Editing Steven Spielberg (section)

==Career==
===1969–1974: On the horizon ===
Spielberg made his professional debut with "Eyes", a segment of ''[[Night Gallery (film)|Night Gallery]]'' (1969) scripted by [[Rod Serling]] and starring [[Joan Crawford]].{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=170}} Initially, there was skepticism from Crawford and studio executives regarding Spielberg's inexperience. Despite Spielberg's efforts to implement advanced camerawork techniques, studio executives demanded a more straightforward approach. His initial contributions received mixed responses, leading Spielberg to briefly step back from studio work.{{Sfn|Parish|2004|p=31}} Crawford, reflecting on her collaboration with Spielberg, recognized his potential, noting his unique intuitive inspiration. She expressed her appreciation for Spielberg's talent in a note to him and also communicated her approval to Serling. Crawford's endorsement highlighted Spielberg's early recognition in Hollywood despite initial hesitations regarding his experience.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chandler|first=Charlotte|title=Not the Girl Next Door: Joan Crawford, a Personal Biography|date=2008|publisher=Simon & Schuster|page=262|isbn=978-1-4165-4751-8|edition=1st Simon & Schuster hardcover|location=New York|oclc=166273792}}</ref>

In the early 1970s, Spielberg unsuccessfully tried to raise financing for his own low-budget films. He co-wrote and directed teleplays for ''[[Marcus Welby, M.D.]]'', ''[[The Name of the Game (TV series)|The Name of the Game]]'', ''[[Columbo]], [[Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law]]'' and ''[[The Psychiatrist (TV series)|The Psychiatrist]].{{Sfn|Parish|2004|p=33}}'' Although unsatisfied with his work,{{Sfn|Baxter|1996|p=69}} Spielberg used the opportunity to experiment with his techniques and learn about filmmaking. He earned good reviews and impressed producers; he was earning a steady income and relocated to [[Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles|Laurel Canyon]], Los Angeles.''{{Sfn|Parish|2004|p=33}}''

Impressed, [[Universal Studios, Inc.|Universal]] signed Spielberg to do four television films.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 14, 1975|title=Spielberg, Universal Sign Four-Picture Agreement|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> The first was ''[[Duel (1971 film)|Duel]]'' (1971), adapted from [[Richard Matheson]]'s short story of the same name, about a salesman ([[Dennis Weaver]]) being chased down a highway by a psychotic [[Tank truck|tanker truck]] driver.<ref>{{cite web| author=Scott Tobias| title=Duel at 50: Steven Spielberg's debut remains a ferocious thriller| date=September 19, 2021| work=[[The Guardian]]| url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/nov/13/duel-at-50-steven-spielberg-debut-thriller}}</ref> Impressed, executives decided to promote the film on television. Reviews were positive, and Universal asked Spielberg to shoot more scenes so that ''Duel'' could be released theatrically to international markets.''{{Sfn|Parish|2004|p=35}}'' "Deservedly so" writes [[David Thomson (film critic)|David Thomson]], "for it stands up as one of the medium's most compelling spirals of suspense. The ordinariness of the Dennis Weaver character and the monstrous malignance of the truck confront one another with a narrative assurance that never needs to remind us of the element of [[fable]]."<ref name="Thomson">{{cite book| last=Thomson| first=David| author-link=David Thomson (film critic)| title=[[The New Biographical Dictionary of Film]]| year=2010| pages=919–921}}</ref> More TV films followed: ''[[Something Evil]]'' (1972) and ''[[Savage (1973 TV film)|Savage]]'' (1973).

Spielberg made his theatrical debut with ''[[The Sugarland Express]]'' (1974), based on a true story about a married couple on the run, desperate to regain custody of their baby from foster parents.''{{Sfn|Parish|2004|p=37}}'' The film starred [[Goldie Hawn]] and [[William Atherton]] and marked the first of many collaborations with the composer [[John Williams]].<ref name="King2023">{{cite news| last=King| first=Darryn| title=John Williams on 'Indiana Jones' and His Favorite Film Scores| date=June 24, 2023| work=[[The New York Times]]| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/24/movies/john-williams-indiana-jones-dial-of-destiny.html| access-date=November 29, 2023| archive-date=November 30, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130161730/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/24/movies/john-williams-indiana-jones-dial-of-destiny.html| url-status=live}}</ref> Although the film was awarded Best Screenplay at the [[1974 Cannes Film Festival]], it was not a commercial success,{{Sfn|Parish|2004|p=38}} which Spielberg blamed on Universal's inconsistent marketing.{{Sfn|Baxter|1996|p=115}} The film opened in four hundred theaters in the US to positive reviews; [[Pauline Kael]] wrote "Spielberg uses his gifts in a very free-and-easy, American way—for humor, and for a physical response to action. He could be that rarity among directors, a born entertainer—perhaps a new generation's [[Howard Hawks]]."<ref>Kael, Pauline (March 18, 1974). "The Current Cinema". ''[[The New Yorker]]''. 130.</ref> ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' wrote that "a major new director is on the horizon".{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=223}}

