20 main great Steven Spielberg movies

About the film Steven Spielberg dreamed of since childhood. After receiving a gift of 8-millimeter camera, he learned how to shoot and edit short videos. For example, the collapse of toy trains father forbade them to push for real and the boy created effect of the accident with the help of glue.

In 13 years, Stephen has won the youth competition of amateur films, creating a 40-minute film about the war "Escape to Nowhere."

And in 1969, representatives of Universal Pictures was so pleased with his short film Amblin, they signed a contract with the novice director (later this film gave the name of his own studio Spielberg). Then he created a low-cost "Duel" and "The Sugarland Express."

But the interesting thing started in the mid-seventies, when the director literally turned the cinema.

1. jaws

Jaws

• USA, 1975.
• Horror, thriller.
• Duration: 124 minutes.
• IMDb: 8,0.

Sheriff local police finds on the banks of the remains of the girl, torn huge white shark. The number of victims is growing every day, but the city's leadership does not dare to inform residents of the danger. Then the sheriff is combined with the hunter of sharks and oceanographer. Together they want to catch the monster.

We can say that "Jaws," Spielberg changed the concept of "blockbuster." Now it is an independent genre films that, by its very idea should cause a stir and collect a huge desk.

With a budget of just 7 million in the US box office picture has earned more than 200. After that, the director literally showered with offers of cooperation.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

2. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

• USA, 1977.
• Fantasy adventure.
• Duration: 138 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,7.

At different points of the earth at different times of the abnormal phenomena occur: there are empty planes, missing back in the forties, and ships are transported to the desert. Scientists suspect that the aliens are to blame. In contact with the UFO's includes many of the common people, among them an electrician Roy Neri, who then begin vision. He is in that whatever the cost tends to fall into place, which he pointed out the aliens.

Even in the 16 years Steven Spielberg withdrew a short film Firelight, which became the prototype of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." But getting into the hands of big budgets and equipment, he was able to turn the story into one of the best science fiction movies about UFOs.

And the director has repeatedly stressed that this picture is really about human admiration something unknown and all-consuming of enthusiasm. And the main character is reminiscent of Spielberg, once for the shooting has forgotten everything else.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

3. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

• United States, 1981.
• Action adventure.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 8,5.

Renowned archaeologist and occult expert Indiana Jones goes in search of the sacred Ark of the Covenant. But as a relic wants to take possession of Adolf Hitler, Dr. Jones will have to confront and ancient traps and evil Nazis.

Spielberg really wanted to be called to remove a movie about James Bond. But then, along with his friend George Lucas, he decided to create his own character. We took as a basis comics archeologist of Doc Savage, the book "King Solomon's Mines" and dog named Lucas Indiana. Thus was born the image of a clever and fearless hero in the hat and whip.

"Indiana Jones" received 9 nominations for "Oscar" that adventure film in the eighties was a real breakthrough. Then the story grew into a trilogy, and even later removed and the prequel series, and continue, but their audience appreciated a lot worse.

"Indiana Jones" has spawned a wave of adventure films, and some of them even supported the director. For example, Robert Zemeckis, who worked with Spielberg screenwriter in "1941", made a film "Romancing the Stone" - one of the best copies of the "Indiana Jones". After that, they decided to work together and come up with "Back to the Future».

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

4. Alien

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

• USA, 1982.
• Fiction, drama, adventure, family.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,9.

When secretly arrived on Earth by aliens collect samples, they are attacked by special agents of the government. Aliens escape, but in a hurry to forget to pick up one of their own. It is necessary to save the ordinary earthly children.

Initially, the "Alien" was conceived as a continuation of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." But the sequel, "Jaws," Spielberg disappointed, and the director decided to shoot another story. First, the script was transformed into a horror-comedy. And then the director again rewrote everything and made very personal and kind film about friendship between a boy and an autistic cute alien. Again, the result exceeded all expectations. Painting became a major hit rolled.

This film marked the beginning of several other projects to which Spielberg has a direct relationship. For example, the script for the film "Poltergeist" is based on the terrible story of the original "Alien", but it was replaced by aliens ghosts.

A funny, but sometimes cruel jokes spawned such horror-comedies like "Gremlins" and "The Goonies," which Spielberg presented. And these movies glorified screenwriter Chris Columbus, who has removed then "Home Alone" and the first movies Harry Potter.

A "Gremlins" and even helped make a career director Joe Dante, whom Spielberg friends in times of "Jaws." Dante took poluparodiynuyu copy of "Piranha", but Spielberg refused to plead with him, too he liked the movie.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

5. Empire of the Sun

Empire of the Sun

• USA, 1987.
• Drama.
• Duration: 153 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,8.

The Second World War. Young Jim Graham lost during the Japanese invasion of China. The boy left without parents, and soon falls into the camp inmates. There, he will have to fight for survival and dignity by all means save.

The director is not the first time took up the serious historical dramas. Two years before that, he released the film "The Color Purple" and she even received numerous nominations for "Oscar" (but no premium). But the "Empire of the Sun" took the audience much better.

