Honestly, if you ask someone to name a famous director, Steven Spielberg is usually the first name out of their mouth. It’s for a good reason. The man basically invented the modern blockbuster. But when you start digging into the question of what movies did steven spielberg make, you realize the list is way weirder and more diverse than just "the guy who did the shark movie." He’s done everything from high-concept sci-fi to devastating historical dramas, and even a few projects that, frankly, most people have totally forgotten about.
He didn't just start with big budgets and CGI. His first "real" movie, Firelight, was made when he was just 17 for about $500. He showed it at a local theater for one night and made exactly $501. A one-dollar profit. Not exactly a Wall Street killing, but it was the start of a career that has now crossed the $10 billion mark at the global box office.
The Blockbuster Era: When Spielberg Changed Everything
You can't talk about his filmography without starting with the big ones. In 1975, Jaws didn't just scare people out of the water; it changed how movies were sold. Before Jaws, movies usually opened in a few theaters and traveled slowly across the country. Spielberg and Universal dumped it into hundreds of theaters at once with a massive TV ad campaign. It was the birth of the "summer blockbuster."
It’s kind of funny looking back, but Jaws was a total disaster behind the scenes. The mechanical shark, nicknamed "Bruce," constantly sank or broke because the salt water fried its innards. Because the shark didn't work, Spielberg had to use those yellow barrels and POV shots to suggest the monster. It made the movie scarier. Sometimes, being broke (or having broken gear) is the best thing that can happen to a director.
Then came the "Wonder Years" of his career:
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- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): His first real foray into aliens that weren't trying to eat us.
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): He teamed up with George Lucas to create Indiana Jones because he couldn't get the rights to direct a James Bond movie.
- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982): A movie so big it stayed at number one for 16 weeks, a record that's still standing in 2026.
People often forget that while he was making these hits, he also had a massive "miss" with 1941, a chaotic comedy about war that almost everyone hated at the time. It’s a reminder that even the greats can trip over their own shoelaces.
The Dual Identity of 1993
1993 was arguably the most insane year any director has ever had. Think about it. Most directors struggle to finish one movie every three years. In '93, Spielberg released Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List within months of each other.
He was literally in Poland filming a black-and-white Holocaust drama during the day, then going home at night to look at digital dinosaurs on a satellite feed for Jurassic Park. He’s described it as a "bipolar experience." One movie was pure craft and spectacle; the other was a document of human tragedy.
Speaking of Schindler’s List, here’s a bit of trivia most people miss: Spielberg didn't take a dime from the movie. He called the profits "blood money." Instead, he used his share to start the Shoah Foundation, which records the testimonies of survivors. He also famously refused to sign any merchandise or posters for the film so that people couldn't flip them for profit on eBay.
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What Movies Did Steven Spielberg Make Lately?
As he’s gotten older, his movies have shifted. They feel more "grown-up," focusing on history and personal legacy. Lincoln (2012) finally got an actor—Daniel Day-Lewis—an Oscar for a Spielberg film. Before that, his movies were known for technical awards, but the actors usually got overlooked.
He also gave us The Post, Bridge of Spies, and his most personal work yet, The Fabelmans (2022). If you haven't seen The Fabelmans, it’s basically a semi-autobiographical look at his own childhood. He even included the detail about discovering his mother's affair through a 16mm camera lens, a secret he actually kept from his father for decades in real life.
The Sci-Fi Return: Disclosure Day (2026)
If you’re looking at what he’s doing right now, the buzz is all about Disclosure Day. Released in June 2026, this movie marks his big return to the UFO genre. But it’s not E.T. part two. Starring Emily Blunt as a meteorologist who accidentally broadcasts the first sign of alien contact, it’s much colder and more unsettling than his earlier stuff. It’s less about "magic" and more about the psychological fallout of realizing we aren't alone. It’s a very 2026 take on a classic Spielberg theme.
A Quick Cheat Sheet of the Spielberg "Deep Cuts"
If you want to sound like a real film nerd, you have to know the ones that aren't Jurassic Park.
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- Duel (1971): His first "feature," though it was originally for TV. It’s just a guy in a car being chased by a creepy truck. Simple, terrifying, and brilliant.
- The Sugarland Express (1974): His actual theatrical debut. Goldie Hawn tries to get her kid back. Spielberg says if he could do it over, he'd change everything about it.
- Empire of the Sun (1987): A young Christian Bale in a Japanese internment camp. It’s gorgeous and way darker than you’d expect from the "E.T. guy."
- Munich (2005): A gritty, controversial look at the aftermath of the 1972 Olympics.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Movie Night
If you're planning a Spielberg marathon, don't just stick to the hits. To really understand the guy, you have to see the contrast.
- Watch the "Double Feature" of 1993: Watch Jurassic Park on Friday and Schindler’s List on Saturday. It’ll give you whiplash, but you’ll see the full range of his brain.
- Look for the "Father Issues": Almost every movie he makes—from Indiana Jones to Catch Me If You Can—features a dad who is either missing, distant, or kind of a mess. It’s his signature.
- Pay attention to the "Long Take": Spielberg is a master of the "oner"—a long shot where the camera moves around the actors for minutes without cutting. Once you see it, you can't unsee it.
Steven Spielberg's career isn't just a list of movies; it's the history of modern cinema. From a one-dollar profit in a small-town theater to redefining the sci-fi genre again in 2026 with Disclosure Day, he’s proven that he’s more than just a brand. He’s a guy who never stopped being a Boy Scout with a camera.
To get the most out of his filmography, start by watching Duel to see where the tension began, then move to The Fabelmans to understand the man behind the camera, before catching his latest work, Disclosure Day, in IMAX. Understanding the personal history he pours into his blockbusters makes the explosions and aliens feel a lot more human.