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.
The movie 1941, released in 1979, is about Californians preparing for a Japanese invasion after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
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.
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.
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.
Philip K. Dick's short story Minority Report, which served as the basis for the film, was published in 1956.
Jacques Tati's Playtime was released in 1967, later inspiring the movie "The Terminal" released in 2004.
In 1968, Stanley Kauffmann created a list, where he later included Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and placed it first on his list of the best American films from 1968 to 1977.
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.
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.
In 1975, Spielberg discussed the film Always with Dreyfuss. Twelve drafts were written before the film was released in 1989.
In 1977, Steven Spielberg and Richard Dreyfuss reunited for Close Encounters of the Third Kind, a film about UFOs. Spielberg employed 65 mm film and a new live-action recording system for the film. François Truffaut was cast as scientist Claude Lacombe, and Douglas Trumbull handled special effects. The film won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Sound Effects Editing and received positive reviews.
In 1978, Debbie Allen read the book Amistad I and thought Spielberg would be perfect to direct a movie based on it.
In 1979, Spielberg directed 1941, an action-comedy about Californians preparing for a Japanese invasion after Pearl Harbor. The film grossed over $92.4 million worldwide but received negative reviews.
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.
In 1981, Spielberg directed Raiders of the Lost Ark, starring Harrison Ford and Karen Allen. The film was shot in multiple locations and won Academy Awards for Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects. It became the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise and was a box-office success.
In 1982, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was released, grossing $700 million worldwide and winning four Academy Awards: Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects. Ronald and Nancy Reagan attended a special screening and were emotionally moved by the film.
In 1982, Spielberg released E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, a science fiction film about a boy who befriends an alien. Spielberg avoided storyboards for spontaneity and shot the film in sequence for authentic performances. The film was well-received, and its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival led to audience members being emotionally touched.
In 1983, Spielberg co-produced Twilight Zone: The Movie with John Landis and contributed the "Kick the Can" segment to the anthology film.
In 1984, Spielberg directed Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark. Filmed in multiple locations, the film was darker than its predecessor and led to the creation of the PG-13 rating. The film won the Academy Award for Best Special Effects and marked the meeting of Spielberg and his future wife, Kate Capshaw.
In 1984, Spielberg served as producer or executive producer on Gremlins for his production company, Amblin Entertainment.
In 1984, Stanley Kubrick suggested that Spielberg direct A.I. Artificial Intelligence, believing the story was closer to Spielberg's sensibilities.
In 1985, Spielberg served as producer or executive producer on The Goonies and Back to the Future for his production company, Amblin Entertainment. Spielberg also began making films for Warner Bros, starting with The Color Purple, a drama based on Alice Walker's novel. It was Spielberg's first film on a dramatic subject matter, and it received eleven Academy Award nominations and Spielberg won Best Director from the Directors Guild of America.
The book Vengeance, which formed the basis of Spielberg's Munich, was previously adapted into the 1986 television film Sword of Gideon.
In 1987, Spielberg released Empire of the Sun, an adaptation of J. G. Ballard's autobiographical novel, filmed in Shanghai. Despite mixed reviews initially, the film received critical acclaim later on and was nominated for six Academy Awards. The film explores the story of a young boy in a Japanese internment camp during World War II.
In 1987, Steven Spielberg was awarded the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award for his work as a creative producer.
In 1988, Spielberg served as producer or executive producer on Who Framed Roger Rabbit for his production company, Amblin Entertainment.
In 1989, Spielberg directed Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, with the return of Lucas and Ford. Sean Connery was cast as Jones's father. The film received mostly positive reviews and was a box-office success.
In 1989, Spielberg released Always, a romantic drama starring Richard Dreyfuss about an aerial firefighter. The film was commercially unsuccessful and received mixed reviews.
In 1989, Steven Spielberg helped the Boy Scouts of America develop a merit badge in cinematography. Also In 1989, Spielberg was presented with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.
In 1990, Spielberg served as producer or executive producer on Joe Versus the Volcano and Arachnophobia for his production company, Amblin Entertainment.
In 1991, Spielberg released Hook, starring Robin Williams, Julia Roberts, and Dustin Hoffman. Despite clashes on set and mixed reviews, the film earned over $300 million worldwide.
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.
In 1993, Spielberg released Jurassic Park, based on Michael Crichton's novel. The film utilized computer-generated imagery and became the highest-grossing film at the time, winning three Academy Awards.
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.
In 1994, Steven Spielberg received an honorary degree from the University of Southern California.
In 1995, Steven Spielberg received the AFI Life Achievement Award.
In 1996, Life magazine named Steven Spielberg the most influential person of his generation.
In May 1997, The Lost World: Jurassic Park was released, becoming one of the highest grossing films of the year. The film is a sequel to Jurassic Park and features more realistic onscreen creatures.
In 1997, Jonathan Norman stalked Steven Spielberg and attempted to enter his home while in possession of a "rape kit". Norman was subsequently jailed for 25 years. Spielberg expressed fear that Norman intended to "rape or maim him".
