Top 10 Greatest Movies Directed by Steven Spielberg

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 American science fiction film directed and written by Steven Spielberg. It stars Richard Dreyfuss, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, Cary Guffey, and François Truffaut. The film follows Roy Neary, a blue-collar worker in Indiana, whose life takes a dramatic turn after an encounter with a UFO.

Spielberg had long dreamed of making this project. In late 1973, he signed with Columbia Pictures to develop a sci-fi movie. Although Spielberg only initially received credit for the screenplay, he was assisted by Paul Schrader, John Hill, David Giler, Hal Barwood, Matthew Robbins, and Jerry Belson, who each contributed to the script in various ways. The title of the movie is based on the classification system created by UFO researcher J. Allen Hynek, where the third kind refers to human observations of extraterrestrial beings or "living creatures." Douglas Trumbull supervised the film’s visual effects, while Carlo Rambaldi designed the alien creatures.

Made with a budget of $19.4 million, Close Encounters was first released in select cities on November 16 and 23, 1977, before expanding nationwide the following month. The film proved both a critical and commercial success, grossing over $300 million worldwide. It garnered numerous awards and nominations, including at the 50th Academy Awards, the 32nd BAFTA Awards, the 35th Golden Globe Awards, and the 5th Saturn Awards. It was also widely celebrated by the American Film Institute.

In December 2007, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the U.S. Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. A special edition of the movie, which included additional footage and new scenes, was released in theaters in 1980. Spielberg agreed to this version to add material that had been cut from the original release, including a controversial scene involving alien motherhood. Spielberg's dissatisfaction with the changed ending led to the release of the Director's Cut in 1998 on VHS and LaserDisc, which was later available on DVD and Blu-ray. The Director's Cut is the longest version of the film, combining elements from both previous versions while excluding the controversial alien maternity scene. The film was also remastered in 4K and re-released in theaters on September 1, 2017, to mark its 40th anniversary.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1977
Genre: Science Fiction
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon, François Truffaut, Bob Balaban
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

1941 is a 1979 American comedy directed by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. The film features an ensemble cast, including Dan Aykroyd, Ned Beatty, John Belushi, John Candy, Christopher Lee, Tim Matheson, Toshiro Mifune, Robert Stack, Nancy Allen, and Mickey Rourke in his film debut. The plot revolves around the chaos that unfolds in the Los Angeles area after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.

The story, co-written by Gale, draws inspiration from the so-called "Great Los Angeles Air Raid" of 1942 and the attack on the Ellwood oil refinery near Santa Barbara by a Japanese submarine. Several other real-life events are incorporated into the film, including the Zoot Suit Riots and an incident where the U.S. Army set up an anti-aircraft gun in a homeowner's yard in coastal Maine.

Despite 1941 not achieving the same critical or financial success as many of Spielberg's other films, it gained a cult following after a longer version was aired on ABC, followed by TV specials and home video releases that helped elevate its status.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1979
Genre: Comedy
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Dan Aykroyd, Ned Beatty, John Belushi, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton, Christopher Lee, Tim Matheson, Toshirō Mifune, John Candy, Warren Oates, Robert Stack, Treat Williams, Nancy Allen, Eddie Deezen, Bobby Di Cicco, Dianne Kay, Slim Pickens, Wendie Jo Sperber, Lionel Stander
IMDb Rating: 5.8/10

Raiders of the Lost Ark, also known as The Lost Ark, is a 1981 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The screenplay was penned by Lawrence Kasdan, based on a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. Produced by Frank Marshall for Lucasfilm Ltd., with Lucas and Howard Kazanjian serving as executive producers, the film was conceived from Lucas' desire to create a modern version of the adventure serials popular in the 1930s and 1940s.

As the first entry in the Indiana Jones franchise, the film stars Harrison Ford as the intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones, who must battle a Nazi faction while searching for the Lost Ark (also known as the Ark of the Covenant). The movie also features Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood, Indiana's former lover; Paul Freeman as René Belloq, Indiana's rival; John Rhys-Davies as Sallah, Indiana's ally; Ronald Lacey as the Nazi agent Arnold Toht; and Denholm Elliott as Marcus Brody, Indiana's colleague. The film was primarily shot at Elstree Studios in the UK, with additional filming in locations including La Rochelle, France, Tunisia, Hawaii, and California between June and September 1980.