This film, in spite of a very different genre, as if the story continues "Alien." He tells about how the young hero creates his own world, to keep the peace and sanity in a difficult situation. By the way, starring 12-year-old Christian Bale.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

6. Jurassic Park

jurassic Park

• USA, 1993.
• Fantasy adventure.
• Duration: 127 minutes.
• IMDb: 8,1.

In the blood of mosquitoes found fossil dinosaur DNA, allowing scientists to restore ancient dinosaurs. And there was Jurassic Park, where visitors can admire the dinosaurs. Shortly before its opening on a trip to the park go some scientists. And at the same time one of the experts disables all protection.

Steven Spielberg has acquired the film rights to the novel by Michael Crichton (author of the original "World of the Wild West") before the publication of the book. And the script was hired to work of the author. "Jurassic Park" is considered a milestone in the development of special effects. The director decided to combine the animatronics (ie the creation of the moving parts of the dinosaurs and their smaller copies) with visual effects, achieving complete realism. And for consultations hired paleontologist who dictates how you like dinosaurs.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

7. Schindler's list

Schindler's List

• USA, 1993.
• Historical drama.
• Duration: 195 minutes.
• IMDb: 8,9.

The film is based on the true story of Oskar Schindler. During the Second World War, he was a member of the Nazi party and a successful industrialist, spend a lot of effort and money to save Jews from the concentration camps. He managed to save the lives of over a thousand people.

Despite the successful historical dramasMany have long believed Spielberg's first director entertainment film. But the "Schindler's List" has proven that he knows how to create and profound stories of all time.

Rent this painting Spielberg persuaded the famous film director Billy Wilder, who wrote the scenario. Especially for shooting in Poland were buying real clothes since the war, and the consultant of the project was made by the originator of the "Schindler's List" Mieczyslaw Pemper.

Coming from a Jewish family, Steven Spielberg gave up fee for this picture, opening with the money, "the Shoah Foundation", which deals with the preservation of documents about the Holocaust.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

8. Amistad

Amistad

• United States, 1997.
• Historical drama.
• Duration: 155 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,3.

Spanish ship carrying slaves from Cuba mutiny. Skinned rebels killed nearly the entire team, but could not get home and ended up in America. Now they have to try to either send to Spain to former owners or to make free. It seems that the latter is not possible. Here are just a lawyer, Roger Baldwin disagrees.

Unfortunately, a great social drama, though, and has received numerous nominations for film awards, remained unnoticed by many. And the reason is simple - but then the screen will display the "Titanic" James Cameron.

He caught all the attention of critics and audiences. But that does not make the picture worse Spielberg. The more so because a major role in it played by Matthew McConaughey.

9. Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan

• United States, 1998.
• War drama.
• Duration: 169 minutes.
• IMDb: 8,6.

Once three brothers from Ryans family perished on the fields of World War II. Then the command decided to demobilize the sole survivor James Ryan. For Saving Private John Miller sent a military team of eight. And it will be the most dangerous job in their lives.

"Saving Private Ryan" is considered to be another milestone in the work of the director and in cinema in general development. Spielberg was able to remove a large-scale war drama by placing into the vortex chamber global events of salvation history only one man a small team. The filming as extras involved 250 soldiers of the Irish army, and the German tanks "Tiger" was created on the basis of the working of the Soviet T-34.

And it is with this film began a long association director Tom Hanks.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

10. Artificial intelligence

A.I. Artificial Intelligence

• United States, 2001.
• Fiction, drama.
• Duration: 146 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,1.

In the world of the future due to global warming and flooding in the US government strictly limits procreation, and people have to live together with robots. But once a new prototype of the child-robot programmed to selfless love. People were not ready for this, and the robot David was alone.

Adaptation of Brian Aldiss short story "Superigrushek enough for the whole summer," wanted to shoot in the mid-eighties. Then the director Stanley Kubrick Spielberg invited to work on the film. And then there was the idea to add to this story echoes the classic fairy tale "Pinocchio."

But the project could not run for a long time, repeatedly changed the script, and in 1999, Kubrick died. Spielberg then he decided to make a film, even abandoning the production of "Harry Potter."

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

11. Special opinion

Minority Report

• United States, 2002.
• Fantasy, action.
• Duration: 145 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,7.

By the middle of the XXI century a special department of the police dealing with crime prevention. Three visionary predict the time and place, and the police detain a person before it becomes a criminal. Police Captain John Enderton confident in the effectiveness of this method, as long as he himself is not accused of murder nesovershonnom.

Another film adaptation of works of fiction. This time, Spielberg suffered the screen story Philip K. Dick. Especially for the feature film plot greatly expanded and changed, which, incidentally, has caused dissatisfaction among some of the writer's fans.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

12. Catch Me If You Can

Catch Me If You Can

• United States, 2002.
• Tragicomedy crime.
• Duration: 141 min.
• IMDb: 8,1.

