Steven Spielberg has directed so many great movies that choosing only 10 is not easy.
From giant sharks and dinosaurs to aliens, war stories, historical dramas and unforgettable adventures, Spielberg has spent decades giving audiences movies that are still talked about today.
I have gone through his filmography, and if someone asked me, “Which Steven Spielberg movies should I watch first?”, these are the 10 I would recommend.
This is not simply a list of his most successful movies. I am choosing these films because they show different sides of Spielberg as a filmmaker and give you a good idea of why his name has become so important in Hollywood.
1. Jurassic Park (1993)
If I had to recommend just one Spielberg movie to someone who has never watched his work, Jurassic Park would be one of my first choices.
The story follows a group of visitors who arrive at a theme park where scientists have managed to bring dinosaurs back to life.
Obviously, things do not go according to plan.
What makes Jurassic Park special is the way Spielberg combines adventure, suspense, science fiction and family drama. The dinosaurs are impressive, but the movie is not only about dinosaurs. Spielberg makes you care about the people trapped inside the park.
The first time the characters see the enormous Brachiosaurus is still one of the most memorable moments in movie history.
And then there is the T. rex.
The famous scene where the characters sit inside a Jeep while the dinosaur approaches is a perfect example of Spielberg’s ability to create suspense.
Why I recommend it: It is entertaining from beginning to end and remains one of the best examples of blockbuster filmmaking.
2. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
If you want to see Spielberg’s serious side, watch Saving Private Ryan.
The movie is set during World War II and follows a group of American soldiers who are given the dangerous mission of finding Private James Francis Ryan.
Tom Hanks leads the cast as Captain John Miller.
The opening D-Day sequence is one of the most intense war scenes ever put on film. Spielberg does not make war look glamorous. Instead, he shows the confusion, fear and brutality experienced by soldiers.
But the movie is also about friendship, sacrifice and responsibility.
One reason I recommend it is that you do not need to be a fan of war movies to appreciate it. At its heart, it is a human story.
Why I recommend it: Powerful storytelling, excellent performances and some of Spielberg’s strongest directing.
3. Jaws (1975)
Before Spielberg became the director of Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and Saving Private Ryan, he made Jaws.
And this is the movie that changed his career.
The story is about a great white shark terrorizing a small beach community. Police chief Martin Brody, played by Roy Scheider, tries to protect the town while dealing with the growing threat.
What makes Jaws so effective is that Spielberg does not constantly show the shark.
Sometimes, you hear music.
Sometimes, you see people swimming.
Sometimes, you simply see something moving beneath the water.
Your imagination does the rest.
That is one of the reasons the movie still works today.
Why I recommend it: If you want to understand how Spielberg became one of Hollywood’s greatest suspense directors, start here.
4. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
E.T. is probably one of the best examples of Spielberg’s ability to make science fiction feel personal.
The movie follows Elliott, a young boy who discovers an alien stranded on Earth.
Instead of treating the alien as a monster or an enemy, Spielberg makes E.T. a friend.
The relationship between Elliott and E.T. is what makes the movie so memorable.
There is humour, adventure, sadness and plenty of childhood wonder.
The famous bicycle scene remains one of Spielberg’s most recognizable moments.
What I like about E.T. is that you can watch it as a child and enjoy the adventure, then watch it years later and understand the emotional side of the story much more deeply.
Why I recommend it: It is a beautiful combination of science fiction, childhood friendship and emotion.
5. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
If you want pure adventure, Raiders of the Lost Ark is difficult to beat.
Spielberg teamed up with George Lucas to create one of cinema’s most famous characters: Indiana Jones.
Harrison Ford plays the adventurous archaeologist who travels around the world searching for ancient artifacts while dealing with enemies, traps and dangerous situations.
The movie moves quickly and rarely gives you time to get bored.
There are fights, chases, ancient temples, snakes and one of the most famous villains in adventure cinema.
But what makes Indiana Jones work is his personality.
He is intelligent, brave and capable, but he is also far from perfect.
Why I recommend it: It is Spielberg at his most entertaining and adventurous.
6. Schindler’s List (1993)
This is probably the most serious movie on my list. It is a movie based on true story.
Schindler’s List tells the story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who eventually works to save Jewish people from the Holocaust.
Liam Neeson plays Schindler, while Ralph Fiennes plays the brutal Nazi officer Amon Göth.
The movie is difficult to watch in places, but that is also part of its power.
Spielberg does not try to turn this tragic period of history into entertainment. Instead, he presents the human cost of the Holocaust and the choices people made during one of the darkest periods of the 20th century.
It is also a very different Spielberg experience compared with Jurassic Park or Indiana Jones.
Why I recommend it: It is an important historical film and one of Spielberg’s most powerful works.
7. Minority Report (2002)
If you enjoy science fiction and futuristic stories, put Minority Report on your watchlist.
Tom Cruise plays John Anderton, a police officer working for a system that claims it can predict murders before they happen.
The idea sounds great.
If you know someone is going to commit murder, why wait until the crime happens?
