17. The Color Purple (1985)
Spielberg's first foray into "serious" filmmaking isn't his best, but isn't a bad film either by any regards. Spielberg deftly handles the Pulitzer Prize-winning source material, delivering a compelling, emotional, and ultimately moving and inspiration drama, enhanced by stellar cinematography and career-best performances from cast members including Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and a then-unknown Oprah Winfrey. It's not quite as deep and hard-hitting as other Spielberg dramas, but it's still a great film, and more than anything a demonstration of good things to come from a director who was starting to step out of his comfort zone.