Top Ten Tuesday: Steven Spielberg’s Best Films

Happy Tuesday, dear readers! Each week, we’ll rank the top 10 films in a specific category. While we aim to tie these lists to big releases, that won’t always be the case. Our goal? For you to enjoy, share your own lists, and join in on a lively, friendly debate. This is an interactive space to build community here at The Contending.

No fancy intros, no long essays – just a category and a list. Sound good?

On June 20th, Jaws turned 50. Credited as the first true summer blockbuster, Steven Spielberg’s shark thriller didn’t just make waves at the box office, it redefined what a movie could be. Among the many reasons Jaws transformed the suspense and horror genre, none is more legendary than its minimal use of the shark itself. Mechanical issues forced Spielberg to rely on restraint, atmosphere, and suggestion, and in doing so, he delivered one of the tensest films ever made. With airtight pacing and John Williams’ unforgettable, dread-soaked score, Jaws remains one of the rarest achievements in cinema history. It also launched Spielberg’s career, cementing him as one of the most influential filmmakers of all time. It’s also one of Steven Spielberg’s best films.

This weekend, Jurassic World: Rebirth, starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, and Rupert Friend, roars into theaters. And since Spielberg was the one who first brought Michael Crichton’s dinosaurs to life, it felt like the perfect moment to bookend his ten best films with the 50th anniversary of Jaws and the debut of the seventh Jurassic Park film.

From killer sharks to cloned dinosaurs, broken homes to alien encounters, the crack of a whip in a jungle adventure to a glowing bike silhouetted against the moon, Steven Spielberg hasn’t just directed movies. He has shaped imaginations for generations.

Let’s dive into the 10 best films from the man who defined what a blockbuster could be. Here are Steven Spielberg’s best films.

10. The Color Purple (1985)

9. Lincoln (2012)

8. Munich (2005)

7. Jurassic Park (1993)

6. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

5. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

4. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

3. E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982)

2. Jaws (1975)

1. Schindler’s List (1993)

What do you agree/disagree with? What is Spielberg’s greatest film?