But the movie asks a bigger question:
Can you punish someone for a crime they have not committed yet?
That simple question turns into a fast-paced science-fiction thriller filled with chase scenes, technology and mystery.
What I particularly like about this movie is that it is entertaining while also giving you something to think about.
Why I recommend it: Great choice if you like futuristic technology, mystery and action.
8. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Catch Me If You Can shows another side of Spielberg.
There are no dinosaurs.
No aliens.
No giant shark.
Instead, we get the story of Frank Abagnale Jr., played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and FBI agent Carl Hanratty, played by Tom Hanks.
Frank is young, intelligent and incredibly good at pretending to be someone he is not.
He successfully passes himself off as different professionals while staying one step ahead of the FBI.
The relationship between Frank and Hanratty gives the movie much of its charm.
It is funny, exciting and surprisingly emotional.
DiCaprio and Hanks are excellent together, and Spielberg keeps the story moving without making it unnecessarily complicated.
Why I recommend it: It is one of Spielberg’s easiest movies to recommend to almost anyone.
9. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
If Raiders of the Lost Ark gives you the classic Indiana Jones adventure, The Last Crusade gives you something extra: Indiana Jones and his father.
Sean Connery plays Professor Henry Jones, Indiana’s father, and their relationship becomes an important part of the story.
The two travel across Europe while searching for the Holy Grail.
The movie has everything you expect from Indiana Jones: action, puzzles, ancient history, humour and dangerous villains.
But the father-son relationship gives the movie more emotional depth.
There are also plenty of funny moments between Ford and Connery.
Why I recommend it: It combines adventure and comedy with a surprisingly touching family story.
10. The Fabelmans (2022)
I could not finish this list without The Fabelmans.
This movie is especially interesting if you have already read my article about Spielberg’s filmography because it feels like a window into the filmmaker himself.
The story follows Sammy Fabelman, a young boy who becomes fascinated with movies and filmmaking.
As he grows older, he begins using his camera to understand his family and the world around him.
The movie is semi-autobiographical and was inspired by Spielberg’s own childhood and his journey into filmmaking.
That makes it different from many of his other movies.
When you watch Jaws, you are watching Spielberg make a shark movie.
When you watch Jurassic Park, you are watching Spielberg bring dinosaurs to life.
But when you watch The Fabelmans, you are watching Spielberg tell a story about why he fell in love with movies in the first place.
Why I recommend it: It is probably the best choice if you want to understand Spielberg the person and filmmaker.
My Spielberg Top 10 at a Glance
| Rank | Movie | Year | Why I Recommend It |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jurassic Park | 1993 | Adventure, suspense and unforgettable dinosaurs |
| 2 | Saving Private Ryan | 1998 | Powerful war story and outstanding direction |
| 3 | Jaws | 1975 | Masterclass in suspense |
| 4 | E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | 1982 | Heartwarming science fiction |
| 5 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | 1981 | Classic adventure |
| 6 | Schindler’s List | 1993 | Powerful historical drama |
| 7 | Minority Report | 2002 | Smart science fiction thriller |
| 8 | Catch Me If You Can | 2002 | Fun, clever and emotional |
| 9 | Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | 1989 | Adventure with a great father-son story |
| 10 | The Fabelmans | 2022 | Spielberg’s personal love letter to filmmaking |
A Few Spielberg Movies That Almost Made My List
Choosing only 10 was difficult because Spielberg has made too many good movies to fit into one list.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind was very close to making the cut. It is one of his most important science-fiction films and deserves attention if you enjoy stories about extraterrestrial life.
Lincoln is another excellent choice, especially if you enjoy historical dramas. Daniel Day-Lewis gives an outstanding performance as Abraham Lincoln.
Bridge of Spies is also worth watching if you prefer political thrillers and historical stories.
And if you want something more recent, West Side Story and Ready Player One show that Spielberg was still willing to experiment with different styles decades into his career.
Where Should You Start?
If you have never watched a Steven Spielberg movie before, I would not necessarily tell you to start with the oldest one.
Start with Jurassic Park if you want adventure.
Start with Jaws if you like suspense.
Start with E.T. if you want something emotional and family-friendly.
Start with Saving Private Ryan if you like serious war movies.
Start with Raiders of the Lost Ark if you want action and adventure.
And if you have already watched many of Spielberg’s famous movies, watch The Fabelmans. It gives you a completely different way of looking at the director’s career.
Final Thoughts
What I enjoy most about Spielberg’s movies is how different they can be.
The same filmmaker who gave us a giant shark in Jaws also gave us a friendly alien in E.T., dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, a devastating Holocaust drama in Schindler’s List, a World War II story in Saving Private Ryan and a personal story about filmmaking in The Fabelmans.
That range is what makes choosing a Spielberg top 10 so difficult.
There is probably no single correct list.
Your favourite Spielberg movie may be completely different from mine, and that is part of the fun.
But if you are looking for 10 Spielberg movies that give you a good picture of his career, these are the ones I would start with.
And if you have not watched any of them yet, you have a very good movie marathon waiting for you.
James
