is the key that prevents the film from becoming just another adventure flick. There’s real depth to the characters, hints at back-stories that give them a much more three-dimensional screen presence, and some superb dialogue. Starring Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, Karen Allen as Marion, and Paul Freeman as Belloq.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982): A Timeless Family Classic
A true family favourite, still as heartwarming and fresh as when it first came out, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was an instant success from the start. Sweet but never saccharine, it’s a genuinely warm tale of the relationship between a gentle being from outer space and the children who find and befriend him when his ship crashes. Spielberg’s trick was to shoot the film in chronological order, allowing the young actors to build a genuine rapport with the animatronic/puppet alien. A must-watch, especially if you have young children, and worthy of the four Oscars and countless other awards it won. Starring Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote.
Jurassic Park (1993): Revolutionising Visual Effects in Cinema
Mix dinosaurs, incredible visual effects, more dinosaurs, and some great storytelling, and you have one of the most successful films of all time, Jurassic Park. Playing ‘god’ with dinosaur DNA was bound to go badly wrong, especially when nature throws in an electrical storm that destroys the compound’s security fences, releasing Velociraptors and a T. rex. The tension piles on at every junction, the adventure levels are cranked up to 11, and the visual effects revolutionised cinematography in a single movie. It’s no wonder the franchise was one of Spielberg’s most profitable.
Schindler’s List (1993): Spielberg’s Most Powerful Historical Drama
A truly incredible true story of bravery in the face of terrifying danger, Schindler’s List is quite possibly Spielberg’s greatest achievement. Winning seven Oscars and widely regarded as one of the finest films of all time, it’s the remarkable tale of industrialist Oskar Schindler’s attempts to save as many of his workforce from persecution as he can. Shot in black and white to create a sense of realism and authenticity, its iconic little girl in the red coat is loaded with symbolism. Starring Liam Neeson as Schindler, Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth, and Ben Kingsley as Itzhak Stern.
Saving Private Ryan (1998): Redefining the Modern War Film
Saving Private Ryan is yet another epic film that redefined an entire genre. After the Normandy Landings of WWII, a group of soldiers travel deep behind enemy lines to rescue a paratrooper. The sheer scale of the backdrop makes the rescue of a single soldier all the more poignant, and the cast does justice to the heroism of ordinary soldiers in what was some of the most ferocious fighting of the entire conflict. Starring Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, and Edward Burns.
Catch Me If You Can (2002): A Masterclass in Storytelling and Performance
Slick, chic, and with a mesmerising performance by Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead as Frank Abagnale Jr., this true story is a masterclass in storytelling. 19-year-old Frank cons the American airline Pan Am and others out of millions of dollars by posing as a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer. The chase is on, and Frank is relentlessly pursued by FBI Agent Carl Hanratty, who is determined to stop Frank’s Walter Mitty-like lifestyle. A genuinely engaging and entertaining film with a cast that includes Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen.
Lincoln (2012): Bringing American History to Life
A towering, Oscar-winning performance by Daniel Day-Lewis and a script that rewrote the book on how to present history to the masses make this historic drama a true tour de force of cinematography. Based on the life of one of America’s greatest presidents, it documents one of the most turbulent times in the country’s history and the demise of slavery. Lincoln doesn’t pull any punches, showing both the president’s strengths and weaknesses in detail. Also starring Sally Field, David Strathairn, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Bridge of Spies (2015): A Cold War classic
Cold War dramas often feel a little dry and ponderous. Not so Bridge of Spies, a film that ramps up the tension to breaking point. An American lawyer has to defend a Soviet spy sent to trial, and then has to facilitate an exchange for a captured US pilot. Invariably, things don’t go according to plan. Starring Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance.
The Color Purple (1985): A tale spanning 40 years
Spielberg never worries about tackling the ‘big’ issues, and The Color Purple is about as big as it gets. Charting four decades in the life of Celie, a young black girl growing up in the early 20th century, it’s a journey through a tough life in the deep South. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning story by Alice Walker, it features a mesmerising performance by Whoopi Goldberg as Celie, with support from Oprah Winfrey as Sofia, Danny Glover as Albert, and Margaret Avery as Shug Avery.
Why Steven Spielberg Remains One of the Greatest Directors of All Time
We could have added so many other films to this list, from Close Encounters of the Third Kind to Minority Report, The Fabelmans, Empire of the Sun, and the film that started it all, the chillingly terrifying Duel. That’s one of the things that makes Steven Spielberg one of the greatest directors of all time – the sheer range and diversity of his catalogue.
His role as one of the finest Hollywood directors has inspired countless others to follow in his footsteps. The film industry would not be nearly as rich or as varied as it is today without his influence. Check out showings of Steven Spielberg classics, as well as his latest film, Disclosure Day, showing soon at a VOX Cinemas near you.
Click the link and grab latest movie tickets & check our movie ticket offers to enjoy VOX Cinemas. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up to date on the latest movie news and check back here for more VOX Voice articles.