Raiders of the Lost Ark grossed $389.9 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 1981, and it remains one of the highest-grossing films of all time when adjusted for inflation. It garnered eight Academy Award nominations in 1982, including Best Picture, and won in five categories: Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound Editing. It is often regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. In 1999, the film was preserved by the U.S. National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The film marked the beginning of the Indiana Jones franchise, which includes sequels, a prequel TV series (The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles), and various video games.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1981
Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (often simply referred to as E.T.) is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay written by Melissa Mathison. The film tells the heartwarming story of Elliott, a young boy who befriends an alien named E.T. who is stranded on Earth. Together with his friends and family, Elliott embarks on a mission to help E.T. find a way back home. The film stars Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton, and Drew Barrymore.

The idea for the film was inspired by a childhood imaginary friend Spielberg created after his parents' divorce. In 1980, Spielberg met with Mathison to develop a story based on an abandoned project, Night Skies. Within two months, Mathison completed the first draft of the script, originally titled E.T. and Me, which underwent two rewrites. The project was initially rejected by Columbia Pictures, who doubted its commercial potential. Eventually, Universal Pictures acquired the script for $1 million. Filming took place from September to December 1981 with a budget of $10.5 million. Unlike most films, E.T. was shot in chronological order to allow the young cast to deliver more emotional performances. The film's visual effects were created by Carlo Rambaldi.

E.T. premiered as the closing film of the Cannes Film Festival on May 26, 1982, and was released in the United States on June 11, 1982. It became an instant hit, surpassing Star Wars to become the highest-grossing film of all time, a record it held for eleven years until Spielberg's own Jurassic Park overtook it in 1993. E.T. was met with critical acclaim and is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. The film received nine Academy Award nominations in 1982, winning Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing. It also earned five Saturn Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. E.T. was re-released in 1985 and again in 2002 to celebrate its 20th anniversary, featuring updated footage, visual effects, and added scenes. A special IMAX re-release took place on August 12, 2022, to mark its 40th anniversary. In 1994, it was added to the U.S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1982
Genre: Science Fiction
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

Twilight Zone: The Movie is a 1983 American science fiction horror film produced by Steven Spielberg and John Landis. Based on the iconic 1959-1964 television series created by Rod Serling, the film features four segments directed by Landis, Spielberg, Joe Dante, and George Miller. Landis's segment is an original story crafted specifically for the movie, while the segments by Spielberg, Dante, and Miller are reimaginings of episodes from the original series. The ensemble cast includes Dan Aykroyd, Albert Brooks, Scatman Crothers, John Lithgow, Vic Morrow, and Kathleen Quinlan. Several original series cast members, including Burgess Meredith, Patricia Barry, and Kevin McCarthy, make cameo appearances, with Meredith narrating in the role of Serling.

The production of the film was marred by a tragic accident in which Vic Morrow and two child actors were killed during a helicopter crash while filming a stunt for Landis's segment. The deaths led to years of legal action, though no one was criminally charged. The incident resulted in stricter safety protocols and industry regulations. Upon release, the film garnered mixed reviews, with praise for Dante's and Miller's segments but criticism directed at Landis's and Spielberg's contributions. Despite the controversy and divided reception, it was a commercial success, grossing $42 million on a $10 million budget.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1983
Genre: Science Fiction Horror
Directors: Steven Spielberg, John Landis, Joe Dante, George Miller
Stars: Dan Aykroyd, Albert Brooks, Scatman Crothers, John Lithgow, Vic Morrow, Kathleen Quinlan
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is an action-packed adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. It serves as the second installment in the Indiana Jones franchise and a prequel to 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, starring Harrison Ford in the iconic role. Alongside Ford, the film features Kate Capshaw, Amrish Puri, Roshan Seth, Philip Stone, and Ke Huy Quan. The plot follows Indiana Jones as he arrives in India, where desperate villagers ask him to recover a mystical stone and rescue their children from a Thuggee cult practicing child slavery, black magic, and human sacrifices in honor of the goddess Kali.

