Director Deep Dive: Steven Spielberg

Today, across many countries including the US, Canada and the UK is Father’s Day. So I thought what better time to stop and celebrate the Father of modern cinema - Steven Spielberg. 

Spielberg is most likely the one director that if you stopped people in the street, they would be able to tell you at least one of his films and that pretty much everyone in the world has seen one of them. 

He is a multi-Academy Award winning director for ‘Schindler’s List’ and ‘Saving Private Ryan’ as well as an Academy Award producer for ‘Schindler’s List’. 

Incredibly, he has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director in every decade from the 1970s through to the 2020s showing his longevity and ability to craft beautiful movies. 

In addition to this, at the time of their release, Spielberg set the global box office record three times for highest grossing film of all time: Jaws (1975), E.T. (1982) and Jurassic Park (1993). 

He currently stands as the highest grossing director at the global box office of all time with his films having made over $10.7b. He might end up losing that record in December to another legend, James Cameron, but with a film coming out in 2026 which returns Spielberg to the Science Fiction genre, it likely wouldn’t be long before he returns to the summit where he belongs. 

So, let’s count down my Top 10 Spielberg films. These might not be his most critically acclaimed or even his most financially successful but these are just my personal favourites. 

Let me know what yours are! 

10. War of the Worlds (2005)

Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 76%

IMDb: 6.6

Budget: $132m

Box Office: $603.873m

Including this one at #10 feels a bit controversial. This science-fiction thriller film, based on H.G. Wells’ novel, ‘The War of the Worlds’, starred Tom Cruise in the main role as tried to look after and protect his children when extraterrestrials invade Earth. 

The film was largely well received, with praise being given for the production and modernisation of the novel it was based upon. 

Apparently, Spielberg was incredibly secretive on set so as to not give anything away and have spoilers emerge. Spielberg also didn’t give the full screenplay to anybody. 

9. Ready Player One (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 71%

IMDb: 7.4

Budget: $175m

Box Office: $607.874m

Spielberg’s most recent ‘blockbuster’ was released in 2018 and was based upon Ernest Cline’s well known novel of the same name. 

For me, this was a real throwback to Spielberg of the 80s and what made it feel even more like this was the homage to popular culture from different periods including the 1980s.

The thing that I enjoy about this one was it felt like that Spielberg was having fun making it and showcasing everything he has learnt with the big budget blockbuster over 4 decades. 

There is currently a sequel in development, ‘Ready Player Two’, but unfortunately Spielberg will only produce and not direct. 

8. Schindler’s List (1993)

Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 98%

IMDb: 9.0

Budget: $22m

Box Office: $322.161m

To many this is Spielberg’s masterpiece. His first Academy Award win for Directing and lots of other awards. Just look at that critics score and IMDb score. In fact, it’s the #7 movie of all time according to the rankings on IMDb. 

This film is beautifully made from start to finish. The fact that in the same year, Spielberg put out a film like this and also Jurassic Park is incredible. 

My justification for it being so low on my list is the rewatch ability - something that is less important when formally reviewing - but crucial for a “popcorn movie”. It’s hardly likely you’d be hurrying to rewatch on a Friday evening - regardless of its quality. 

Amazing craft and an absolutely brilliant movie - just not quite a popcorn movie. 

7. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 99%

IMDb: 7.9

Budget: $10.5m

Box Office: $797.307m

Look at the budget cost and the total box office it made. Incredible. This was Spielberg on a run and dominating the box office. 

This was a film that almost created the “Amblin” movie. Amblin being the production company created by Spielberg. When you watch current shows like “Stranger Things” which pay homage to the era, it feels like it is taking direct inspiration from films such as E.T.  

This film captures the essence of childhood and the time. It’s a time capsule in a way. 

This was a personal project for Spielberg, with the concept being based on an imaginary friend that Spielberg created following his parents’ divorce. 

