I’ve struggled to enjoy Spielberg’s films over the last few decades, but I’m glad he’s still making movies, and I’m glad one of them is Disclosure Day. He seems at home with aliens on Earth, overbearing government agencies, and mysterious devices. I’m not sure the movie will “stick” in the same way as some older films, but it features some memorable moments and unexpected humor. It’s a well-done take on what the reveal of intelligent alien life on Earth might look like.
Honestly, one of the biggest reasons I decided to see the movie in the theater is because I watched a few reviews about how well Spielberg frames each shot and each scene. It’s an aspect of films and TV that I try not to take for granted.
So with that in mind, here’s my ranking of Spielberg movies I adore. Some notable omissions–movies I haven’t seen or can’t remember watching–are Jaws and Close Encounters of a Third Kind.
8. Disclosure Day
7. Catch Me If You Can
6. E.T the Extra-Terrestrial
5. Munich
4. Hook
3. Minority Report
2. Jurassic Park
1. Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark
What are your favorite movies that Spielberg has directed? I’m curious to see if there are any of his movies I haven’t seen that are worth a watch.
Some well regarded films of his I’m really not fan of, namely Jaws and ET. Films not on your list that I consider masterpieces are Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan (the whole d-day scene!), War of the Worlds (again, cinematography!). Jurassic Park is my number one of his films, everything about it is perfect (except the roaring dinos…they couldn’t roar) and the Indiana Jones films. I still need to watch Munich. Catch me of you Can and Third encounters are also worth watching.
I totally forgot to include Catch Me If You Can in my list, but I’ve added it–I really enjoy it.
Raiders is a close second for me to Last Crusade. Nothing beats Sean Connery and Harrison Ford’s banter while defeating Nazi’s. 🙂
As far as history, Saving Private Ryan and Schindler’s List are extraordinary, but heavy. In the case of the latter, very heavy.
We recently enjoyed Ready Player One (which surprised me).
It’s been a minute, but Catch Me if You Can was excellent if memory serves.
I need to see Hook again!
For me, it’s as much the music as the movie — John Williams made Spielberg’s movies even more amazing than they might have been without him. In many ways, he made epic orchestral music accessible, which is an amazing feat.
Thanks for sharing your list! I completely agree about the power of John Williams’ music.
My favorite Steven Spielberg films are Jurassic Park, ET and Jaws, however, it’s a much lesser known piece of media, but he once directed a Wii game called Boom Blox, and it is my favorite work of his. The game is packed with ridiculously fun mini games, and shortly after acquiring it, my weekly Magic draft night transformed into a Boom Blox night!
I didn’t know he directed a video game–that’s really cool.
I love my Zelda, Mario and Smash Bros games just like any dedicated Nintendo fan does, but Boom Blox might be the best Wii game that did the things a Wii game should do. It is a perfect game!
Recommendations not already mentioned in post (listed chronologically for ease of running the list):
Temple of Doom
The Color Purple
Last Crusade
Saving Private Ryan
A.I.
Minority Report
Catch Me If You Can
Lincoln
The Post
The Fabelmans
I must have been looking at a partial list, because I love Minority Report and Catch Me If You Can. I’ll add them both.
OMG if you haven’t seen The Color Purple (the original) or Saving Private Ryan, you’ve just got to see them!
I’ve seen Saving Private Ryan, but not The Color Purple.