In a departure from using Nazis as villains again, producer and story creator George Lucas opted to make this film a prequel. After rejecting several plot ideas, Lucas came up with a new direction, and Lawrence Kasdan, who had written Raiders, declined to return. Therefore, Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz, previous collaborators with Lucas on American Graffiti (1973), were brought in to write the script.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was released on May 23, 1984, and while it was a commercial success, it faced mixed initial reviews. Critics pointed out the film’s darker tone, graphic violence, and bloody scenes, as well as Capshaw’s performance as Willie Scott. However, over time, the film's intensity and imagination were better appreciated. In response to concerns about the level of violence and similar complaints about Gremlins, Spielberg urged the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to create a new rating, leading to the introduction of the PG-13 classification just two months after the film’s release. It earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score and won for Best Visual Effects. The franchise continued with the next installment, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, released in 1989.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1984
Genre: Action
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, Amrish Puri, Roshan Seth, Philip Stone, Ke Huy Quan
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

The Color Purple is a 1985 American epic drama directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel of the same name. Written by Menno Meyjes, this was Spielberg’s eighth film as a director, marking a turning point in his career as it led to his later blockbuster hits. It was also his first film not to feature music composed by John Williams; instead, the soundtrack was created by Quincy Jones, who also served as the producer. The film stars Whoopi Goldberg in her breakthrough role, along with Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey (in her acting debut), Margaret Avery, Rae Dawn Chong, Willard Pugh, and Adolph Caesar.

Set in the early 20th century, the story follows Celie Harris, a young African American woman, as she endures and overcomes severe hardship. The film addresses crucial issues faced by African American women during this time, including domestic violence, incest, sexual abuse, poverty, racism, and sexism. Filmed in Anson and Union counties, North Carolina, the movie was both a critical and financial success. With a production budget of just $15 million, it grossed $142 million at the box office.

While the film was lauded for its performances (especially Goldberg’s), direction, screenplay, music, and production values, it did face some criticism for being overly sentimental and stereotypical. Some NAACP chapters even boycotted the film due to its portrayal of rape. Nevertheless, it received 11 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Goldberg, Best Supporting Actress for both Avery and Winfrey, and Best Adapted Screenplay, though it won none. Spielberg also did not receive a nomination for Best Director. The film holds the record for the most Oscar nominations without a win, a distinction it shares with 1977’s *The Turning Point*. Additionally, it earned four Golden Globe nominations, with Goldberg winning Best Actress in a TV Movie or Miniseries. Spielberg also won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement and received a Golden Globe nomination. The film was later featured in Roger Ebert’s *The Great Movies* collection.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1985
Genre: Epic Drama
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Avery, Akosua Busia
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

Duel is a 1971 American made-for-TV thriller directed by Steven Spielberg. The film follows a businessman, played by Dennis Weaver, who is driving through California to meet a client. During his journey, he becomes terrorized by an ominous and nearly faceless truck driver. The screenplay, written by Richard Matheson, is based on his own short story of the same name.

Produced by Universal Television, *Duel* first aired as part of the ABC Movie of the Week on November 13, 1971. It was later released internationally in an extended version with additional scenes after its television premiere. The film received positive critical acclaim, particularly for Spielberg's direction, and has since been recognized as a classic thriller, widely regarded as one of the best TV movies ever made.

The plot centers on David Mann, a middle-aged salesman driving through the Mojave Desert, when he encounters a dilapidated oil truck moving slowly on the road. As Mann passes the truck, the driver speeds up, overtakes him, and then slows down again. When Mann attempts to pass the truck a second time, the truck honks its horn at him. After a brief stop at a gas station, Mann notices the truck parked beside him. He tries to call his wife, who is upset with him after a recent argument. The station attendant tells Mann that his car needs a new radiator, but Mann decides to ignore the repair for now.

