There are few directors who’ve reached the level of power and influence thatSteven Spielberghas. Throughout his long-running and massively successful career, Spielberg has managed a feat that few of his peers have even came close to: he became a household name. If you were to ask most people to name a film director, they’d probably be able to name one or two. And one of those names will be Steven Spielberg. Across 30-something movies and a whole host of producing projects, Spielberg has managed to become a brand in and of himself. He’s an influence upon the shape of American cinema that cannot be overstated due to the sheer magnitude of this creator.
Even still, there are probably a few Spielberg films you haven’t seen. Some of his 2010s work, while great, definitely flew under the radar. His early films — like crime dramaThe Sugarland Expressorwar comedy1941— are really only films you would watch if you’re watching through the Spielberg filmography. There are a few Spielberg films, however, that we all have seen more times than we can count. Whether it be a childhood obsession with dinosaurs or a fascination with his later-period dramas, Spielberg has managed to keep all of us on the hook for decades and decades. So, in that vein, here is a list of the 10 most rewatchable Steven Spielberg films.
10Jurassic Park
A classic film that ended up spawning five sequels across the years,Jurassic Parkmight be the most familiar to everyone here. It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t seen at least one of these films, but the best one is where it all started. Some of the most impressive visual effects ever produced (even today) and incredibly fun performances from Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, and Laura Dern makeJurassic Parkinfinitely entertaining. What makes the film so rewatchable, however, lies in its simplicity. The premise, while fantastical, is an easy sell because who wouldn’t want to see a living, breathing dinosaur in our world? It encounters easy to follow and even easier to understand concepts, which make it infinitely easy to watch and watch again.
Jurassic Parkfollows a duo of paleontologists (Neill and Dern), and a smart-mouthed mathematician (Goldblum), as they are offered the experience of a lifetime: to tour a theme park with real, live dinosaurs. The mastermind of the park, a billionaire who has spared no expense, assures all involved that the park is safe. The group and the island’s employees quickly find out, however, that the island might not be as safe as they think when a bunch of predatorial dinosaurs break free and wreak havoc on the island.
Related:All of Steven Spielberg’s Movies from the 90s, Ranked
9Minority Report
Based a story from legendary science-fiction writer Phillip K. Dick,Minority Reportis one of two collaborations between Spielberg and movie star for the ages Tom Cruise.Minority Reportmight often go overlooked by the more casual film fans in the world, but it is handily one ofSpielberg’s best films(and incredibly rewatchable as well). A heady sci-fi movie that is amplified by the stellar performances from the aforementioned Cruise, as well as supporting performances from Colin Farrell, Max von Sydow, and Peter Stormare (to name a few), Spielberg really made something special withMinority Report. It’s one of those films that reveals new layers to the viewer after each subsequent watch, which makes it prone to rewatching.
Minority Reporttakes place in the not-so-distant future Washington D.C. of 2054. Police have begun to utilize a new psychic technology that allows them to arrest and convict murderers before they even commit their crime. Cruise plays the head of the so-called “Precrime “unit. The plot of the film gets into motion when he himself is accused of the future murder of a man he hasn’t even met yet.
8War of the Worlds
Spielberg channeled the collective trauma and paranoia of a post-9/11 America and laced his remake of the classic H.G. Wells story with that sense of unending fear. Spielberg’sWar of the Worldsmarks not only the other collaboration of his with Cruise, but also the culmination of his sci-fi stint in the early-2000s. Combining his signature sentimentality with that aforementioned paranoia aspect of the cultural climate, Spielberg’sWar of the Worldsis one of the best blockbusters of its ilk: a testament to not only Spielberg’s talent but his ability to channel the stories around him and embolden them. Not only is the film rewatchable, but its thought-provoking and emotive each and every time.
War of the Worldsfollows a dockworker and his estranged children as he attempts to protect them and reunite them with their mother (his ex-wife) when extraterrestrials suddenly invade Earth and start destroying everything. Cruise lends the film a heaviness and emotional vulnerability, while Dakota Fanning as his daughter provides all the fear and clutching for normalcy that any child would have in this situation. It’s a fantastic film that will earn its incremental rewatches.
7Raiders of the Lost Ark
1981’sRaiders of the Lost Arkmarks the debut of Indiana Jones, the legendary character as played by Harrison Ford. He’s an intelligent archeologist and treasure hunter, who is as brilliantly portrayed a character as any ever played by Ford, but its really Spielberg’s handle on the filmmaking that makes Raiders such a legendary film.Raiders of the Lost Arksuccessfully launched theIndiana Jonesfranchise, which has continued for over 40 years and even has a new entry coming out soon. It’s hard to overstate the importance ofIndiana Joneson popular culture since its initial release in the 80s, but that its sort of undeniable.
Raiders of the Lost Arktakes place in the 1936, as Jones and his former lover interest Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) take on the Nazi army as they all chase after the oft-written about, but never seen Ark of the Covenant. Injecting an otherwise fantastical and unbelievable premise with the right amount of weight and realistic framing,Raidersis a masterpiece of adventure filmmaking that you’ll want to watch over and over again.
