13 Most Diverse Directors In Movie History

9. Steven Spielberg

In this May 25, 2013 file photo, jury president, director Steven Spielberg, arrives for the screening of the film Venus in Fur at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France. Spielbergs next two films have been slated for October 2015
Joel Ryan/AP

Steven Spielberg's reputation as one of the greatest and most successful directors of all time need not be repeated, but he certainly didn't get this far by clinging to just a handful of genres.

Over almost five decades, Spielberg has tackled the thrillers (Duel, Jaws), crime drama (Catch Me if You Can), sci-fi (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., the first two Jurassic Park movies, A.I., Minority Report), period comedy (1941), action adventure (the Indiana Jones franchise), period drama (The Colour Purple, Schindler's List, Amistad, Lincoln), war (Empire of the Sun, Saving Private Ryan, War Horse), romantic dramedy (Always), fantasy (Hook, The BFG), contemporary dramedy (The Terminal), a political thriller (Munich, Bridge of Spies), and even animation (Tintin).

Also, though he's never been officially credited for it, it's basically an open secret that he really directed 1982's horror classic Poltergeist.

While Spielberg hasn't really branched out too much in recent years, his overall career has certainly demonstrated his fearlessness as an artist beyond any doubt.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.