=== 1975–1980: Magician ===
Producers [[Richard D. Zanuck]] and [[David Brown (producer)|David Brown]] took a chance with Spielberg, giving him the opportunity to direct [[Jaws (film)|''Jaws'']] (1975), a [[Thriller film|thriller]] based on [[Peter Benchley]]'s [[Jaws (novel)|bestseller]]. In it, a [[great white shark]] attacks beachgoers at a summer [[resort town]], prompting police chief [[Martin Brody]] ([[Roy Scheider]]) to hunt it down with the help of a [[Marine biology|marine biologist]] ([[Richard Dreyfuss]]) and a veteran shark hunter ([[Robert Shaw (actor)|Robert Shaw]]). ''Jaws'' was the first movie shot on open ocean,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://entertainmentvoice.com/2017/10/07/hbo-spielberg-documentary-is-an-unabashed-love-letter-to-a-film-lover/|title=HBO's 'Spielberg' Documentary Is an Unabashed Love Letter to a Film Lover|last=Sokol|first=Tony|access-date=October 8, 2017|archive-date=October 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009092937/http://entertainmentvoice.com/2017/10/07/hbo-spielberg-documentary-is-an-unabashed-love-letter-to-a-film-lover/|url-status=live}}</ref> so shooting proved difficult, especially when the mechanical shark malfunctioned. The shooting schedule overran by a hundred days, and Universal threatened to cancel production.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=22}} Against expectations, ''Jaws'' was a success, setting the domestic box office record and making Spielberg a household name.{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=250}} It won [[Academy Awards]] for [[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Best Film Editing]] ([[Verna Fields]]), [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Dramatic Score]] (John Williams) and [[Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing|Best Sound]] ([[Robert Hoyt (sound engineer)|Robert Hoyt]], [[Roger Heman Jr|Roger Heman]], [[Earl Madery]] and [[John Carter (sound engineer)|John Carter]]). Spielberg said the malfunctioning of the mechanical shark resulted in a better movie, as he had to find other ways to suggest the shark's presence. After seeing the unconventional camera techniques of ''Jaws'', [[Alfred Hitchcock]] praised "young Spielberg" for thinking outside the visual dynamics of the theater: "He's the first one of us who doesn't see the [[proscenium]] arch".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |date=August 1, 2007 |title=''The Bourne Ultimatum'' |url=https://ew.com/article/2007/08/01/bourne-ultimatum-2/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=October 22, 2019 |archive-date=October 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022053043/https://ew.com/article/2007/08/01/bourne-ultimatum-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{quote box
| align = right
| width = 25em
| bgcolor = LightCyan
| quote = Like [[Francis Ford Coppola|Coppola]] on ''[[The Godfather]]'', Spielberg asserted his own role and deftly organized the elements into a roller coaster entertainment without sacrificing inner meanings. The suspense of the picture came from meticulous technique and good humor about its own surgical cutting. You have only to submit to the travesty of ''[[Jaws 2]]'' to realize how much more engagingly Spielberg saw the ocean, the perils, the sinister beauty of the shark, and the vitality of its human opponents.
| source = — Critic [[David Thomson (film critic)|David Thompson]]<ref name="Thomson"/>
}}

After declining an offer to make ''Jaws 2'',{{Sfn|Baxter|1996|p=145}} Spielberg and Dreyfuss reunited to work on a film about [[Unidentified flying object|UFOs]], ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'' (1977). Spielberg used [[70 mm film|65 mm film]] for the best picture quality, and a new live-action recording system so that the recordings could be duplicated later.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=26}}{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=277}} He cast one of his favorite directors, [[François Truffaut]], as the scientist Claude Lacombe and worked with special effects expert [[Douglas Trumbull]]. It marked the first of many collaborations between Spielberg and editor [[Michael Kahn (film editor)|Michael Kahn]].<ref>{{cite news| author=Kristopher Tapley| title=Michael Kahn on 'Bridge of Spies' and Four Decades of Spielberg Magic| date=September 8, 2015| work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]| url=https://variety.com/2015/artisans/awards/bridge-of-spies-editor-michael-kahn-steven-spielberg-1201657009/ }}</ref> One of the rare films both written and directed by Spielberg, ''Close Encounters'' was very popular with filmgoers''{{Sfn|Baxter|1996|p=170}}'' and won Academy Awards for [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]] ([[Vilmos Zsigmond]]) and [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Effects Editing]] ([[Frank Warner (sound editor)|Frank Warner]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 50th Academy Awards {{!}} 1978 |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1978 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506033234/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1978 |archive-date=May 6, 2019 |access-date=November 27, 2020 |website= |date=October 5, 2014 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Stanley Kauffmann]] wrote: "I saw ''Close Encounters'' at its first public showing in New York, and most of the audience stayed on and on to watch the credits crawl lengthily at the end. For one thing, under the credits the giant spaceship was returning to the stars. For another, they just didn't want to leave this picture. For still another, they seemed to understand the importance of those many names to what they had just seen." Kauffmann placed it first on his list of the best American films from 1968 to 1977.<ref>{{cite web| title=Calmly Disagreeing: Stanley Kauffmann (1916–2013)| date=November 6, 2013| url=https://rockcritics.com/2013/11/05/calmly-disagreeing-stanley-kauffmann-1916-2013/| access-date=November 20, 2023| archive-date=November 20, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120160534/https://rockcritics.com/2013/11/05/calmly-disagreeing-stanley-kauffmann-1916-2013/| url-status=live}}</ref> Reviewing ''Close Encounters'', Kael called Spielberg "a magician in the age of movies".<ref>{{cite magazine| last=Kael| first=Pauline| author-link=Pauline Kael| date=November 20, 1977| title=The Greening of the Solar System| url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1977/11/28/the-greening-of-the-solar-system| magazine=[[The New Yorker]]| access-date=November 17, 2023| archive-date=November 17, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117231711/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1977/11/28/the-greening-of-the-solar-system| url-status=live}}</ref>

