With Spielberg’s new film "Bridge of Spies" out and in theaters, Spielberg now has 55 director credits to his name alongside 22 writing credits. So I decided to sit down and rank the top five Steven Spielberg films of all time — and as the title suggests (à la "Jaws"), I think we’re going to need a bigger list.
5. "Saving Private Ryan"
One of the greatest modern war movies, Spielberg nailed this 1998 epic starring Tom Hanks. Not only did Spielberg take home an Academy Award for Best Director, but the film also took home four other Oscars including Best Cinematography and Film Editing. Sure, there have been other great modern war films like "Braveheart, "American Sniper," etc., but none can beat Spielberg’s great WWII movie.
4. "Schindler’s List"
In another of Spielberg’s WWII movies, Spielberg tells the story of Oskar Schindler who protects Jewish Refugees during their persecution in the Holocaust. Spielberg took home another Best Director and the film also won Best Picture at the 1994 Academy Awards. This film is an absolute masterpiece that is a must see for everyone.
3. "Jurassic Park"
Who doesn’t love watching Martin Ferrero getting eaten by a dinosaur while sitting on a toilet? Released in the same year as "Schindler's List," this film is the more commercial of the two. The special effects in the film are absolutely superb and make the dinosaurs seem life-like. The new world that Spielberg takes us to is beautifully scored by John Williams and I must say, personally, that the "Jurassic Park" title theme might be my favorite in all of cinematic history.
2. "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial"
The movie that has captured the hearts of every person who has seen it has to sit at #2. Spielberg’s 1982 film teaches us about true friendship and shows the true power of cinematic magic. John Williams took home an Oscar for his score and this film was also nominated for three others. This is fantasy Spielberg at its finest and it brought him a copious amount of commercial success. If you haven’t seen this film then frankly you never had a childhood.
1. "Jaws"
Name any summer blockbuster that you’ve ever seen: Marvel movies, "Transformers," etc. Did you enjoy it? If so, you have Spielberg’s 1975 "Jaws" to thank for that. "Jaws" is the original blockbuster and gained Spielberg an ample amount of success in Hollywood. The film took home three Academy Awards, including one for John Williams’ infamous score (are you catching a pattern?). This movie, while not his first, was the first blockbuster. This film opened the door for films like "Star Wars, "Back to the Future," and any superhero movie that has come out recently. This film is most certainly one of the most influential films of cinematic history and especially the New American Cinema. Also, it’s a really great movie.
Those are my top five. Don’t agree? Feel free to leave a comment below and give me your personal top five.