6E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial
Based on the Spielberg’s childhood and the imaginary friend he conjured up after his parent’s divorce,E.T: The Extra Terrestrialwas a massive success when it was released in 1982. Charting the confounding friendship between a troubled young boy and a crash-landed alien, the film follows protagonist Elliott as he learns a lot about humanity and himself from the extra terrestrial. Eventually, E.T falls ill, so Elliott and his siblings (including a young Drew Barrymore as his baby sister) must evade government intervention and losing their newfound friend in the process.
E.T.is a heartfelt, endlessly enjoyable family drama combined with alien adventure story, one that will warm the heartstrings of any and all who view it. Spielberg injects each and every scene with a lived-in familiarity, as he’s using his own life and experiences to embolden the film. It’s a magnificent piece of work that you’ve probably already seen a dozen times and would gladly watch another dozen times.
The breakout film that made Spielberg who he is,Jawsis a legendary piece of contemporary filmmaking. Everything from the simple premise to the astoundingly brilliant performances from the cast coalesce into a movie that has gone down in history as one of the most important ever made. When a man-eating great white shark becomes too much to handle, a police chief and marine biologist go on the hunt to take out the freak of nature shark.
Shot entirely on the ocean and featuring all the trouble that comes with that proposition,Jawsis one of those rare films that feels as haunting as it seems from the premise. Spielberg’s career was made withJawsand his whole filmography would be unrealized had it not become such a breakout hit. Not only was it a hit on an impossible level, but the film holds up and still influences the films of our current day.
Related:9 Underrated Steven Spielberg Movies That Deserve More Love
4Catch Me If You Can
The biographical-drama comedyCatch Me If You Canis based on the autobiography of main character Frank Abagnale.Portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, and featuring supporting performances by Tom Hanks and Christopher Walken, every aspect ofCatch Me If You Canlead the film down a fun and engaging path. Following the exploits of a con man for the ages, the film shows all the tricks and traps laid by Abagnale to evade capture and keep his ruse up as a Pan Am pilot who cashes fraudulent checks and lives the big life.
Catch Me If You Canis one of Spielberg’s most fun films and will provide a whole host of enjoyment for all who watch. It’s one of those few films where, even though the main character is a criminal, you want to root for them to keep committing crimes. The central cat-and-mouse story keeps you intrigued, while DiCaprio and Hanks allure you to their individual pursuits with fantastic performances. You’ll be rewatchingCatch Me If You Canas soon as possible solely because you want to see those two in this mode once again.
3The Adventures of Tintin
In collaboration with fellowfilmmaker Peter Jackson, Spielberg’s adaptation of Herge’s Tintin stories is one for the ages. Not only does the source material allow for a rolicking good time going across the world searching for treasure, but Spielberg’s textbook sentimentality injectsThe Adventures of Tintinwith a sense of heart that elevates the whole thing. Jamie Bell as Tintin is some of the most inspired casting that Spielberg ever did, as he creates a character so rounded and real you just want to be friends with him. The realistic CGI animation also elevates the film to a heightened sense of reality that makes each and every scene that much more exciting.
The Adventures of Tintinfollows the titular character, his dog Snowy, and his trusty best friend Captain Haddock as they embark on the search for the treasure of the Unicorn: a sunken ship of legend that once was helmed by Haddock’s ancestor. They’re given chase by the evil Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine, who wants the treasure for himself and will stop at nothing to take it from Tintin and Haddock.
Thefirst feature filmdirected by Spielberg,Duelis a legendary project for a lot of reasons. For one, it’s the reason that Spielberg was even able to get the gig to directJaws.Duelis also a made-for-TV film that manages to be as good, if not better than a lot of theatrical films of its class. Spielberg shows up here as a sophmoric, but almost entirely formed artist who knows exactly where to put the camera at every single turn.Duelis a tense, taut, and all killer suspense film that launched Spielberg into the studio system and gave us the great filmmaker we all know.
Duelcenters on a commuter (Dennis Weaver) who is driving through the California desert to meet with a client, but finds himself chased and terrorized by an unseen semi truck driver who will not relent. Everything about the film oozes tension and suspense, as no explanation is given for why the truck is chasing the man down. All we know is that he’s dangerous and won’t stop until the commuter is done for.
1West Side Story
When it was announced that a remake ofWest Side Storywas being made by Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner, expectations weren’t necessarily high.West Side Storyis a timeless musical, one that new generations of film and Broadway fans alike discover every single day. Remaking such a legendary feat of the genre seems like a fools' errand, but hype built up around the curiosity of what this remake could possibly be. Spielberg’sWest Side Storyis not only a magnificent re-imagining of the original story, but adds so much to create a remake that actually fixes issues present in the original film. His version of the story is bigger, more adventurous, and bolder in almost every respect.
West Side Storyis a reimagining of the classic Shakespeare storyRomeo and Juliet, pitting two groups of people (in this case two rival gangs in turn of the century New York) against one another in an unending rivalry wherein a member of each faction falls for the person from the rival gang. Tony, of the Jets, and Maria, of the Sharks, fall for one another and swear to get out of town before their respective households kill each other out of malice. It’s a tale as old as time, but it never gets old, especially not when told by Spielberg.