The fact that many Universal theme parks around the world still have this ride shows the enduring love for this film. 

6. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 84%

IMDb: 8.2

Budget: $48m

Box Office: $474.172m

For a lot of people, this is where the Indiana Jones franchise ended. I was not a fan of #4 but did rather enjoy ‘Dial of Destiny’ - though that was not directed by Spielberg 

Taking a more light-hearted approach following ‘The Temple of Doom’, the film returned to what many enjoyed about ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’. 

 I enjoyed the spectacles and some of the action scenes are fantastic and this acts as a brilliant trilogy capper. 

5. Jaws (1975)

Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 97%

IMDb: 8.1

Budget: $7m

Box Office: $477.917m

Spielberg’s breakthrough in 1975 is still as good today as it was then. The film that made people afraid of going to the beach in case of shark attacks, this film has stayed popular with audiences and became the first modern blockbuster spawning several (less than stellar) sequels. 

This film was the first film to be film on the ocean and despite the titular character being an ominous presence thought, Spielberg consciously chose to show it as little as possible. This film became the highest grossing film of all time but only held it for a couple of years. 

You can still find a theme park based off this movie at Universal Studios Japan - that’s longevity. 

4. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 77%

IMDb: 7.5

Budget: $28m

Box Office: $333.107m

Whilst a sequel to ‘Raiders’, this film also acts a prequel due to the desire to not feature the Nazis again. 

The film drew criticism from many due to the strong violence and darker story elements. Personally, the reason that this comes higher up for me is the darker story elements. Its pacing is breathless from start to finish with great spectacles.

Modern audiences have considered this film to better than initial critical reception despite additional controversies of the portrayal of India. Credit should go for not trying to simply redo what came before it because it was popular. 

3. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 94%

IMDb: 8.4

Budget: $18m

Box Office: $389.926m

My wife’s favourite of the Spielberg films is the first (and best) Indiana Jones adventure. 

Whilst ‘Jaws’ was perhaps the first modern blockbuster, ‘Raiders’ was a globetrotting adventure set during WWII and the template to this film has been copied over and over again by studios trying to replicate success. 

This film and therefore series owes its success in part to James Bond. Spielberg loves the franchise and wanted to make his own Bond movie. George Lucas whose production company, Lucasfilm, produced the film encouraged Spielberg to make his own film with a new character. 

The rest as they say is history. 

2. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 94%

IMDb: 8.6

Budget: $70m

Box Office: $482.352m

Spielberg’s second and currently his most recent Academy Award for Best Director. This WWII action epic, elevates a war story to another level.

This film often features on the Top 10 lists of critics for war films and it’s not hard to see why. Its portrayal of combat was praised by critics and WII veterans have described the scenes as the most realistic portrayal of their own experiences and some said they had been unable to watch because of it. 

As is often the case with Spielberg setting trends, this was again an example. This film reignited interest in WWII and led to other films and shows being made. Other well known directors such as Tarantino and Nolan have cited ‘Saving Private Ryan’ as an influence on their work. Without this film we may not have had ‘Inglorious Basterds’ or ‘Dunkirk’. That alone is worthy of a #2 spot here!

1. Jurassic Park (1993)

Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 91%

IMDb: 8.2

Budget: $63m

Box Office: $1,104.380m

For me quite easily not just Spielberg’s best film, but one of the best films of all time. One of the best examples of critical and commercial success. 

Based upon the book written by ‘Michael Crichton’, this film imagines what would happen if a theme park was made with cloned dinosaurs. What could go wrong, right?!

This film has spawned 5 sequels with another coming out in a matter of weeks which will be written by the original screenwriter from this film. 

Whilst Spielberg got a lot out of his cast with his brilliant directing, this film is elevated to another level from the special effects and the music from John Williams. 

None of the sequels have ever come close to this, probably never will, though I do have a soft spot for ‘The Lost World’ (1997) and ‘Jurassic World’ (2015).