Steven Spielberg is arguably among the greatest filmmakers of all time. Across almost five decades, the acclaimed director has released thirty-four highly entertaining and often profoundly moving movies across seemingly every genre.
His most recent movie, The Fabelmans, which tells the story of Spielberg’s childhood, has received rave reviews, proving that the auteur is still at the top of his game. One question remains, though, which of the best Steven Spielberg movies do the users of IMDb consider to be his finest piece of work?
Updated on October 5, 2023, by Hannah Saab:
Although Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny didn’t manage to make it into the top 10 Steven Spielberg movies on IMDb, the filmmaker’s legacy and best movies are a testament to the quality of his filmography overall.
15 ‘The Fabelmans’ (2022)
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Spielberg’s recent release has proven to be one of his most well-received. The Fabelmans is a semi-autobiographical movie that follows a young boy growing up in post-World War II America who dreams of being a filmmaker and uses the power of cinema to come to terms with a shocking family secret.
Spielberg recruited an all-star cast to help him tell his story, including Seth Rogen, Paul Dano, and Michelle Williams, all of whom deliver honest, heartfelt performances. Already an acclaimed film, The Fabelmans currently holds an impressive reputation among fans and critics alike.
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14 ‘Duel’ (1971)
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
A Spielberg film that would go on to become a surprising cult classic, Duel was initially a TV film created for the ABC Movie of the Week series – it was so good that it received an international theatrical release not long after. Based on the eponymous 1971 short story by Richard Matheson, Duel follows the simple story of a traveling salesman (Dennis Weaver) who’s suddenly terrorized by a relentless (and mostly unseen) truck driver as he’s driving through the desert.
With not a lot of plot to go on, the film heavily relies on the cast’s performances, fantastic stunts, and, of course, Spielberg’s talent for building tension. It’s a nerve-wracking film with a tight script that serves as a reminder of what can be achieved with a simple premise and a world-class director.
Watch on The Criterion Channel
13 ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ (1977)
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IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
One of the best UFO movies ever made, Close Encounters of the Third Kind revolves around the Indiana-based blue-collar worker Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss), whose mundane days are forever changed after an unusual encounter. Roy sets out to discover more about extraterrestrial life, and becomes obsessed with UFOs in the process.
Known for its bold portrayal of the growing obsession with aliens and the way it can affect individuals and their families, the Spielberg film holds up incredibly well today. Like several of the director’s movies, it pushed the boundaries of what was possible with special effects while delivering a memorable story.
12 ‘Bridge of Spies’ (2015)
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Based on a true story and set during the Cold War, Bridge of Spies is a historical drama that follows the story of James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks), an American lawyer who finds himself with the challenging job of negotiating the release of a Soviet spy.
The gripping film manages to paint an accurate picture of the anxieties and fears that came with daily life during the Cold War. At its core, though, it’s driven by Hanks’ powerful performance as a man torn between serving his country and following what he knows is right. Spielberg’s storytelling skills are on full display and can be felt during the film’s most intense moments (including its climactic exchange).
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11 ‘Minority Report’ (2002)
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Minority Report is a beloved sci-fi film that depicts a terrifying world where authorities predict crimes and arrest potential perpetrators before they do anything. It’s centered on the law enforcement officer John Anderton (Tom Cruise), who notices a major flaw in their department’s operations.
Loosely based on the 1956 short story by Philip K. Dick, the film delves into the disastrous consequences of combining determinism and the law. It raises crucial questions about free will, especially through Anderton’s twisty (and tragic) storyline. Spielberg’s world-building ability is also highlighted in this visually stunning gritty movie.
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10 ‘Empire of the Sun’ (1987)
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Based on J. G. Ballard‘s autobiographical novel, Empire of the Sun tells the story of a young English boy who is separated from his parents and taken to a confinement camp during the Japanese invasion of Shanghai in 1941. Boasting a beautiful score by John Williams, who regularly collaborates with Spielberg, the film was nominated for six Academy Awards.
Empire of the Sun is one of Spielberg’s most thought-provoking movies, propelled to greatness by a truly exceptional Christian Bale performance that introduced the world to the future Oscar winner.
9 ‘The Color Purple’ (1985)
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning eponymous 1982 novel by Alice Walker, The Color Purple is an award-winning coming-of-age period drama centered on Celie Harris Johnson (masterfully played by Whoopi Goldberg). Celie is a young Black woman who endures abuse in rural Georgia during the 20th century. The film chronicles the hardships she and her peers live with in an unflinching and powerful way.
The movie marks a pivotal moment in Spielberg’s filmography, as he moves away from summer blockbusters and shows he can tell complex, raw, and painfully human stories. It’s also remembered for stellar and deeply emotional performances from Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey.