His next directorial work was [[1941 (film)|''1941'']] (1979), an action-comedy written by [[Robert Zemeckis]] and [[Bob Gale]] about Californians preparing for a Japanese invasion after the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]]. Spielberg was self-conscious about doing comedy as he had no prior experience in the genre.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=30}} Universal and Columbia agreed to co-finance the film. ''1941'' grossed more than $92.4&nbsp;million worldwide upon release,<ref>{{Cite web |title=1941 (1979) – Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/1941 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127105919/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/1941#tab=summary |archive-date=November 27, 2022 |access-date=March 9, 2023 |website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]}}</ref> but most critics, and the studio heads, disliked it.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=30}} [[Charles Champlin]] described ''1941'' as "the most conspicuous waste since the last major oil spill, which it somewhat resembles".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Champlin |first1=Charles |date=December 23, 1979 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/385313148 |title=Spielberg's Pearl Harbor |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411025612/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/385313148/ |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |pages=Part IV, p. 1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

=== 1981–1992: Impresario  ===
Spielberg directed ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'' (1981), with a screenplay by [[Lawrence Kasdan]] based on a story by [[George Lucas]] and [[Philip Kaufman]]. They considered it an homage to the [[serial film|serials]] of the 1930s and 1940s.''{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=312}}'' It starred [[Harrison Ford]] as [[Indiana Jones (character)|Indiana Jones]] and [[Karen Allen]] as [[Marion Ravenwood]]. Filmed in [[La Rochelle]], [[Hawaii]], [[Tunisia]] and [[Elstree Studios]], England, the shoot was difficult but Spielberg said that it helped him hone his business acumen.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=32}} The film was a box office success{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=33}} and won Academy Awards for [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction]] ([[Norman Reynolds]], [[Leslie Dilley]] and [[Michael D. Ford]]); [[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Best Film Editing]] ([[Michael Kahn (film editor)|Michael Kahn]]); [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]] ([[Bill Varney]], [[Steve Maslow]], [[Gregg Landaker]] and [[Roy Charman]]); [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]] ([[Ben Burtt]] and [[Richard L. Anderson (sound effects editor)|Richard L. Anderson]]); and [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]] ([[Richard Edlund]], [[Kit West]], [[Bruce Nicholson]] and [[Joe Johnston]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 54th Academy Awards {{!}} 1982 |work=Oscars.org {{pipe}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1982 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417060317/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1982 |archive-date=April 17, 2018 |access-date=December 18, 2020 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] wrote: "''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' is an out-of-body experience, a movie of glorious imagination and breakneck speed that grabs you in the first shot, hurtles you through a series of incredible adventures, and deposits you back in reality two hours later–breathless, dizzy, wrung-out, and with a silly grin on your face".<ref>{{cite news| last=Ebert| first=Roger| title=''Raiders of the Lost Ark''| date=1981| work=Chicago Sun-Times| url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-1981| access-date=November 20, 2023| archive-date=December 15, 2016| archive-url=https://archive.today/20161215224654/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-1981| url-status=live}}</ref> ''Raiders'' was the first film in the ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' franchise.

[[File:President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan with Steven Spielberg.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ronald Reagan]] and [[Nancy Reagan]] with Spielberg at [[The White House]]]]
Spielberg returned to science fiction with ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'' (1982). It tells the story of Elliot ([[Henry Thomas]]), a young boy who befriends an alien who was accidentally left behind by his companions and is attempting to return home. Spielberg eschewed [[storyboards]] so that his direction would be more spontaneous, and shot roughly in sequence so that the actors' performances would be authentic as they bonded with and said goodbye to [[E.T. (character)|E.T.]] [[Richard Corliss]] wrote, "This was the closing-night attraction at the [[1982 Cannes Film Festival]], a venue not known for blubbering sentiment. At the end, as the little critter bade his farewells and the [[Jules Verne]]-like space ship left the ground, the audience similarly levitated. One heard the audience's childlike applause; one felt their spirits lift. This was rapture made audible, palpable ... Spielberg orchestrated the movements of the camera and the puppet spaceman with the feelings of—it has to be called love—expressed in young Henry Thomas' yearning face. E.T. was the first film character to be a finalist in [[Time Person of the Year|TIME's Man of the Year]] sweepstakes. It would have been fine with me if the little creature, this lovely film, had won."<ref>{{cite magazine| last=Corliss| first=Richard| author-link=Richard Corliss| magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]| title=TIME 100 Movies: ''E. T. the Extraterrestrial''| url=https://entertainment.time.com/2005/02/12/all-time-100-movies/slide/all/}}</ref>

A special screening was organized for [[Ronald Reagan|Ronald]] and [[Nancy Reagan]], who were emotional by the end.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=36}} ''E.T.'' grossed $700 million worldwide.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=36}} It won four Academy Awards: [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] (John Williams), Best Sound ([[Robert Knudson]], [[Robert Glass (sound engineer)|Robert Glass]], [[Don Digirolamo]] and [[Gene Cantamessa]]), Best Sound Editing ([[Charles L. Campbell]] and Ben Burtt) and Best Visual Effects ([[Carlo Rambaldi]], [[Dennis Muren]] and [[Kenneth F. Smith]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1983 |title=The 55th Academy Awards (1983) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 9, 2011 |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/55th-winners.html |archive-date=September 5, 2012}}</ref> Kael wrote of  E.T., "His voice is ancient and otherworldly but friendly, humorous. And this scaly, wrinkled little man with huge, wide-apart, soulful eyes and a jack-in-the-box neck has been so fully created that he's a friend to us, too; when he speaks of his longing to go home the audience becomes as mournful as Elliot. Spielberg has earned the tears that some people in the audience—and not just children—shed. Genuinely entrancing movies are almost as rare as extraterrestrial visitors."<ref>{{Cite magazine | last=Kael| first=Pauline| author-link=Pauline Kael| date= June 14, 1982| title= ''E.T. The Extraterrestrial''| magazine=[[The New Yorker]]| url=https://scrapsfromtheloft.com/movies/e-t-the-extra-terrestrial-pauline-kael/}}</ref> Spielberg co-wrote and produced [[Poltergeist (1982 film)|''Poltergeist'']] ([[Tobe Hooper]], 1982), released the same summer as ''E.T.''{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=33}} With [[John Landis]], he co-produced the anthology film ''[[Twilight Zone: The Movie]]'' (1983), contributing the "Kick the Can" segment.<ref>{{cite web |last=Heitmueller |first=Karl |date=April 3, 2007 |title=Rewind: Major-Studio flicks that belong in the Grind House |url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1556111/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006102305/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1556111/story.jhtml |archive-date=October 6, 2008 |access-date=January 2, 2009 |website=[[MTV]] |publisher= |quote=Ultimate A-lister Steven Spielberg co-produced this big-budget adaptation of Rod Serling's classic '60s TV show....}}</ref>

