by Steven Spielberg has now directed 36 feature films, and—with an untitled 2026 project already on the books—he’s still adding to one of the most beloved résumés in movie history. Below is an updated top-10, ordered by a blend of critical consensus (Rotten Tomatoes scores current to June 2025) and the lasting impact each picture has had on popular culture.
10. West Side Story (2021) – 91 %
Spielberg’s re-imagining of the 1957 musical wowed critics even as the box-office struggled in a pandemic winter. A shimmering, camera-drunk staging and breakout turns from Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose (who won the Oscar) proved the director could still make an old genre feel electric. screenrant.comscreenrant.com
9. Jurassic Park (1993) – 91 %
Thirty-plus years on, the original dino blockbuster remains the gold standard for CGI/animatronic integration and blockbuster suspense, earning an evergreen 91 % on Rotten Tomatoes. tomsguide.com
8. Saving Private Ryan (1998) – 94 %
Its Omaha-Beach opening still drops jaws, and its influence on every modern war film (and video game) is beyond measure. Critics continue to keep it at a lofty 94 %. screenrant.com
7. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) – 90 %
A deeply human UFO tale that pushed late-’70s effects to their limit and cemented Spielberg’s knack for awe, now sitting at 90 %. screenrant.com
6. The Fabelmans (2022) – 92 %
This semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story is Spielberg at his most personal, earning a 92 % score and seven Oscar nominations. screenrant.com
5. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) – 93 %
Pulp adventure perfection: whip cracks, rolling boulders and a gleeful pace keep Indy’s first outing fresh at 93 %. tomsguide.com
4. Catch Me If You Can (2002) – 96 %
Leonardo DiCaprio’s jet-age con-man caper and Tom Hanks’s dogged G-man make for Spielberg’s breeziest thrill ride—and a near-perfect 96 % rating. tomsguide.com
3. Jaws (1975) – 97 %
The original summer blockbuster still keeps swimmers on edge. Its 97 % score reflects the enduring power of suggestion (and John Williams’s two-note motif). tomsguide.com
2. Schindler’s List (1993) – 98 %
Unflinching and essential, Spielberg’s Holocaust masterpiece holds a near-unanimous 98 % and remains a touchstone of historical cinema. screenrant.com
1. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) – 99 %
A timeless fairy tale of friendship that turned audiences of every age into believers—and, at 99 %, the director’s highest-rated film. en.wikipedia.org
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