It’s tough to say what’s most remarkable about Steven Spielberg’s career — that his films have maintained such a consistent personal touch despite thriving as populist entertainment; that his critical reputation has soared as high as his box office intake; that he reinvented blockbuster cinema so many times and in so many ways; or that he’s done it all for so long. You can make a credible case that he’s made great films in six different decades.
It took Spielberg just three tries to obliterate box office records and crystallize the summer blockbuster format. But Jaws was no anomaly: huge smashes and pulp masterpieces followed its bloody wake. Spielberg pivoted to more serious dramatic material with hallmark success in the ’90s, reshaping multiple film genres in the process. He barely lost a step in the 21st century with one hit after another. Only in the 2010s did the box office start to taper even as the award nominations continue to today. Regardless how his late career plays out, Spielberg is one of cinema’s most beloved directors, one of its most influential, and one of its greatest.
Podcast Episodes
Chronological
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) (Masterpiece: Tour De Good)
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) (Exceptionally Good)
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) (Exceptionally Good)
- Jurassic Park (1993) (Exceptionally Good)
- Saving Private Ryan (1998) (Exceptionally Good)
- Catch Me If You Can (2002) (Exceptionally Good)
- The Terminal (2004) (Good)
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) (Good)
- Lincoln (2012) – (podcast)
- Bridge of Spies (2015) (Very Good)
- The Post (2017) (Very Good)
- The Fabelmans (2022) (Very Good)
By Rating
Masterpiece: Tour De Good (8/8)
Exceptionally Good (7/8)
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- Jurassic Park (1993)
- Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Very Good (6/8)
- Bridge of Spies (2015)
- The Post (2017)
- The Fabelmans (2022)
- Lincoln (2012) – (podcast)
Good (5/8)
Not Seen / Not Rated
- Duel (1971)
- The Sugarland Express (1974)
- Jaws (1975)
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
- 1941 (1979)
- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
- The Color Purple (1985)
- Empire of the Sun (1987)
- Always (1989)
- Hook (1991)
- Schindler’s List (1993)
- The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
- Amistad (1997)
- A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
- Minority Report (2002)
- War of the Worlds (2005)
- Munich (2005)
- The Adventures of Tintin (2011)
- War Horse (2011)
- Bridge of Spies (2015)
- The BFG (2016)
- Ready Player One (2018)
- West Side Story (2021)
Last Updated
- 9/27/2024
Review Index
- Review Series: Steven Spielberg
Dan is the founder and head critic of The Goods. Follow Dan on Letterboxd. Join the Discord for updates and discussion.