Even in his youth, Frank Abagnale famous forgery of checks and documents. He portrayed the pilot, a doctor, a lawyer, and at the same time himself wrote out fake checks and cashed them. FBI Agent Carl Henretti struggling to catch a cheater, but every time he is one step ahead.

After two fantastic pictures Spielberg decided to withdraw the criminal bright film. According to rumors, the idea to film a biography of him suggested Abagnale Leonardo DiCaprio, Who played a major role. And the image of a stubborn agent embodied by Tom Hanks.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

13. Terminal

The Terminal

• United States, 2004.
• Tragicomedy.
• Duration: 128 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,3.

Viktor Navorski flew from his native country Krakozhii in New York. But while he was flying, there was a coup in the country, and his visa revoked. Back, he also can not, because all the flights in his homeland canceled. And now it becomes the only home airport, which he can not leave.

What is interesting, the plot is the real story of an Iranian refugee who has lived 18 years in a Paris airport, because all his documents stolen. A specially built for the filming of the airport terminal full-size copy.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

14. Munich

Munich

• USA, Canada, France, 2005.
• Drama, thriller.
• Duration: 164 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,6.

In 1972, the terrorists captured and killed Israeli athletes during the Summer Olympics in 1972 in Munich. After that "Mossad" starts out a special operation to destroy the guilty. Gradually, however, the agents realize that it only leads to new terrorist attacks and victims.

This picture could come out a few years earlier. But Spielberg wanted to work with Tom Cruz in "War of the Worlds" and entered the shooting in a busy schedule of the actor. Charges fantastic tapes were much more. Yet "Munich" is considered more important work of the director of the depth and ambiguity.

View in iTunes →

15. The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn

The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn

• United States, 2011.
• Adventure, detective.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,3.

The young reporter Tintin travels around the world, always getting involved in dangerous adventures. After the purchase of the ship's layout "Unicorn" he finds himself in the center of events associated with the mysterious treasure.

More after the release of "Indiana Jones" fans of the comic book Tintin director accused of plagiarism. But, as it turned out, Spielberg was not familiar with the hero. And when he met, he bought the film rights, and many years later released not only feature films, but real animated comic, the game is compatible actors and digital technology.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

16. war-horse

War Horse

• United States, 2011.
• Adventure, drama.
• Duration: 146 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,2.

Boy Albert two years watching and caring for thoroughbred horse Joey. But before the start of the First World War, his father sold the horse, and he got to the front. Then, too, Albert went to war to save a friend.

In the mid-eighties, the writer Michael Morpurgo has decided to pay tribute to the huge number of horses killed during the First World War. He created a novel "War Horse" and since then dreamed about the film adaptation. First there was a theatrical production.

According to Steven Spielberg, he cried when he saw the play. And then he decided to make a film based on this touching story.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

17. Lincoln

Lincoln

• United States, 2012.
• Drama, Biography.
• Duration: 150 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,4.

In the middle of the XIX century to the sixteenth US president Abraham Lincoln was a difficult choice: to accept the amendment prohibiting slavery in the country, or to make every effort to end the civil War. No one believed that he would be able to solve both of these problems simultaneously.

After years of "Amistad" Spielberg returned to the United States an important topic for the abolition of slavery. And this time, the person told the story of one of the country's most famous presidents. All praised the work of the actor Daniel Day-Lewis, and the painting itself was nominated for "Oscar" for Best Picture, but lost to "Operation" Argo "».

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

18. bridge of Spies

Bridge of Spies

• United States, 2015.
• Historical drama.
• Duration: 142 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,6.

At the height of the Cold War, Brooklyn lawyer James Donovan should exchange Russian spy Rudolf Abel, who once defended on American pilot Francis Gary Powers, shot down in USSR.

Regular cooperation Spielberg and Hanks led to the emergence of the drama, is not built so much on spy gamesAs on human communication and tense atmosphere. Perhaps, deep study on impact and origin of the director. After all, he comes from the Russian Jews.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

19. secret dossier

The Post

• United States, 2017.
• Thriller, drama, biography, history.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,2.

The first woman publisher of The Washington Post editor Katherine Graham and Ben Bradley and colleagues from The New York Times are fighting for the right to publish the secret correspondence of the Vietnam War. But against them stands the entire political elite.

For already the established tandem Spielberg - Hanks add here a great actress Meryl Streep. And another historical film did not lose previous works director. Again tense drama with a fantastic game and filming.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →

20. The first player to get ready

Ready Player One

• United States, 2018.
• Fantasy adventure.
• Duration: 140 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,5.

In the world of the future of the people most of the time in the network Oasis game. Many users are looking for the mysterious Easter eggs hidden by developers. A IOI Corporation is trying to take control of the game, to turn it into an advertising platform. Then people decide to fight back IOI.

With this film, Steven Spielberg pays tribute to video games, which are increasingly merge with the world of cinema and culture 80-90. Simple plot, much of which takes place in a virtual reality, full of references to movies, games and music from the times when the director was just gaining popularity.

View in iTunes →
View in Google Play →