[[File:Steven Spielberg with Chandran Rutnam in Sri Lanka.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|right|Spielberg and [[Chandran Rutnam]] in Sri Lanka during the filming of ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'']]
His next feature film was the ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' [[prequel]] ''[[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]]'' (1984). Working again with Lucas and Ford, the film was shot in the United States, Sri Lanka and China.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=42}} The film was darker than its predecessor, and led to the creation of the [[Motion Picture Association film rating system|PG-13 rating]] because some content was deemed unsuitable for children under 13.{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=357}} Spielberg later said that he was unhappy with ''Temple of Doom'' because it lacked his "personal touches and love".{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=43}} Nonetheless, the film was a blockbuster hit,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0087469/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184130/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0087469/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=November 29, 2020 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> won the Academy Award for Best Special Effects and received mostly good reviews.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=43}} Kael preferred it to the original, writing, "Spielberg is like a magician whose tricks are so daring they make you laugh. He creates an atmosphere of happy disbelief: the more breathtaking and exhilarating the stunts are the funnier they are. Nobody has ever fused thrills and laughter in quite the way that he does here. He starts off at full charge in the opening sequence and just keeps going". She conceded that it was less "sincere" than ''Raiders'', adding "that's what is so good about it."<ref>{{cite magazine| last=Kael| first=Pauline| author-link=Pauline Kael| title=''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom''| date=June 11, 1984| magazine=[[The New Yorker]]| url= https://scrapsfromtheloft.com/movies/indiana-jones-and-the-temple-of-doom-review-by-pauline-kael/}}</ref> On this project Spielberg met his future wife, [[Kate Capshaw]], who played Willie Scott.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 18, 1947 |title=Steven Spielberg Biography |url=http://www.biography.com/articles/Steven-Spielberg-9490621 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514201106/https://www.biography.com/articles/Steven-Spielberg-9490621 |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |access-date=January 31, 2011 |website=[[Biography.com]] |publisher=}}</ref> Spielberg recalled, "The second film I could have done a lot better if there had been a different story. It was a good learning exercise for me to really throw myself into a black hole. I came out of the darkness of ''Temple Of Doom'' and I entered the light of the woman I was eventually going to marry and raise a family with."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/indiana-jones-making-temple-doom/ |title=The Making of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom |date=September 10, 2012 |access-date=April 8, 2020 |archive-date=September 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904050535/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/indiana-jones-making-temple-doom/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Thomson writes that "At first sight, the Spielberg of the eighties may seem more an impresario—or a studio, even—then a director."<ref name="Thomson" /> Between 1984 and 1990, Spielberg served as producer or executive producer on nineteen feature films for his production company, [[Amblin Entertainment]]. Among them were ''[[Gremlins]]'' ([[Joe Dante]], 1984), ''[[The Goonies]]'' ([[Richard Donner]], 1985), ''[[Back to the Future]]'' ([[Robert Zemeckis]], 1985), ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit]]'' (Zemeckis, 1988), ''[[Joe Versus the Volcano]]'' ([[John Patrick Shanley]], 1990) and [[Arachnophobia (film)|''Arachnophobia'']] ([[Frank Marshall (filmmaker)|Frank Marshall]], 1990).{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=380}}<ref name="Corliss">{{cite magazine|title = This way to the children's crusade|first = Richard|last = Corliss|date = January 7, 1985|access-date = January 2, 2009|quote = he wrote the story and served as an executive producer of The Goonies....|url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,959559,00.html|magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]]|archive-date = October 19, 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091019155426/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,959559,00.html|url-status = dead}}</ref>''{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=105}}''{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=506}} In the early 1980s, Spielberg befriended [[WarnerMedia#Warner Communications (1972–1990)|Warner Communications]] CEO [[Steve Ross (businessman)|Steve Ross]] eventually resulting in Spielberg making films for Warner Bros.{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=383}} It began with [[The Color Purple (1985 film)|''The Color Purple'']] (1985), an adaptation of [[Alice Walker]]'s [[Pulitzer Prize]]-winning [[The Color Purple|novel]], about a generation of empowered African-American women in the depression-era South. It was Spielberg's first film on a dramatic subject matter, and he expressed reservations about tackling the project: "It's the risk of being judged-and accused of not having the sensibility to do character studies."{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=45}} Starring [[Whoopi Goldberg]] and [[Oprah Winfrey]], the film was a box office hit and critics started to take note of Spielberg's foray into drama.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=45}} Ebert named it the best film of the year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=December 20, 1985 |title=The Color Purple (1985) | work=[[Chicago Sun Times]] |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-color-purple-1985}}</ref> The film also received eleven Academy Award nominations, and Spielberg won [[Directors Guild of America Award|Best Director]] from the [[Directors Guild of America]].{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=45}} The film was produced and scored by [[Quincy Jones]].

