The top 20 films by Steven Spielberg, ranked

At the time, pairing directors like Spielberg with other industry heavyweights like John Landis and Joe Dante seemed like a good idea, but the result of bringing creator Rod Sterling's beloved "Twilight Zone" to the big screen was nothing short of a disaster. Not only was the film poorly received, it also cost the life of veteran actor Vic Morrow and two children after a stunt went horrifically wrong (although not during the segment directed by Spielberg). A rare misstep, but not his last.

The second outing of Harrison Ford in the iconic fedora and whip has been much-maligned by critics, but in retrospect, "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" feels like a true homage to serialized action of the 1930s, complete with horrific ethnic stereotypes and charming, if not somewhat hollow characterization of now-beloved characters. The film's bridge climax is still better and more entertaining than much of what we get in today's action cinema.

"Bridge of Spies," Spielberg's most recent collaboration with Tom Hanks boasts a script by the Coen Brothers and an Oscar-winning performance by previously little known actor Mark Rylance. Hanks portrays a lawyer tapped to negotiate an exchange with the Soviets, between a downed spy plane pilot and the man (Rylance) he defended in court. As spy tales usually go, not everything is as it seems as the film speeds to a climax that reminds us how tense a Cold War can get.

Shot at a breakneck pace of 73 days (Spielberg shot "Munich" in the same year), "War of the Worlds" based, in part, on H.G. Wells' novel of alien invasion takes an interesting path on the action blockbuster, placing star Tom Cruise not in his usual action hero role, but in the part of a man who is certainly more interested in survival than heroism, something that makes the film much more memorable than similar blockbuster fare. 

Spielberg's first foray into digital animation was a rousing success. " The Adventures of Tintin," adapted from Herge's iconic Belgian comic, is a globetrotting adventure that recalls many of the feelings from the days of "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Critics and audiences seemed to agree, but for some reason, five years later, we're still waiting for the sequel (to be produced by Spielberg, but directed by Peter Jackson).

2002 was a doubly busy year for Spielberg, releasing "Catch Me If You Can," a lighter take on the life and times of teen con artist Frank Abignale, a kid who used his ability to forge checks to lead him on an adventure of fraud that would include impersonating an airline pilot. While the film is sparse on digital effects, it's long on talent with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks facing off against one another in an cinematically enjoyable game of cat and mouse.

While the director credit solely belongs to Tobe Hooper, it's widely believed that Spielberg was responsible for directing "Poltergeist," a spook-a-blast film that is arguably the most terrifying film of its kind, a film that still holds up more than 30 years later. Released within weeks of "E.T.," "Poltergeist" is also responsible for one of the biggest catchphrases of the year; "They're here."

Spielberg's most recent effort, adapting Ernest Cline's 1980s pop culture opus "Ready Player One," was a return to form, making viewers nostalgic for a time when Spielberg focused more on blockbusters than historical dramas. Once again, Spielberg's penchant for pushing the envelope on digital effects takes center stage as he fully realizes a digital virtual world that feels every bit as tactile as the real world. 

"Jurassic Park," based on Michael Crichton's novel, was a groundbreaking film in the use of practical and digital effects. Giving audiences the most realistic to date depiction of dinosaurs, the film succeeds in reigniting interest in the creatures while also giving us something to fear in the form of the T-Rex, a creature every bit as fearsome as Spielberg's famous great white shark.

Despite being a more hands-on filmmaker, Spielberg, as compared to his contemporaries, has been able to get more out of digital effects than just about anyone else, and his adaptation of Phillip Dick's "Minority Report" is no exception. Starring Tom Cruise as a police detective who learns that enforcing "pre-crime" may not be as just as previously thought, Spielberg delivers a taut futuristic thriller that is every bit as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

Featuring an all-star cast, including usual suspect Tom Hanks opposite Meryl Streep, with solid supporting performances from Michael Stuhlbarg and Bruce Greenwood, "The Post" depicts the true story of the publishing of the Pentagon Papers, leaked documents that showed just how poorly America's involvement in the Vietnam war actually was. The film feels like a prequel to 1970s classic "All the President's Men" as the film follows the path that would ultimately lead to the undoing of President Richard Nixon largely by the efforts of the Washington Post. (Although The New York Times might be a little cranky their release of the Pentagon Papers ahead of the Washington Post was downplayed in the film.)  

"Munich," a historical drama depicting the aftermath of the murder of 11 Israeli athletes during the 1972 Olympics is easily one of Spielberg's darkest, yet most compelling films. Starring Eric Bana as Israeli spy Avner Kaufman, tasked with hunting down the terrorists responsible, the film is a deft character study of a man whose seemingly righteous mission begins to feel morally questionable with every move he makes.

While some accused "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" of Spielberg's descent into schmaltz, they couldn't be further from the truth about this timeless tale of a boy and his homesick alien friend. Before "E.T.," most stories of alien visits brought with it a sense of ominous horror. Instead, Spielberg crafted a film about friendship without borders, and in the exchange created a popular catchphrase ("E.T. phone home") and a love affair with Reese's Pieces.

Much of Spielberg's career is festooned with sci-fi stories of aliens and their various incursions on Earth, for better or worse. "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" serves as Spielberg's entry into the genre, and remains his strongest.

There are many who thought Spielberg wasn't the right man to direct a film about the struggles of African-Americans in the south during the Jazz Age, but his adaptation of Alice Walker's groundbreaking novel is full of heart, sass and tremendous amounts of soul. More importantly, it showcased the talents of standup comic and burgeoning actress Whoopi Goldberg, giving her the role of a lifetime.

Based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's biography "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln," "Lincoln" is certainly a showcase for heralded actor Daniel Day Lewis, but it's also a deft ensemble piece that shows when he's properly motivated by the material, Spielberg can still manage a surprise or two.

The first collaboration between Spielberg and director/producer George Lucas created an icon. "Raiders of the Lost Ark," the first of Indiana Jones' adventures hearkened back to Spielberg and Lucas' love of 1940 serials, and with star in the making Harrison Ford as the irascible archaeologist/adventurer, they created not just a franchise, but an institution.

After a number of genre wins and critical shrugs, Spielberg finally hit his stride dramatically, and the prize for his efforts was his first Oscar win. "Schindler's List" is a film for the ages, delivering equal parts of heartbreak and hope, reminding audiences that when Spielberg is dialed in, few filmmakers can match him.

Spielberg would find Oscar gold again with this story of a group of soldiers tasked with finding the last brother of a series of fallen soldiers during WWII. Full of action, a little humor and stark drama, "Saving Private Ryan" is Spielberg at his absolute best, delivering a film that directors still try to copy or emulate to this day.

Spielberg's third theatrical film is a historical achievement on a number of levels, but it's greatest achievement may be the creation of the blockbuster. "Jaws," a story about a town sheriff faced with a killer shark, broke all manner of records, and made "summer movies" into an official thing.