Childhood and Education Journey of Steven Spielberg in Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Steven Spielberg. From birth to education, explore key events.

Steven Spielberg is a highly influential American filmmaker, recognized as one of the greatest directors in cinematic history and a key figure in the New Hollywood era. He is also the highest-grossing film director of all time. Known as a pioneer of the modern blockbuster, Spielberg's filmography includes numerous critically acclaimed and commercially successful films considered among the greatest and highest-grossing ever made.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1941: Setting of 1941 movie plot

The movie 1941, released in 1979, is about Californians preparing for a Japanese invasion after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

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1943: Original release of A Guy Named Joe

The story for the movie Always, which was released in 1989, was a modern remake of A Guy Named Joe (1943), one of Spielberg's favorite childhood films.

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1944: WWII Context for Saving Private Ryan

Spielberg reminded the cast of Saving Private Ryan halfway through filming that they were making a tribute to thank "your grandparents and my dad, who fought in the war" which occurred in 1944.

1953: Release of George Pal's War of the Worlds

George Pal's film adaptation of War of the Worlds was released in 1953. Spielberg had been a fan of the book and this movie.

1956: Publication of Minority Report short story

Philip K. Dick's short story Minority Report, which served as the basis for the film, was published in 1956.

1957: Setting of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is set in 1957, pitting Indiana Jones against Soviet agents searching for a telepathic crystal skull.

1967: Release of Playtime

Jacques Tati's Playtime was released in 1967, later inspiring the movie "The Terminal" released in 2004.

1969: Publication of Supertoys Last All Summer Long

Brian Aldiss's short story "Supertoys Last All Summer Long", which served as the basis for A.I. Artificial Intelligence, was originally published in 1969.

1972: Munich massacre

In 1972, the Munich massacre occurred, where eleven Israeli Olympic athletes were kidnapped and murdered, leading to the events depicted in Spielberg's film Munich.

1978: Debbie Allen reads Amistad I

In 1978, Debbie Allen read the book Amistad I and thought Spielberg would be perfect to direct a movie based on it.

1979: Kubrick buys the rights to Supertoys Last All Summer Long

In 1979, Stanley Kubrick bought the rights to the story "Supertoys Last All Summer Long" and worked on an adaptation for years before suggesting that Spielberg direct it.

1982: Publication of War Horse novel

Michael Morpurgo's novel War Horse, on which the film is based, was published in 1982.

War Horse (Scholastic Gold)

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1986: Release of Sword of Gideon

The book Vengeance, which formed the basis of Spielberg's Munich, was previously adapted into the 1986 television film Sword of Gideon.

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March 1, 1993: Filming Commences for Schindler's List

On March 1, 1993, filming for Schindler's List began in Poland while Spielberg was still editing Jurassic Park in the evenings. Spielberg brought his family to make filming more bearable.

1994: Spielberg sets up DreamWorks and takes a break from directing

In 1994, Spielberg took a break from directing to spend more time with his family, and set up his new film studio, DreamWorks, with Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen.

1994: Honorary degree from University of Southern California

In 1994, Steven Spielberg received an honorary degree from the University of Southern California.

1999: Honorary degree from Brown University

In 1999, Steven Spielberg received an honorary degree from Brown University.

2001: Resigned from Boy Scouts of America board

In 2001, Steven Spielberg resigned as a member of the national advisory board of the Boy Scouts of America due to his disagreement with the organization's anti-homosexuality stance.

2002: Honorary degree from Yale University

In 2002, Steven Spielberg received an honorary degree from Yale University.

2006: Boycott by Arab League

In 2006, the Arab League voted to boycott Steven Spielberg's movies after he donated $1 million for relief efforts in Israel during the 2006 Lebanon War.

February 20, 2007: Fundraiser for Barack Obama

On February 20, 2007, Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen hosted a fundraiser for Barack Obama, inviting Democrats to attend.

2007: Fundraiser for Barack Obama

On February 20, 2007, Steven Spielberg, along with Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen, invited Democrats to a fundraiser for Barack Obama.

February 2008: Resigned as advisor to 2008 Summer Olympics

In February 2008, Steven Spielberg resigned as advisor to the 2008 Summer Olympics in protest of the Chinese government's inaction over the War in Darfur. He expressed that his conscience would not allow him to continue business as usual.

September 2008: Supported same-sex marriage in California

In September 2008, Steven Spielberg and his wife offered their support to same-sex marriage in California by donating $100,000 to the "No on Proposition 8" campaign fund.

2009: Honorary degree from Boston University

In 2009, Steven Spielberg received an honorary degree from Boston University.

2016: Endorsed Hillary Clinton

In 2016, Steven Spielberg endorsed Hillary Clinton in the presidential election and donated $1 million to Priorities USA Action.

2018: Donated to March for Our Lives

In 2018, Steven Spielberg and his wife donated $500,000 to the March for Our Lives student demonstration in favor of gun control in the United States.

December 2023: Shoah Foundation collected testimonies after Hamas attack

In December 2023, after the Hamas-led attack on Israel, the Shoah Foundation, founded by Spielberg, gathered over 100 video testimonies from those who experienced the attacks to add to the collection of "Holocaust survivor and witness testimony." Spielberg expressed shock at the barbarity and emphasized the importance of preserving these stories.

December 2024: Net Worth Estimated at $5.3 Billion

As of December 2024, Forbes estimates Steven Spielberg's net worth at $5.3 billion, making him one of the richest people in the entertainment industry.