As China underwent economic reform and opened up to the American film industry, Spielberg made ''[[Empire of the Sun (film)|Empire of the Sun]]'' (1987), the first American film shot in [[Shanghai]] since the 1930s.{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=395}} It is an adaptation of [[J. G. Ballard]]'s autobiographical [[Empire of the Sun (novel)|novel]] about Jamie Graham ([[Christian Bale]]), a young boy who goes from being the son of a wealthy British family in Shanghai to a [[prisoner of war]] in a Japanese [[internment camp]] during [[World War II]]. [[David Lean]] was originally set to direct, with Spielberg producing. It was written by playwright [[Tom Stoppard]] and co-starred [[John Malkovich]] as an American expatriate. Critical reaction was mixed at the time of release; criticism ranged from the "overwrought" plot to Spielberg's downplaying of "disease and starvation".{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=397}}{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=398}} However, [[Andrew Sarris]] named it the best film of the year and later included it among the best of the decade.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sarris |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Sarris |title=Andrew Sarris' Top 10 lists 1958–2005 |url=http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~ejohnson/critics/sarris.html#y1977 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210193008/http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~ejohnson/critics/sarris.html#y1977 |archive-date=February 10, 2001 |access-date=October 21, 2006 |publisher=[[California Institute of Technology]] }}</ref> The film was nominated for six Academy Awards,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 60th Academy Awards {{!}} 1988 |date=December 4, 2015 |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1988 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724211840/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1988 |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |access-date=November 27, 2020 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |language=en}}</ref> but was a disappointment at the box office; Ian Alterman of ''[[The New York Times]]'' thought it was overlooked by audiences.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alterman |first=Ian |date=March 29, 1989 |title=Oscar Nominations Again Snub Spielberg|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/29/opinion/l-oscar-nominations-again-snub-spielberg-544089.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184138/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/29/opinion/l-oscar-nominations-again-snub-spielberg-544089.html |archive-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref> Spielberg recalled that ''Empire of the Sun'' was one of his most enjoyable films to make.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=47}} Thomson called it "a great work through and through" and "the first clear sign that Spielberg the showman was an artist, too."<ref>{{cite book| first=David| last= Thomson| author-link=David Thomson (film critic)|title=Have You Seen...?| page=259| year=2008}}</ref>

[[File:Steven Spielberg in 1990.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.85|Spielberg, March 1990]]
In 1989, Spielberg intended to direct ''[[Rain Man]]'', but instead directed ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]'' to meet his contractual obligations.{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=400}} Producer Lucas and star Ford returned for the film. A longtime [[James Bond]] fan, Spielberg cast [[Sean Connery]] as Jones's father, [[Henry Jones, Sr]].{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=47}} Due to complaints about violence in ''Temple of Doom'', Spielberg returned to more family-friendly fare for the third installment.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=48}} ''Last Crusade'' received mostly positive reviews and was a box office success, earning $474 million; it was his biggest hit since ''E.T.''{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=403}} Biographer [[Joseph McBride (writer)|Joseph McBride]] wrote that it was a comeback for Spielberg, and Spielberg acknowledged the amount he has learned from making the ''Indiana Jones'' series.{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=403}} Ebert wrote that, "If there is just a shade of disappointment after seeing this movie, it has to be because we will never again have the shock of this material seeming new. ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'', now more than ever, seems a turning point in the cinema of escapist entertainment, and there was really no way Spielberg could make it new all over again. What he has done is to take many of the same elements, and apply all of his craft and sense of fun to make them work yet once again. And they do."<ref>{{cite news| last=Ebert| first=Roger| title=Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade| date=May 24, 1989| work=Chicago Sun-Times| url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/indiana-jones-and-the-last-crusade-1989}}</ref>

Also in 1989, he reunited with [[Richard Dreyfuss]] for the romantic drama ''[[Always (1989 film)|Always]]'', about an [[aerial firefighting|aerial firefighter]]. It is a modern remake of one of Spielberg's favorite childhood films, ''[[A Guy Named Joe]]'' (1943). The story was personal; he said "As a child I was very frustrated, and maybe I saw my own parents [in ''A Guy Named Joe'']. I was also short of girlfriends. And it stuck with me."''{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=406}}'' Spielberg had discussed the film with Dreyfuss back in 1975, with up to twelve drafts being written before filming commenced.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=48}} ''Always'' was commercially unsuccessful and received mixed reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Always (1989) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/always |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184118/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/always |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=March 9, 2023 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=December 22, 1989 |publisher=[[Fandango Media]]}}</ref>{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=48}} [[Janet Maslin]] of ''The'' ''New York Times'' wrote, "''Always'' is filled with big, sentimental moments, it lacks the intimacy to make any of this very moving."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maslin |first=Janet |author-link=Janet Maslin |date=December 22, 1989 |title=Review/Film; ''Always'', Love and Death in a Wilderness|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/22/movies/review-film-always-love-and-death-in-a-wilderness.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184149/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/22/movies/review-film-always-love-and-death-in-a-wilderness.html |archive-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref>

