Arguably one of the greatest American directors of all time, Steven Spielberg’s vast filmography has something to offer to all age groups. For instance, in the genre of sci-fi, E.T. and Jurassic Park provide family-friendly entertainment while his other ventures like Minority Report and A.I. offer a more philosophical take on the genre’s tropes.

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Similarly, his biopics range from the heart-breaking Schindler’s List to the heart-warming The Terminal. Apart from kicking off the Jurassic Park franchise, Spielberg has also directed every entry in the Indiana Jones series that revitalized a cinematic interest in adventure films. With his most recent film being the ambitious sci-fi/gaming film Ready Player One, Spielberg has proven that he hasn’t lost his golden touch.

Hacksaw Ridge (2016) - HBO Max

Desmond Doss carries a wounded soldier in Hacksaw Ridge

While many other World War 2 epics have surfaced since Saving Private Ryan (including the likes of 1917 and Dunkirk), Hacksaw Ridge is a lesser appreciated gem. It can’t be compared to Spielberg’s ambitious classic but still stands on its own with the touching story of Desmond T Doss, a pacifist soldier who doesn’t bear any arms but still manages to save hordes of injured soldiers.

With enough gritty action and a moving performance by Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge is a worthy R-rated war drama.

Raiders! The Story Of The Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015) - Apple + TV (Rent)

Raiders! The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made poster

This documentary's premise is evident from its title itself. Stunned by the technical brilliance of Raiders of the Lost Ark and charmed by Indiana Jones' bravado, a group of school friends tried to act out a shot-for-shot remake of the Spielberg adventure flick. Having no monetary interests, the children engaged themselves in this passion project, complete with firework explosions and self-made costumes.

Even though they managed to shoot the entire film, the crucial final scene could never see the light of the day. 25 years later, the friends reunite and decide to complete their fan film. The film is a testament to not just Spielberg's prowess to impress audiences but it also serves as a love letter to one's childhood.

Spielberg (2017) - HBO Max

Poster for Spielberg (2017) featuring a young Steven Spielberg

Featuring Steven Spielberg's friends, and family, the HBO documentary Spielberg is a comprehensive look at the maestro's rise to fame and his visionary filmography. The documentary might not be the rawest and personal look into his life but it definitely does offer a lot of insight into the behind-the-scenes work that went into his iconic movies, thanks to archival footage and interviews with his creative collaborators.

If anything, it's a love letter to his continuing legacy; a must-watch for diehard Spielberg fans.

The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951) - Hoopla

Gort the Robot from The Day The Earth Stood Still

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Close Encounters Of The Third Kind both showed viewers how extraterrestrial creatures might not always be violent Martians pulled out of an HG Wells novel. Both of these sci-fi classics revealed the possibility of advanced sentient beings that might want to help humanity if given a chance.

The 1951 black-and-white classic The Day The Earth Stood Still was ahead of its time in exploring the notions of a futuristic reality in which aliens and humans can live in mutual coexistence. Instead of relying on any freakish aliens, the film points fingers at world leaders and their obsession with nuclear power as the actual threat to humanity.

The Vast Of Night (2020) - Amazon Prime Video

Jake Horowitz and Sierra McCormick at a radio station in The Vast of Night

Similar in style to other modern takes on 80s sci-fi like Stranger Things and Super 8 (which Spielberg himself produced), The Vast Of Night heavily relies on the 'retro' aspects of the genre. Faithfully recreating radio communication and a Cold War-era fascination with outer space, the movie plays out like an episode of an anthology show reminiscent The Twilight Zone.

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Rather than relying on any typical thrills and scares, The Vast of Night has a more grounded approach as it details one night in a sleepy town in the course of which two teenagers tend to pick up extraterrestrial radio signals. The entire film then builds up suspense around the same, emphasizing the mystery rather than the action.

Paul (2011) - Apple + TV (Rent)

Simon Pegg and an alien screaming in Paul

Subverting the 'friendly alien' trope from E.T., Paul is a raunchy and hilarious ride of a film starring Seth Rogen as the voice of an alien who just wants to get back to his spaceship. However, unlike the titular character E.T., Paul is a foul-mouthed, alcoholic creature who chances upon two hopeless comic-book geeks (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) traveling to Area 51.

Befriending Paul puts them in trouble as federal agents wish to use the alien for their own intentions. A road film, a buddy comedy, a meta sci-fi satire, Paul is many things at once and yet isn't messy. In fact, writers Pegg and Frost also confessed that the film serves as a homage to the work of Spielberg.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - HBO Max

David Bowman piloting the ship in his spacesuit in 2001: A Space Odyssey 1968

A groundbreaking sci-fi epic, 2001's influence can be felt in the work of all genre auteurs like Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan. Divided into several segments, the film can be revisited by modern audiences every now and then to analyze its underlying philosophy around robotics, human solitude, and space travel. In terms of its psychedelic visual effects and sharp production design, this Stanley Kubrick classic again stands the test of time.

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Kubrick was always regarded highly by Spielberg who went on to complete the former's unfinished project A.I. Artificial Intelligence. One of the most prominent things in common between the two is that both tried experimenting with all sorts of genres.

Grave Of The Fireflies (1988) - Hulu

Seita and Setsuko sit side by side in Grave of the Fireflies

Survival serves as a key theme in many of Spielberg's wartime films, like War Horse, Saving Private Ryan, and Empire of the Sun. The latter, featuring a pre-pubescent Christian Bale, is the story of a young boy surviving the onslaught of the Second World War in China.

A similar story of survival and coming-of-age is present in the Studio Ghibli classic Grave of the Fireflies. As bombings ravage Japan, a young soldier and his younger sister brave the brutalities of war to stay alive. Despite seeming like a children's animated film, this Japanese film is an intensely emotional tale on the destruction and human cost of war.

Unhinged (2020) - Amazon Prime Video

Russell Crowe Reflection in Unhinged

Amongst all his box-office hits and Oscar-winning films, people often tend to forget Spielberg's debut film Duel. The film finds an unnamed truck driver aggressively pursuing a businessman just because the latter overtook him on the road. A masterclass in low-budget filmmaking, Duel can still be viewed as an entertaining action thriller.

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While the Russell Crowe-starred Unhinged might seem to be quite formulaic for some, it follows a similar premise as Spielberg's movie Duel with Crowe taking the front seat as the antagonistic driver as he chases a woman in a high-pursuit car chase. Unhinged benefits greatly from its lead performance and it's quite intimidating in parts.

Lawrence Of Arabia (1962) - Apple + TV (Rent)

Peter O'Toole in Lawrence of Arabia

Steven Spielberg has never shied away from his admiration for David Lean's magnum opus, Lawrence of Arabia. A biopic on Thomas Edward Lawrence (played by Peter O'Toole), the historical drama is set in the First World War. Lawrence is a British army officer who played a major role in the so-called 'Arab Revolt' against the Ottoman empire.

The film starts off with Lawrence's experiences in befriending the Arabs for his mission. This friendship remains so influential in his life that he ends up accepting their culture and living in the desert. Majestic action sequences follow as the protagonist occasionally questions his own identity. While some of the casting choices might not age well today, the film is still an engaging character study.

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