Steven Spielberg has captured the true wonder of film-making with countless classics, spanning decades. He invented the blockbuster, and his partnership with John Williams has generated overwhelmingly iconic work. Spielberg has influenced innumerable aspiring artists to pursue film-making, in various aspects. Critics have not always been kind to Spielberg’s sentimentality or mass appeal. But these ingredients can help audiences better digest some thematically rich and visually arresting stories. And Spielberg has proven his range many times over, from sci-fi to horror, and intimate drama to serial adventure. Each of them features everyday people, or at least humanizes extraordinary characters. Spielberg’s filmography includes some of the greatest films ever made—and here’s how IMDb users ranked the top ten.
The Color Purple
Alice Walker’s source material is a profound, deeply moving story full of very intimate and controversial ingredients. And unfortunately, critics have rather contested Spielberg’s more reserved approach to it. However, the film still does not shy away from the poignancy of conversations about race and brutality. Oprah Winfrey provides a shockingly moving performance, which far exceeds the expectations of your typical talk show host. The same goes for Whoopi Goldberg, a talented comedian. But the entire cast is bolstered by one of Spielberg’s most blunt stories. Not one ounce of drama dips into melodrama. The sensitive subject matter is handled with deft skill from someone who was only known for genre films. It is a haunting, ingenious human story.
Empire Of The Sun
It’s hard to imagine something more up Spielberg’s alley than exploring World War II through the eyes of a child. The very young Christian Bale turns in an absolutely powerhouse performance. He plays Jamie, a spoiled, rich boy who is separated from his parents and ends up a prisoner of war. It couldn’t be more fitting to emphasize lost innocence than to begin with a boy that has everything. Jamie gradually becomes hardened by his adversity, and the transformation is surprisingly nuanced. More so than many of Spielberg’s other war films, which are much more thematically blunt. It’s absolutely fascinating the way this film examines the collateral and aftermath of war, rather than direct involvement.
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
This was one of the most significant films of the eighties, capturing the essence of childhood wonder. A friendly, mystical alien befriends a young boy whose father has abandoned the family in suburbia. That drama, which grounds the film at times, is clearly a personal touch and feels very sincere. The friendship between E.T. and Elliot, sharing letters by no coincidence, is genuinely touching and develops organically. And much like Super 8, the film is about Elliot learning to both open up again, and let go. The film is more about magic than science-fiction, but remains effective on both accounts. The film is ultimately innocent, funny, and charming.
Jaws
Jaws is the only outright horror film Spielberg has directed, and it’s a classic, flawless film. The origin of blockbusters, it’s about a uniquely sturdy family in Spielberg canon. They’ve moved to a small island town, which is promptly terrorized by a great white shark. It’s a simple premise, but the entire film is decidedly grounded in reality, which really raises the stakes. The pacing is effectively methodical, the violence is unapologetic, and the threat is smartly hidden until the thrilling climax. Roy Scheider’s Brody, a police officer, has fled the city and must contend with extreme violence anyways. He also must confront his fear of the water, and responsibilities as a lawman. The shark is uniquely powerful, reinforcing that nature is unpredictable and uncontrollable. There are also intriguing, albeit surface-level themes regarding bureaucracy and class division.
Catch Me If You Can
Most Spielberg stories are about broken families, adventure, or war. Perhaps some combination of those elements. This film is no exception, although it’s a truly striking biography. Frank, a teenage boy, discovers that his parents are separating and runs away in a panic. Frank’s profound wit allows him to commit a number of crimes in order to survive and restore his father’s wealth. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks deliver terrific performances, on either side of the chess board. Their clever maneuvers add great intrigue to an already gripping true story, with a pretty unique score by John Williams. It’s a chase movie throughout, filled with intelligent true crime. What could be more addicting?
Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park is a structurally robust, inventive sci-fi adventure with groundbreaking CGI and lovable characters. With the input of Michael Crichton, who penned the scientifically dense source material, plausibility and commentary take the forefront. The film discusses human hubris and greed, as a result of corporate willpower. This is essentially an elaboration from its fascinating conversation about the ethics of scientific progression. It also revisits themes from Jaws, about the power of nature and its unforgiving purity. However, the movie still delivers extraordinary thrills, utilizing Hitchcockian suspense while reigning back on the novel’s academically informed gore. The film wields superb effects, timeless comedy, a perfect score, interesting theories, and moral arguments. Alongside dexterous direction, this is one of the best films ever made.
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade
With a single character, Spielberg ensured that his beloved classic serials would endure forever. Indiana Jones is one of the most iconic heroes of all time, with equally super-heroic ability and every-man flaws. Nothing comes easy to Jones, whose adventures frequently subvert expectations, and boast some of the best action on film. And although his journey often involves fantastical artifacts, the stories are grounded in relationships. In this case, it’s Indy’s strained reunion with his father, expertly played by Sean Connery. There’s more comedy and action-per-minute in this film than any other Indiana Jones installment. Fans receive both the perfect origin, and the perfect send-off for this classic character at once.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
This was the film that started it all, with Indiana Jones pursuing his first mystical artifact. It establishes all of the staples of the series, and focuses on his relationship with Marion. Karen Allen does a terrific job of portraying a feisty, likable hero of her own. Marion’s romance with Jones is both playfully corny and full of sincere chemistry at once. The action is absolutely breathtaking, and creative, bolstered by an intriguing mystery and clear motivations. John Williams’ score is profoundly glorious, as usual. Also, the comedy perfectly walks the line of charming goofiness, without falling into embarrassing cartoonishness.
Saving Private Ryan
This was a truly striking war film with brutally realistic violence and strong sentimentality. The immersive camerawork, with intentional grain, establishes a faux-documentary style that’s really effective. The action meticulously captures both the excitement and tragedy of every battle. But the film also takes plenty of time to breathe, and reflect on the effects of wartime. The movie wears its drama on its sleeve, but remains compelling nonetheless. The cast is an incredible ensemble, who sell nuanced performances. Spielberg’s passion for accuracy, regarding the nature of war and its cost, radiates from every scene.
Schindler's List
This is one of the most distinctly personal, poignant movies ever made. It’s a delicate subject matter, and this film handles it tastefully while delivering extraordinarily moving drama. It is an artistic triumph, utilizing the truest power of cinema to examine one of humanity’s darkest chapters. Every performance is superb, and every horror is captured with the utmost honesty. The film is extraordinarily explicit, regarding both nudity and violence. The music is absolutely heartbreaking, and the absence of color was plainly a perfect decision. This film is a necessary, repulsive mirror. Humanity perpetually struggles to overcome cruelty. Empathy and mercy are easily mocked, absolutely crucial pieces of the human condition that must be learned.