After a brief setback in which Spielberg felt "artistically stalled",{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=51}} he returned in 1991 with ''[[Hook (film)|Hook]]'', about a middle-aged [[Peter Pan]] ([[Robin Williams]]), who returns to [[Neverland]] and encounters [[Tinker Bell]] ([[Julia Roberts]]) and the eponymous [[Captain Hook]] ([[Dustin Hoffman]]). During filming, the stars clashed on set; Spielberg told ''[[60 Minutes]]'' that he would never work with Roberts again.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=52}} Nominated for five Academy Awards, the studio enjoyed the film but most critics did not; Thomson called it "maudlin".<ref name="Thomson" /> Writing for ''[[The Washington Post]]'', [[Desson Howe]] described the film as "too industrially organized", and thought it mundane.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Howe |first=Desson |author-link=Desson Howe |date=December 13, 1991 |title=Hook |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/hookpghowe_a0ae8a.htm |url-status=live |access-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184132/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/hookpghowe_a0ae8a.htm |archive-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref> At the box office, it earned more than $300&nbsp;million worldwide from a $70&nbsp;million budget.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hook |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0102057/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |access-date=November 27, 2020 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815100151/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0102057/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 1993–1998: Oscar winner===
[[File:Steven Spielberg - GianAngelo Pistoia 1.jpg|thumb|left|Spielberg receiving the [[Golden Lion]] by Italian filmmaker [[Gillo Pontecorvo]] at the [[50th Venice International Film Festival]], 1993]]
In 1993, Spielberg returned to the adventure genre with ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]'', based on [[Michael Crichton]]'s [[Jurassic Park (novel)|bestseller]], with a screenplay by Crichton and [[David Koepp]]. ''Jurassic Park'' is set on a fictional island near [[Costa Rica]], where a businessman ([[Richard Attenborough]]) has hired a team of geneticists to create a [[Animal theme park|wildlife park]] of [[De-extinction|de-extinct]] dinosaurs. In a departure from his usual order of planning, Spielberg and the designers [[storyboard]]ed certain sequences from the novel early on.{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=419}} The film also used [[computer-generated imagery]] provided by [[Industrial Light & Magic]]; ''Jurassic Park'' was completed on time and became the highest-grossing film at the time, and won three Academy Awards.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=54}} The film's dominance during its theatrical run, as well as Spielberg's $250 million salary, made him self-conscious of his own success.{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=424}}

Also in 1993, Spielberg directed ''[[Schindler's List]]'', about [[Oskar Schindler]], a businessman who helped save 1,100 Jews from the [[The Holocaust|Holocaust]].<ref>The screenplay, adapted from [[Thomas Keneally]]'s novel, was originally in the hands of fellow director [[Martin Scorsese]], but Spielberg negotiated with Scorsese to trade scripts. (At the time, Spielberg held the script for a remake of ''[[Cape Fear (1962 film)|Cape Fear]]''.)</ref> Based on ''[[Schindler's Ark]]'', Spielberg waited ten years to make the film as he did not feel "mature" enough.{{Sfn|Pogrebin|2005|p=32}} He wanted to embrace his heritage,{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=55}}{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=18}} and after the birth of his son, Max, he said that "it greatly affected me [...] A spirit began to ignite in me, and I became a Jewish dad".{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=21}} Filming commenced on March 1, 1993, in Poland, while Spielberg was still editing ''Jurassic Park'' in the evenings.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=56}} To make filming "bearable", Spielberg brought his wife and children with him.{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=415}} Against expectations, the film was a commercial success, and Spielberg used his percentage of profits to start the [[USC Shoah Foundation|Shoah Foundation]], a non-profit organization that archives [[Testimony|testimonies]] of Holocaust survivors.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=59}} ''Schindler's List'' won seven Academy Awards, including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] and Spielberg's first as [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]].{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=58}} It also won seven [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTAs]], and three [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globes]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Film in 1994 |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1994/film |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413005349/http://awards.bafta.org/award/1994/film |archive-date=April 13, 2016 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |website= |publisher=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Winners & Nominees 1994 |language=en |newspaper= |publisher=[[Golden Globe Awards]] |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1994 |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229195913/http://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1994 |archive-date=February 29, 2016}}</ref>  ''Schindler's List'' is one of the [[American Film Institute|AFI]]'s [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies|100 best American films ever made]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI's 100 YEARS...100 MOVIES |url=https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-movies/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422032506/https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-movies/ |archive-date=April 22, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |website=[[American Film Institute]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Tom Hanks face.jpg|thumb|right|170px|Spielberg has collaborated on numerous projects with actor [[Tom Hanks]] since ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'']]
Ebert wrote, "[[Flaubert]] once wrote that he disliked ''[[Uncle Tom's Cabin]]'' because the author was constantly preaching against slavery. 'Does one have to make observations about slavery?' he asked. 'Depict it; that's enough.' And then he added, 'An author in his book must be like God in the universe, present everywhere and visible nowhere.' That would describe Spielberg, the author of this film. He depicts the evil of the Holocaust, and he tells an incredible story of how it was robbed of some of its intended victims. He does so without the tricks of his trade, the directorial and dramatic contrivances that would inspire the usual melodramatic payoffs. Spielberg is not visible in this film. But his restraint and passion are present in every shot."<ref>{{cite news| last=Ebert| first=Roger| date=December 15, 1993| title=Schindler's List| work=Chicago Sun Times| url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/schindlers-list-1993}}</ref> Filmmaker [[Claude Lanzmann]], criticized the film for its weak representation of the Holocaust.{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=434}} [[Imre Kertész]], a Hungarian author and [[Nazi concentration camps|concentration camp]] survivor, also disliked the film, saying, "I regard as [[kitsch]] any representation of the Holocaust that is incapable of understanding or unwilling to understand the organic connection between our own deformed mode of life and the very possibility of the Holocaust."<ref>{{Cite news |last=McAuley |first=James |date=March 31, 2016 |title=Imre Kertész, Nobel-winning novelist and Holocaust survivor, dies at 86|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/03/31/imre-kertesz-nobel-prize-winning-novelist-and-holocaust-survivor-dies-at-86/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184133/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/03/31/imre-kertesz-nobel-prize-winning-novelist-and-holocaust-survivor-dies-at-86/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref> Thomson calls it "the most moving film I have ever seen."<ref name="Thomson"/>

