One of the most iconic and influential filmmakers of all time, Steven Spielberg has crafted a career over the past 50 years that has been a staple in many film lover's lives and a big part of many people's childhoods. While there are some low points - like all careers - Spielberg has been great consistently throughout his career.
Alongside pieces of cinema that stick with audiences for years after, Spielberg has released some of the biggest box office hits of all time. He is one of the defining filmmakers of the blockbuster era, helping usher it in with his pictures. Here are the 10 highest-grossing movies of Steven Spielberg's career, according to Box Office Mojo.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981) - $390,133,212
Indiana Jones series, and it kicked the series off in a brilliant way. Wildly entertaining and engrossing, thoroughly enjoyable with great humor and iconic set pieces, Raiders of the Lost Ark gave way for one of the biggest characters in pop culture.
From an $18,000,000 budget, the film opened at $8,305,823 before going on to gross $248,159,971 through its original release and three re-releases. Internationally it grossed $141,973,241 through its original run and another release, taking its worldwide gross to $390,133,212.
JAWS (1975) - $471,203,004 WORLDWIDE
its masterful craftsmanship - but it's best if we forget the sequels.
Jaws had a budget of $7,000,000, going on to make just over that in its opening weekend with $7,061,513, reaching $260,000,000 domestically. Through its original run and two short re-releases, the film grossed $211,203,004 bringing it's worldwide gross to $471,203,004.
INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989) - $474,310,887 WORLDWIDE
The third - and to some people the last they want to - installment of the iconic series, The Last Crusade returns Indiana Jones to a more lighthearted tone, with Ford and Connery delivering in spades. It is as re-watchable as its predecessors and delivers the same quality action.
With a $48,000,000 budget, the movie opened at $29,355,021 and went on to a $197,171,806 domestic total. Internationally, through an original release and small re-release, the movie earned $277,139,081, making its worldwide total $474,310,887.
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998) - $482,349,603 WORLDWIDE
Often hailed as one of the best war films of all time, Saving Private Ryan was robbed of the Best Picture award in 1999. Tom Hanks is outstanding, as is the realism and gripping nature of the action-packed war picture.
The movie opened at $30,576,104 with the domestic total coming in at $217,049,603 from its original run and its individual re-release. The international gross reached $263,300,000, making its worldwide earnings $482,349,603, all from a $70,000,000 budget.
READY PLAYER ONE (2018) - $582,890,172 WORLDWIDE
Ready Player One is the latest movie, and only one from the 2010s to make it on this list from Spielberg. While disappointing to some, and by no means the best on this list, the film is a lot of fun and wildly nostalgic for a lot of people.
From its huge $175,000,000 budget, the movie earned an opening weekend of $41,764,050, which kicked off its domestic run which earned $137,690,172. Its international earnings over tripled that with $445,200,000, making it's worldwide gross $582,890,172.
WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005) - $591,745,532 WORLDWIDE
even if their dad is Tom Cruise. There are some good action scenes and effects in the film, as well as moments of thrill, but overall it does not live up to other entries here.
The film did great at the box office though, opening to $64,878,725 from a budget of $132,000,000. Overall, War of the Worlds' domestic total reached $234,280,354, while internationally it managed $357,465,178, making its worldwide gross of $591,745,532.
THE LOST WOLD: JURASSIC PARK (1997) - $618,638,999 WORLDWIDE
To say The Lost World is a step down from its predecessor is an understatement. While the CGI has made strides, the story itself does not hold up and it proved to be style over substance with the movie itself being below average with very above average looking dinosaurs.
The film did great at the box office though, nearly making back its $73,000,000 budget in its $72,132,785 opening weekend which kicked off its domestic run that earned $229,086,679. This, combined with its international earnings of $389,552,320, takes the movies worldwide gross to $618,638,999.
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (2008) - $786,636,033 WORLDWIDE
Speaking of not living up to its predecessor, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is the fourth entry to the Indiana Jones franchise, and one a lot of fans would like to forget. A lot of fans point to certain characters and the less than impressive script as just a couple of reasons for the hate this film inspires.
Nonetheless, it killed at the box office. With a large $185,000,000 budget, the film opened at $100,137,835, earning $317,101,119 domestically and $469,534,914 internationally, all in all making its worldwide total $786,636,033.
E.T THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982) - $792,910,554 WORLDWIDE
Moving back on to nostalgic classics which are adored by millions, Spielberg's greatest, and most profitable, creations. The movie is magic as it excites in its adventure, awes in its sci-fi, and touches in both its story of childhood and the homesick alien everyone knows and loves.
The film was made for $10,500,000 and in its opening weekend made that money back by garnering $11,835,389. Domestically the film totaled $435,110,554 in its original run and two re-releases while, from the same runs, it earned $357,800,000, taking its worldwide gross to $792,910,554.
JURASSIC PARK (1993) - $1,030,314,141 WORLDWIDE
Arguably Spielberg's most iconic creation though is that of Jurassic Park. It is chock-full of terror and typical Spielberg greatness while also delivering unbelievable special effects which bring the dinosaurs, and the story, to life on its route to becoming one of the most well-known movies ever made.
In of the box office, the movie earned $47,026,828 on its opening weekend, going on to bring in $402,828,120 domestically from its original run and two re-releases. All the while the film rolled in $627,486,021 internationally from the same amount of runs, bringing it's worldwide total gross to $1,030,314,141 from a budget of $63,000,000.
