From Jaws to The Fabelmans: Steven Spielberg’s 10 greatest films, ranked

Has any film director ever left a bigger thumbprint on popular culture than Steven Spielberg? I know for plenty of us who grew up in the eighties and nineties, Spielberg basically was the movies. His name on a poster was enough to lift a film to 'event' status, even without showing his face on screen. I’d say he was to our generation what Hitchcock was to his—an instantly recognisable signature, that sense you were in for something proper.

With Spielberg’s latest, 'Disclosure Day', hitting cinemas this week, I figured this is the perfect excuse to bang out my completely subjective—but nevertheless infallible—top ten Spielberg films. Your opinions may vary (feel free to vent in the comments), but here’s where my money’s going:

1. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
   There’s something to be said for a sequel that gets the formula right while deepening the character. 'Last Crusade' does just that, with Spielberg and Lucas zeroing in on what makes Indy tick by bringing in his dad. And then, for a little extra spice, casting Sean Connery as said father—the previous king of blockbuster action. It’s sort of genius what they do here: Connery doesn’t play another tough guy; instead, he’s a bumbling, out-of-his-depth old academic, a lovely contrast to Ford’s battered archaeologist. The father-son banter is gold. And honestly, someone cast Harrison Ford as Tom Cruise’s dad in the next 'Mission: Impossible', please.
2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
   Now, I know 'Temple of Doom' can be a bit divisive—even Spielberg himself isn’t wild about it these days. But, let’s be real: it’s easily one of the wildest, grisliest adventure films of the eighties. Plus, it’s got the only child sidekick in film history who isn’t immediately annoying: Ke Huy Quan as Short Round. There’s an energy here that’s almost untouchable, and those set pieces still make your jaw drop.
3. Munich
   Bit of an unconventional pick, this. 'Munich' stands out for me because it’s Spielberg ditching his usual blockbuster gloss for something leaner and grittier. The story—following the Mossad tracking down those responsible for the Munich Olympics massacre—could’ve easily become jingoistic or simplistic. Instead, Spielberg leans hard into the moral murk, showing vengeance doesn’t come cheaply for anyone. Eric Bana’s fantastic as the team’s haunted leader. If you want a Spielberg film that feels refreshingly different, this is the one.
4. Schindler’s List
   The definitive Holocaust film. I don't think I’ve got it in me to ever watch it again—it’s absolutely shattering—but that’s kind of the point. Watching it is gutting but essential. How’d Spielberg manage to make this and 'Jurassic Park' at practically the same time? Still boggles the mind.
5. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
   Rewatching this before seeing 'Disclosure Day' might’ve skewed my perspective a bit, but I stand by it: 'Close Encounters' is a classic that often gets left out of the Spielberg canon. He himself admits he might have handled aspects differently with hindsight—not least Dreyfuss’s character abandoning his family for a trip on the flying saucer. If you’re keen to give it a go, stick with the theatrical or latest cut, not the special edition that drags you inside the mothership—it adds nothing. Cracking underrated John Williams score, too.
6. Saving Private Ryan
   The year this lost Best Picture to 'Shakespeare in Love' was when I realised the Oscars genuinely haven’t a clue. Alongside 'Come and See', this is the greatest war film for my money. You’re dumped right in the gut-churning, blood-splattered chaos of D-Day, and Spielberg refuses to blink. The film never lets you off the hook—it presses you so close to the horror, you can almost smell it. Even the moments where the GIs aren’t exactly the “good guys” are handled with nerve. Absolutely brutal filmmaking.
7. Jurassic Park
   Imagine seeing dinosaurs on screen for the very first time—not stop-motion, not drawings, but actual living, breathing monsters. That was 'Jurassic Park' back in 1993; it completely melted everyone’s brain. Suddenly, kids were all experts on DNA. CGI blockbuster filmmaking starts here, for better or worse.
8. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
   Spielberg doesn’t just do aliens—he turns them into the most relatable, moving metaphor for childhood you’ll ever see. 'E.T.' remains one of the all-time great films about friendship and being young. If you’ve never cried watching this, you might be dead inside. And yes, without E.T., there’s no 'Stranger Things'.
9. Jaws
   Honestly, this was almost my number one. Tarantino calls it the perfect movie, and he’s not wrong. It's a thriller, horror, adventure, and even a bit of a mate comedy all at once. But the masterstroke is in what Spielberg holds back—the shark barely shows up, but the tension is off the charts. The leads—Scheider, Dreyfuss, Shaw—are an iconic trio, each representing their own ‘type’ of bloke: everyman, nerd, and hard case. I never get tired of it.
10. Raiders of the Lost Ark
    The winner for me. There’s what, thirty seconds of wasted time in the whole thing? Harrison Ford is pure magic as Indy: heroic but always falling apart, tough but never smug. The truck chase is still the best action scene committed to film, and Ford’s punch is the stuff of legend. If you claim to love adventure films and haven’t seen this, get it sorted.

Those are my picks—now let’s be having yours in the comments.