With 32 theatrical features, one major TV movie, and innumerable producing credits under his belt, Steven Spielberg was and remains the king of blockbuster filmmaking.

His track record is beyond impressive, having contributed a classic to just about every genre there is, for instance, recently the musical with West Side Story. They may not always score with critics and fans, e.g. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but even the worst from Spielberg holds merit, which serves to illuminate just how important his best is.

Updated on November 22nd, 2022 by Jordan Iacobucci:

Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest directorial minds of all time, generating hit after hit over the course of his iconic Hollywood career. Now, the artistic mastermind is opening up his past like never before with the semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans, which is already generating buzz as one of his best films of all time. As audiences prepare for yet another classic Spielberg masterpiece, some of the very best projects in the director's filmography deserve another round of applause.

15 Munich (2005) - 3.7

Rent On Apple TV

Based on George Jonas's historical of Operation Wrath of God, Munich is a semi-fictional story that follows several key operatives assigned with killing those responsible for the carrying out of the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics Massacre. Starring Eric Bana and Daniel Craig, this spy drama acted as yet another of Spielberg's historical epics.

Munich was a massive success in every sense of the word, with its cast, score by John Williams, and Spielberg's direction receiving particular praise. It even went on to be nominated for five Academy Awards, though it did not win any. The film performed well at the box office, though not to the degree of the director's other films.

14 West Side Story (2021) - 3.7

Stream On Disney+ And HBO Max

West Side Story is the 2021 reboot of the 1961 film of the same name, which itself is based on the classic musical by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. Spielberg's reboot stays mostly true to the original story, presenting the beloved tale with fresh visuals and a cast of young actors ready to make their mark on the industry.

Though many fans were hesitant about this reboot, Spielberg's West Side Story was met with almost unanimous praise, even making a dent at the Academy Awards, including a win for Ariana DeBose, following in the footsteps of her predecessor and co-star, Rita Moreno. As the only full-on reboot in Spielberg's filmography, West Side Story sets the precedent for what such films should be.

13 Empire Of The Sun (1987) - 3.7

Rent On Apple TV

Based on J.G. Ballard's 1984 book, Empire of the Sun tells the story of Jim Graham, a British schoolboy who becomes a prisoner of the Japanese army during World War II. The film, like the original book, is an exaggerated take on Ballard's own experiences growing up and stars a young Christian Bale in the main role.

Though Empire of the Sun did not reach the financial highs of certain other films in Spielberg's filmography, it was nevertheless warmly received by critics, earning plenty of award attention following its theatrical run. Its young star, of course, went on to become one of the most successful actors of all time, marking yet another career jump-started by Steven Spielberg.

12 Duel (1971) - 3.8

Rent On Apple TV

Duel is Steven Spielberg's very first film, an action-thriller following one man who is inexplicably chased through rough Californian terrain by a semi-truck and its mysterious driver. Though general audiences may not be intimately familiar with this television film, major fans of Spielberg consider it a cult classic.

While Duel is far from Spielberg's best film, it is clear that he was a talented filmmaker from the very beginning. The director managed to make the most of what limited resources he had, weaving a surprisingly entertaining thriller out of a very simple premise.

11 Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977) - 3.8

Rent On Apple TV

Filled with classic scenes like the musical note communication finale and the living room dirt mound, Jaws was no fluke.

Spielberg re-teamed with Jaws' Richard Dreyfuss for a less terrifying tale, but there are still some chilling moments, such as the little boy walking towards his front door as bright orange light bursts through the windows. Most of all, Close Encounters is a tale of hope for something grander.

10 The Color Purple (1985) - 3.8

Stream On Netflix And HBO Max

The Color Purple is a poignant and often devastating epic that covers over four decades of a very tough life. Whoopi Goldberg plays Celie Harris, a woman who has had her children taken from her, suffered years of abuse from both the man who raised her and the man he sold her off to.

It's far from easy to hold on with any sense of positivity, but Harris receives hope in fits and starts courtesy of the few loving people in her life, such as Shug Avery (Margaret Avery). It's a beautiful but gut-wrenching story elevated even further by devoted, masterful performances by Goldberg, Avery, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey.

9 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - 3.8

Stream On Peacock

A film that just celebrated its 40th anniversary, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was a monumental early 1980s hit that made Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas stars and led to the release of any number of low-rent, hastily-assembled similar movies like Mac and Me.

As seen in the latter film, the plot of a little boy meeting a friendly alien could be both nonsensical and look silly, but E.T. dodges both fatal bullets in favor of a plotline that makes adults cry and Carlo Rambaldi's practical effects which rival Rob Bottin's work in The Thing from the same year.

8 Jaws (1975) - 4.0

Stream On Fubo TV

1975 was a big year for thriller movies, and that can largely be attributed to the impact of Spielberg's aquatic terrorizer, Jaws. The film's success is partially due to its minimalism, with the director refraining from showing the full shark until the third act of the film.

After the TV movie Duel and his low-budget The Sugarland Express, Jaws put Spielberg on the map across the world. The film's financial success alone would probably keep him in that position even if he'd never released another successful project.

7 Catch Me If You Can (2002) - 4.0

Stream On Paramount+

Released in 2002, one of the Catch Me If You Can is an adaptation of real-life conman Frank Abagnale Jr.'s autobiography. The truth is practically indiscernible in both the book and the film because it's out of only one person's mouth, and that person happens to have made a living by lying.

Catch Me If You Can is an early-aughts gem from the auteur that stands as one of the better films from the latter half of his career. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the cocky role to perfection, persuading the audience into believing he's done all of the extraordinarily devious things he claims. Tom Hanks matches him well as FBI Agent Carl Hanratty, but the best performance of the film is arguably Christopher Walken as Frank Abagnale Sr.

6 Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989) - 4.0

Stream On Paramount+

From the film's opening scene—which features the late River Phoenix as a young Indy—to the deadly grail conclusion, The Last Crusade was widely seen as a phenomenal return to form after the tonal mishmash of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

As with the success of the first film, a key element of the third is the mix of individuals surrounding the protagonist. For instance, Walter Donovan (Julian Glover) and Elsa Schneider (Alison Doody) make for villains only slightly less interesting than Raiders of the Lost Ark's Nazi trio. Furthermore, Sean Connery's Henry Jones, Sr. is a terrific addition to the series and manages to be as effective a secondary lead as Karen Allen's Marion Ravenwood.