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Though children of the 80s were treated to a variety of exceptional family-friendly flicks such as The Goonies and Karate Kid, most likely remember E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial more fondly than any others. The movie, which tells the story of a troubled child who must help a friendly alien return to his home planet, holds the record for the longest theatrical run, staying in theaters for over a year.
The movie is a pop culture phenomenon, still influencing some of the most popular TV shows, and still has people calling for a continuation of some sort. The epic movie still holds up to this very day, and is one of Spielberg’s most rewatchable films.
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7 ‘Catch Me If You Can’ (2002)
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IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Catch Me If You Can is an absolute riot of a film. It tells the seemingly impossible true story of Frank, a young skilled forger who uses his wits and his cunning to pass as a doctor, a lawyer, and a pilot, all while being investigated and pursued by the FBI. It’s perhaps Spielberg’s most fun movie, and that’s really saying something.
The film is elevated by two truly brilliant performances by two actors who appear to be having the time of their lives. Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio share incredible chemistry as they take it in turns getting one over on the other.
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6 ‘Jaws’ (1975)
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Never before had a director announced himself to the world quite like Steven Spielberg did with the terrifying and wildly entertaining Jaws. Despite a notoriously troubled production for the movie that saw Spielberg go over budget and behind schedule, he still managed to create a masterpiece that won three Academy Awards and is considered a classic.
Always included in any discussion of the best Spielberg movies, the film follows a sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer as they band together to hunt down a killer shark who has been terrorizing a small coastal community. Jaws features a cast of exceptional actors, including Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, and Richard Dreyfus, all of whom deliver terrific performances.
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5 ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ (1989)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
After two beloved installments, Spielberg rounded out the Indiana Jones trilogy in style with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the movie that introduced audiences to delightfully grumpy Henry Jones Sr. Of the many, many things that make this action and adventure film such a treat, the constant bickering of the two perfectly cast lead characters is considered by most to be the sequels greatest strength.
Harrison Ford slips back into the role with ease, wielding Indy’s iconic whip and fedora in a way that nobody else could. Last Crusade is also the funniest Indiana Jones movie by quite some stretch; Spielberg plays the stoic characters against one another with ease.
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4 ‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Perhaps the greatest testament to Steven Spielberg’s ability as a director is the fact that he somehow managed to bring dinosaurs back to life, capturing both the wonder of the majestic creatures and the sheer terror of facing off against a T-Rex. Jurassic Park perfectly balances its high-stakes action with well-developed characters who provide an emotional core to the story.
Based on Michael Crichton‘s novel of the same name, the movie follows a group of experts touring an almost complete theme park when a power failure allows the park’s cloned dinosaurs to escape. With groundbreaking visual effects and legendary set pieces, it’s undoubtedly one of the director’s most iconic movies that defined the 90s.
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3 ‘Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark was the birth of a character so effortlessly cool and utterly watchable that he would go on to stand the test of time. So much so that next year, over four decades after he first graced the big screen, he will return to theaters for his long-awaited fifth adventure, although sadly, Spielberg will not be at the helm.
The movie follows archeology professor Indiana Jones who searches for the Ark of the Covenant, racing to find the artifact before a troop of Nazis. Raiders of the Lost Ark is an absolute joyride of a film, filled with incredible set pieces, witty one-liners, and a wide array of utterly memorable supporting characters.
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2 ‘Saving Private Ryan’ (1998)
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Saving Private Ryan is not only one of the best movies directed by Spielberg, but it’s also considered by many to be the best depiction of World War II ever put to film. The opening scene is a harrowing depiction of the Allied invasion of Normandy, dropping audiences onto the beach and showing them the unthinkable horrors that occurred there.
Saving Private Ryan is an incredibly moving story of human connection, exploring the way people will fight for their fellow man even in the darkest of times. The film won 5 Academy Awards, including the Best Director award for Spielberg. With its emotional, action-packed script and the exceptional performances throughout, it’s no surprise the movie is considered one of Spielberg’s finest works.
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1 ‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)
IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
Schindler’s List is Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece. The movie, filmed mostly in black and white and running for over three hours, went on to win a staggering seven Oscars, with Spielberg taking home the awards for both Best Director and Best Picture. The incredibly moving film tells the story of Oskar Schindler, an industrialist who begins to fear for the safety of his Jewish workforce during Germany’s occupation of Poland.
Similarly to Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List does not shy away from the horrid realities of war and the harrowing persecution that Jewish people faced. It is a difficult film to watch in many ways, but it’s also hugely important that everybody sees this film to ensure the horrors of World War II are never forgotten. Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Kingsley all give excellent performances, boosted by the excellent direction and honesty of Spielberg’s camera.
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