Important Movies
Few modern directors have a filmography as varied or as full of classic films as Spielberg does. His first classic movie would probably be Jaws, his breakout film about a town terrorized by a massive Great White Shark. The movie is now a textbook example in how to make both a thriller or horror film. His next film also turned out to be one of his most memorable as Close Encounters turned first contact with an alien species into a bewildering tour-de force of light and sound. Close Encounters is frequently mentioned as one of the all-time great sci-fi films and was notable for being one of the first Hollywood films to show first contact in a non-violent way. His next great film was 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, an homage to classic serials from the 30's and 40's. The film's success validated Spielberg's claim as Hollywood's biggest director and established the titular character as an icon of blockbuster cinema and started a franchise that has spanned four films, all helmed by Spielberg.The next year, he turned out arguably his best loved film with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which went on to earn nine Academy Award nominations and become the highest grossing film ever made at the time of its release. 1985's the Color Purple took Spielberg into arguably more mature territory, receiving ten Oscar nominations and named by some critic, such as Roger Ebert, to be the best film of the year. While its lasting critical acclaim has been a bit more divided, the film represents a major turning point in Spielberg's career. Empire of the Sun, released in 1987, remains Spielberg's most underrated movie. The film follows a wealthy British child who is separated from his family in China during WWII and remains one of Spielberg's more interesting works visually. Spielberg returned to his most profitable franchise in 1989 when Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade became the years most successful film financially. 1993 saw the release of two iconic Spielberg films: the first being Jurassic Park which was his third movie to become the highest grossing of all time as well as one of the most enduringly popular blockbusters ever made and the second was Schindler's List which is often considered one of the finest modern films and which won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture. In 1998, Spielberg made Saving Private Ryan, which is often regarded as one of the best modern war films and which won him his second Best Director Oscar. The years after Saving Private Ryan saw a more experimental Spielberg as he worked on a variety of different kinds of projects. 2002 saw Spielberg release two excellent films: the first being the sci-fi classic Minority Report, called the best movie of the year by Roger Ebert, and the second being the excellent Catch Me If You Can, which followed the exploits of America's most successful con man. In 2012, Spielberg released his best film in years with Lincoln, a biopic about the sixteenth American president focusing on his attempt to pass the 13th amendment. Featuring an iconic performance from Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln earned twelve Academy Award nominations and marked a semi-comeback for Spielberg who's latest films had not been particularly well regarded.