Back on the road, the truck pursues Mann, blocking his attempts to overtake it. After several tense moments, the truck driver waves Mann past, causing him to narrowly avoid an oncoming vehicle. Mann eventually finds an unpaved detour and drives around the truck, but when he looks back, the truck is still following him. The driver accelerates and deliberately crashes into Mann's car, forcing him off the road and into a fence near a diner.

Later, Mann tries to assist a school bus that is stuck, but his front bumper becomes wedged under the bus's rear bumper. At that moment, the truck appears at the end of the tunnel, sending Mann into a panic. He and the bus driver manage to free the car, and Mann drives off, but the truck continues to pursue him. After a tense moment at a railway crossing, where the truck attempts to push Mann’s car into an oncoming freight train, Mann narrowly escapes by shifting into reverse and then speeding away. The truck driver remains relentless as Mann drives on, trying to evade him.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1971
Genre: Thriller, Action
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Dennis Weaver, Jacqueline Scott, Carey Loftin
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

The Sugarland Express is a 1974 American crime drama directed by Steven Spielberg in his feature film debut. The story follows a woman (Goldie Hawn) and her husband (William Atherton) as they take a Texas state trooper (Michael Sacks) hostage and embark on a desperate cross-country chase to recover their son before he's placed into foster care. Set partially in Sugar Land, Texas, the film also features scenes shot in San Antonio, Live Oak, Floresville, Pleasanton, Converse, and Del Rio, Texas.

This film marks the first collaboration between Spielberg and composer John Williams, who has since composed the score for nearly every Spielberg film. *The Sugarland Express* is the only Spielberg film scored by Williams that was never released as an album, although Williams later re-recorded the main theme with Toots Thielemans and the Boston Pops Orchestra for the *Spielberg/Williams Collaboration* album in 1991.

The plot begins with Lou Jean Poplin visiting her incarcerated husband, Clovis Michael Poplin, to inform him that their son is about to be placed in foster care. Although Clovis still has four months left in prison, Lou Jean convinces him to escape and help her retrieve their child. They hitch a ride from a couple, but when Texas Highway Patrol officer Maxwell Slide stops them, the pair seizes his vehicle and takes him hostage, sparking a high-speed chase that grows increasingly chaotic with the involvement of police cars, civilian vehicles, and helicopters.

As the chase unfolds, Lou Jean and Clovis travel across Texas, passing through Beaumont, Dayton, Houston, Cleveland, Conroe, and eventually Wheelock. With Slide as their captive, the couple is able to refuel and obtain food while maintaining their pursuit. Along the way, Slide and the Poplins begin to form an unexpected bond, gaining mutual respect for each other despite their situation.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1974
Genre: Crime Drama
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Goldie Hawn, Ben Johnson, William Atherton, Michael Sacks
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

Jaws is a 1975 American thriller directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg, which launched him into stardom at the age of 29. Based on the best-selling novel by Peter Benchley, the film tells the story of a massive great white shark terrorizing a beach town in New England.

The true "star" of the film is the mechanical shark, which was so difficult to operate that it often malfunctioned, leading to its underwater shots being delayed for long periods. When the shark was finally lowered into the sea, it promptly sank to the bottom, prompting a team of divers to retrieve it. The character Quint, the seasoned fisherman, gets his name from the Latin word for "five"—he's the fifth victim of the shark.

Regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, Jaws is credited with creating the summer blockbuster phenomenon. Its release is considered a pivotal moment in film history, and the movie won multiple awards for its music and editing. It became the highest-grossing film of all time until *Star Wars* was released in 1977. Both films played a key role in shaping the modern Hollywood business model, which revolves around high-grossing action and adventure films with massive summer releases in thousands of theaters and extensive promotional campaigns. *Jaws* had three sequels, none of which featured Spielberg or Benchley, and although many shark films followed, none could escape the giant shadow cast by *Jaws*. In 2001, the film was selected by the U.S. Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry, deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1975
Genre: Thriller
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10