In 1994, Spielberg took a break from directing to spend more time with his family, and set up his new film studio, [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks]], with [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] and [[David Geffen]].{{Sfn|McBride|1997|p=442}}{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=59}} After his hiatus, he returned to directing with a sequel to ''Jurassic Park'', ''[[The Lost World: Jurassic Park]]'' (1997). A loose adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel ''[[The Lost World (Crichton novel)|The Lost World]]'', the plot follows mathematician Ian Malcolm ([[Jeff Goldblum]]) and his researchers who study dinosaurs at Jurassic Park which is on an island and are confronted by another team with a different agenda. Spielberg wanted the onscreen creatures to be more realistic than in the first film; he used 3D storyboards, computer imagery and robotic puppets.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=66}} Budgeted at $73 million,{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=67}} ''The Lost World: Jurassic Park'' opened in May 1997 and was one of the highest grossing [[1997 in film|films of the year]].{{Sfn|Freer|2001|p=247}} The ''[[J. Hoberman]]'' critic opined that ''The Lost World'' was "better crafted but less fun" than the first film, while ''[[The Guardian]]'' wrote "It looks like a director on autopilot [...] The special effects brook no argument."{{Sfn|Freer|2001|p=247}}

[[File:Steven Spielberg 1999.jpg|thumb|left|Spielberg speaking at the Pentagon on August 11, 1999, after receiving the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service]]
''[[Amistad (film)|Amistad]]'' (1997), his first film released under DreamWorks, was based on the true story of the events in 1839 aboard the slave ship ''[[La Amistad]]''. Producer [[Debbie Allen]], who had read the book ''Amistad I'' in 1978, thought Spielberg would be perfect to direct.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=68}} Spielberg was hesitant taking on the project, afraid that it would be compared to ''Schindler's List'', but he said, "I've never planned my career [...] In the end I do what I think I gotta do."{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=68}} Starring [[Morgan Freeman]], [[Anthony Hopkins]], [[Djimon Hounsou]] and [[Matthew McConaughey]], Spielberg used Allen's ten years worth of research to reenact the difficult historical scenes.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=67}}{{Sfn|Freer|2001|p=252}} The film struggled to find an audience, and underperformed at the box office;{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=69}} Spielberg admitted that ''Amistad'' "became too much of a history lesson".{{Sfn|Freer|2001|p=258}}

Spielberg's 1998 release was [[World War II]] epic ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'', about a group of US soldiers led by Captain Miller ([[Tom Hanks]]) sent to bring home a [[paratrooper]] whose three older brothers were killed in the same twenty-four hours of the [[Normandy landings|Normandy]] landing. Filming took place in England, and [[United States Marine Corps|US Marine]] [[Dale Dye]] was hired to train the actors and keep them in character during the combat scenes. Halfway through filming, Spielberg reminded the cast that they were making a tribute to thank "your grandparents and my dad, who fought in [the war]".{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=72}} Upon release, critics praised the direction and its realistic portrayal of war.{{Sfn|Freer|2001|p=274}} The film grossed a successful $481&nbsp;million worldwide<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saving Private Ryan |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0120815/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184121/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0120815/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=November 30, 2020 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> and Spielberg won a second Academy Award for Best Director.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=73}} In August 1999, Spielberg and Hanks were awarded the [[Army Distinguished Public Service Medal|Distinguished Public Service Medal]] from [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[William Cohen|William S. Cohen]].{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=72}}{{Sfn|Horn|2002|p=39}} Thomson writes "''Ryan'' changed war films: combat, shock, wounds, and fear had never been so graphically presented; and yet there was also a true sense of what duties and ideas had felt like in 1944. I disliked the framing device. I would have admired a director who trusted us to get there without that. Never mind—''Ryan'' is a magnificent film."<ref name="Thomson"/> Ebert wrote "Spielberg knows how to make audiences weep better than any director since [[Charlie Chaplin|Chaplin]] in ''[[City Lights]].'' But weeping is an incomplete response, letting the audience off the hook. This film embodies ideas. After the immediate experience begins to fade, the implications remain and grow."<ref>{{cite news| last=Ebert| first=Roger| date=July 24, 1998| title=Saving Private Ryan| work=[[The Chicago Sun-Times]]| url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/saving-private-ryan-1998| access-date=November 23, 2023| archive-date=December 18, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218225912/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/saving-private-ryan-1998| url-status=live}}</ref>

