# The life and work of Steven Spielberg: every film in order, from Jaws to The Fabelmans > Who is Steven Spielberg? His life and essential films in order, from Jaws and E.T. to Schindler's List and The Fabelmans, with his Oscars, his style and where to start. Source: https://rankiew.app/blog/steven-spielberg-life-and-work Published: 2026-08-24 Author: Rankiew Tags: directors, steven spielberg, filmography Steven Spielberg is an American director and producer, born on December 18, 1946, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He made *Jaws*, the first summer blockbuster, then *E.T.*, *Raiders of the Lost Ark* and *Jurassic Park*, won the Oscar for Best Director for *Schindler's List* and *Saving Private Ryan*, and co-founded the studio DreamWorks. This guide follows his career film by film, with posters, so you can see where to start. # Steven Spielberg at a glance - **Born:** December 18, 1946, in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States - **Known for:** *Jaws*, *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial*, *Raiders of the Lost Ark*, *Jurassic Park*, *Schindler's List* and *Saving Private Ryan* - **Signature:** wonder seen through a child's eyes, a sweeping camera, ordinary people in extraordinary events and the scores of John Williams - **Honors:** two Oscars for Best Director (*Schindler's List* and *Saving Private Ryan*) and the Oscar for Best Picture for *Schindler's List* # Early life and career Spielberg grew up in New Jersey and Arizona and began making amateur films as a teenager. After directing for television in the early 1970s, he made the hit *Jaws* (1975) and changed the way Hollywood sells movies. In 1994 he co-founded DreamWorks with Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen, and for five decades he has alternated big adventures with serious dramas. # The films, era by era ## Jaws (1975) ::film[Jaws|1975] A shark terrorizes a beach town on the Fourth of July weekend. It became the first summer blockbuster and made a generation afraid of the water. ## Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) ::film[Close Encounters of the Third Kind|1977] A utility worker becomes obsessed with a mountain after seeing a UFO. It is Spielberg's most hopeful vision of first contact. ## Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) ::film[Raiders of the Lost Ark|1981] Indiana Jones races the Nazis to the Ark of the Covenant in an adventure made with George Lucas to honor the old movie serials. ## E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) ::film[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial|1982] A lonely boy hides a stranded alien in his house. It became the highest-grossing film in history at the time and is Spielberg's most personal fairy tale. ## Jurassic Park (1993) ::film[Jurassic Park|1993] Scientists open a park of cloned dinosaurs and nature slips out of control. Its digital effects changed cinema and it earned more than 900 million dollars in its first run. ## Schindler's List (1993) ::film[Schindler's List|1993] The true story of Oskar Schindler, who saved more than a thousand Jews during the Holocaust, shot in black and white. It won seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. ## Saving Private Ryan (1998) ::film[Saving Private Ryan|1998] A squad crosses Normandy to bring one soldier home. Its opening on Omaha Beach changed how war is filmed and earned Spielberg a second Best Director Oscar. ## Catch Me If You Can (2002) ::film[Catch Me If You Can|2002] Leonardo DiCaprio plays a teenage con man chased by an FBI agent played by Tom Hanks. It shows Spielberg's lighter and more stylish side. ## Lincoln (2012) ::film[Lincoln|2012] Daniel Day-Lewis plays Abraham Lincoln fighting to pass the amendment that abolished slavery, a role that won him the Oscar for Best Actor. ## The Fabelmans (2022) ::film[The Fabelmans|2022] A semi-autobiographical film about a boy who discovers cinema inside a family under strain. It is the closest Spielberg has come to telling his own origin story. # Steven Spielberg movies in order 1. **Jaws** (1975) 2. **Close Encounters of the Third Kind** (1977) 3. **Raiders of the Lost Ark** (1981) 4. **E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial** (1982) 5. **Jurassic Park** (1993) 6. **Schindler's List** (1993) 7. **Saving Private Ryan** (1998) 8. **Catch Me If You Can** (2002) 9. **Lincoln** (2012) 10. **The Fabelmans** (2022) # What defines a Steven Spielberg film? - **Wonder and fear.** The camera often sits at a child's eye level while the characters look up at something enormous. - **Ordinary people.** His heroes are police chiefs, teachers, kids and clerks facing something far bigger than themselves. - **Cinematic craft.** Long tracking shots, faces looking off screen and the music of John Williams, his regular composer. # Frequently asked questions about Steven Spielberg ## Who is Steven Spielberg? Steven Spielberg is an American director and producer, born on December 18, 1946, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He made *Jaws*, the first summer blockbuster, then *E.T.*, *Raiders of the Lost Ark* and *Jurassic Park*, won the Oscar for Best Director for *Schindler's List* and *Saving Private Ryan*, and co-founded the studio DreamWorks. This guide follows his career film by film, with posters, so you can see where to start. ## When and where was Steven Spielberg born? Steven Spielberg was born on December 18, 1946, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up in New Jersey and Arizona. ## What is Steven Spielberg's best movie? There is no single answer. *Schindler's List* is his most awarded and serious film, *Jaws* and *Jurassic Park* are blockbuster landmarks, and *E.T.* is a family favorite. Rate them on Rankiew to build your own ranking. ## Which Steven Spielberg movie should I watch first? Start with *Jaws* or *Raiders of the Lost Ark* for pure adventure, *E.T.* for the whole family and *Schindler's List* when you are ready for his most serious work. ## Did Steven Spielberg win the Oscar for Best Director? Yes, twice: for *Schindler's List* (1993) and *Saving Private Ryan* (1998). *Schindler's List* also won the Oscar for Best Picture. # Rate every Steven Spielberg movie Which one is your favorite? On Rankiew you can rate every film, write reviews and build your own list of Steven Spielberg movies. [Create your free Rankiew account](/signup?lang=en) *Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.*