In 1997, Spielberg's film Amistad, based on the 1839 events aboard the slave ship La Amistad, was released under DreamWorks. The film struggled to find an audience and underperformed at the box office.
In 1998, Spielberg released Saving Private Ryan, a World War II epic. The film was praised for its direction and realistic portrayal of war and was a box office success.
In 1998, Steven Spielberg was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by President Roman Herzog in recognition of Schindler's List and his work with the Shoah Foundation.
In August 1999, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks were awarded the Distinguished Public Service Medal from the Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen for their work on Saving Private Ryan.
In 1999, Stanley Kubrick died. Spielberg decided to direct A.I. and wrote the screenplay himself, trying to be faithful to Kubrick's vision.
In 1999, Steven Spielberg had seven films in the top 100 in a "Millennium Movies" survey of British film fans run by the Sky Premier channel, making him the most popular director.
In 1999, Steven Spielberg received an honorary degree from Brown University.
In 1999, Steven Spielberg was awarded the Medal for Distinguished Public Service and an award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures by the Directors Guild of America for Saving Private Ryan.
On December 31, 1999, Steven Spielberg directed an 18-minute film titled "The American Journey", scored by John Williams, for the USA Millennium celebrations. It was shown at America's Millennium Gala in Washington, D.C.
In 2001, Spielberg released A.I. Artificial Intelligence, a loose adaptation of Brian Aldiss's short story. The film revolves around an android who dreams of being a "real boy" and grossed $236 million worldwide.
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.
In 2001, Steven Spielberg was awarded an honorary knighthood, Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, by Queen Elizabeth II for services to the British film industry.
In 2001, Steven Spielberg was stalked by conspiracy theorist and former social worker Diana Napolis, who accused him and actress Jennifer Love Hewitt of installing a mind-control device in her brain, and being part of a satanic cult. Napolis was committed to a mental institution and pled guilty to stalking.
In 2002, Spielberg released both Minority Report, based on Philip K. Dick's short story, and Catch Me If You Can, based on the autobiography of Frank Abagnale. Both films were commercially successful.
In 2002, Steven Spielberg received an honorary degree from Yale University.
In 2003, Premiere magazine ranked Steven Spielberg first place in the list of 100 Most Powerful People in Movies.
In 2003, Steven Spielberg received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was awarded the Blessed are the Peacemakers Award from the Catholic Theological Union.
In 2004, Spielberg released The Terminal, a comedy inspired by the story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri and Jacques Tati's Playtime.
In 2004, Steven Spielberg was awarded France's highest civil honor, the Legion of Honour by President Jacques Chirac.
In 2004, film critic Tom Shone praised Steven Spielberg's work, stating that the medium of film was most fully itself in his work over the last twenty-five years.
In December 2005, Spielberg and his partners sold DreamWorks to media conglomerate Viacom.
In 2005, Empire magazine ranked Steven Spielberg number one on a list of the greatest film directors of all time.
In 2005, Spielberg directed War of the Worlds, based on H. G. Wells's novel. The film was a box-office hit.
In 2005, Spielberg's Munich, about the Israeli government's retaliation after the 1972 Munich massacre, was released. The film garnered mostly positive reviews but was also one of Spielberg's most controversial films.
In 2005, Steven Spielberg was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, the first year it considered non-literary contributors.
In February 2006, the sale of DreamWorks to Viacom was finalized.
In June 2006, Spielberg planned to make Interstellar, but abandoned the project.
On July 15, 2006, Steven Spielberg was awarded the Gold Hugo Lifetime Achievement Award at the Summer Gala of the Chicago International Film Festival.
On February 20, 2007, Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen hosted a fundraiser for Barack Obama, inviting Democrats to attend.
On February 20, 2007, Steven Spielberg, along with Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen, invited Democrats to a fundraiser for Barack Obama.
In February 2008, Steven Spielberg received the Visual Effects Society Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the visual effects industry.
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.
In June 2008, Steven Spielberg received Arizona State University's Hugh Downs Award for Communication Excellence.
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.
In October 2009, Steven Spielberg received the Philadelphia Liberty Medal; the prize was presented by former US President Bill Clinton.
In 2009, Steven Spielberg received an honorary degree from Boston University.
In 2009, Steven Spielberg was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for "outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment".
Starting in 2009, Spielberg began shooting the first film in a planned trilogy of motion capture films based on Hergé's The Adventures of Tintin.
On December 21, 2011, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn was released in North American theaters. The film received generally positive reviews.
On November 19, 2013, Steven Spielberg was honored by the National Archives and Records Administration with a Records of Achievement Award and given facsimiles of the 13th Amendment.
In 2013, Time magazine listed Steven Spielberg as one of the 100 most influential people.
According to Forbes' magazine, Steven Spielberg was ranked at first place of Most Influential Celebrities of 2014.
On November 24, 2015, Steven Spielberg was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama at the White House.
In July 2016, Steven Spielberg was awarded a gold Blue Peter badge by the BBC children's television program Blue Peter.
In 2016, Steven Spielberg endorsed Hillary Clinton in the presidential election and donated $1 million to Priorities USA Action.
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.
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.
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.
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