===2001–2012: Master of technology ===
[[File:Kubrick on the set of Barry Lyndon (1975 publicity photo).jpg|thumb|180px|right|[[Stanley Kubrick]] asked Spielberg to direct ''A.I.'']]
Spielberg returned to science fiction with ''[[A.I. Artificial Intelligence]]'' (2001), a loose adaptation of [[Brian Aldiss]]'s short story "[[Supertoys Last All Summer Long]]" (1969). [[Stanley Kubrick]] had bought the rights to the story in 1979 and worked on an adaptation for years.<ref>{{cite news| title=The Masterpiece a Master Couldn't Get Right| date=July 18, 1999| author=Gregory Feeley| work=[[The New York Times]]| url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/071899kubrick-ai.html}}</ref> He told Spielberg about the project in 1984 and suggested that he direct, believing the story was closer to Spielberg's sensibilities. In 1999, Kubrick died. Spielberg decided to direct ''A.I.'' and wrote the screenplay himself.<ref>{{cite news| title=From Kubrick to Spielberg: The Story of 'A.I.'| date=June 19, 2021| author=Tim Greiving| work=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]| url=https://www.theringer.com/movies/2021/6/29/22553929/ai-artificial-intelligence-steven-spielberg-stanley-kubrick}}</ref> Spielberg tried to be faithful to Kubrick's vision<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/24/arts/24LYMA.html?pagewanted=all |title=Spielberg's Journey Into a Darkness of the Heart |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 24, 2001 |accessdate=October 2, 2015 |author=Lyman, Rick |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011183935/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/24/arts/24LYMA.html?pagewanted=all |archivedate=October 11, 2015}}</ref> and made several allusions to his friend's work<ref>{{cite news| title=Spielberg's 'A.I.' is a surprising homage to Kubrick| author=Joe Blevins| work=[[The A.V. Club]]| date=October 14, 2016| url=https://www.avclub.com/spielberg-s-a-i-is-a-surprising-homage-to-kubrick-1798253041}}</ref> though with mixed results according to some critics.{{Sfn|Horn|2002|p=40}} The plot revolves around an [[android (robot)|android]], David ([[Haley Joel Osment]]) who, like [[Pinocchio]], dreams of being a "real boy". The film won five [[Saturn Awards]]{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=75}} and grossed $236&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A.I. Artificial Intelligence |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0212720/ |access-date=December 1, 2020 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |archive-date=June 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622160206/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0212720/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Jonathan Rosenbaum]] highly praised the film: "If  ''A.I. Artificial Intelligence'' — a film whose split personality is apparent even in its two-part title — is as much a Kubrick movie as a Spielberg one, this is in large part because it defamiliarizes Spielberg, makes him strange. Yet it also defamiliarizes Kubrick, with equally ambiguous results — making his unfamiliarity familiar. Both filmmakers should be credited for the results—Kubrick for proposing that Spielberg direct the project and Spielberg for doing his utmost to respect Kubrick's intentions while making it a profoundly personal work."<ref>{{cite news| last=Rosenbaum| first=Jonathan| date=July 13, 2001| title=The Best of Both Worlds| work=[[The Chicago Reader]]| url=https://jonathanrosenbaum.net/2024/01/the-best-of-both-worlds/| access-date=November 23, 2023| archive-date=November 23, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123192533/https://jonathanrosenbaum.net/2021/08/the-best-of-both-worlds/| url-status=live}}</ref> [[A. O. Scott]] called it "the best fairy tale–the most disturbing, complex and intellectually challenging boy's adventure story–Mr. Spielberg has made" and chose it as the best film of the year<ref>{{cite news| last=Scott| first= A. O.| title=Do Androids Long For Mom?| date=June 29, 2001| work=[[The New York Times]]| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/29/movies/film-review-do-androids-long-for-mom.html}}</ref> and one of the best of the decade.<ref>{{cite news| author=A. O. Scott| title=Movies of Quality| date=November 12, 2009| work=[[The New York Times]]| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/magazine/15FOB-WWLN-sidebars-2.html?action=click&module=RelatedCoverage&pgtype=Article&region=Footer}}</ref>

Spielberg followed ''A.I.'' with the sci-fi [[neo-noir]] ''[[Minority Report (film)|Minority Report]]'' (2002), based on [[Philip K. Dick]]'s [[The Minority Report|short story]] (1956). The film stars [[Tom Cruise]] as commanding officer of [[precrime]] in futuristic [[Washington, D.C.]] Ebert named ''Minority Report'' the best film of 2002, praising its craftsmanship: "here is Spielberg using every trick in the book and matching them without seams, so that no matter how he's achieving his effects, the focus is always on the story and the characters ... Some directors place their trust in technology. Spielberg, who is a master of technology, trusts only story and character, and then uses everything else as a workman uses his tools."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/minority-report-2002|title=Minority Report|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=June 21, 2002|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=April 10, 2018|author-link=Roger Ebert|archive-date=February 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205082300/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20020621%2FREVIEWS%2F206210304%2F1023|url-status=live}}</ref> However, critic [[Todd McCarthy]] thought there was not enough action.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=79}} The film earned more than $358&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minority Report |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0181689/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805070836/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0181689/ |archive-date=August 5, 2021 |access-date=December 1, 2020 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> Also in 2002, he released ''[[Catch Me If You Can]]'', based on the [[Catch Me If You Can (book)|autobiography]] of con-artist [[Frank Abagnale]]. [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] played Abangale; [[Christopher Walken]] and Hanks also starred. Spielberg said, "I have always loved movies about sensational rogues—they break the law, but you just have to love them for the moxie."{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=80}} The film was a critical and commercial success.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=82}}

[[File:2006 Summit Hosts Steven Spielberg and George Lucas welcome the Academy delegates and members to the International Achievement Summit in Los Angeles.jpg|thumb|left|Spielberg with director and friend [[George Lucas]] in 2006]]

Spielberg followed ''Catch Me If You Can'' with ''[[The Terminal]]'' (2004), a comedy loosely inspired by the true story of [[Mehran Karimi Nasseri]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Matthew |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/21/magazine/magazinespecial/MFMERHANT.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5007&en=360b6f8f63635c6a&ex=1379476800 |title=Waiting For Spielberg |work= [[The New York Times]] |date=21 September 2003 |access-date = 12 June 2008 |archive-date = 8 February 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090208234718/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/21/magazine/magazinespecial/MFMERHANT.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5007&en=360b6f8f63635c6a&ex=1379476800 |url-status = live}}</ref> and by [[Jacques Tati]]'s ''[[Playtime]]'' (1967).<ref name=":BFI"/> The film follows Viktor Navorski (Hanks), an Eastern European man who, after a coup in his home country, is stranded in [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]]. It features [[Catherine Zeta-Jones]] as a flight attendant and [[Stanley Tucci]] as a customs and immigration official. Ebert wrote of Viktor's predicament: "The immigration service, and indeed the American legal system, has no way of dealing with him because Viktor does not do, or fail to do, any of the things the system is set up to prevent him from doing, or not doing. He has slipped through a perfect logical loophole. ''The Terminal'' is like a sunny [[Franz Kakfa|Kakfa]] story, in which it is the citizen who persecutes the bureaucracy." The titular terminal was a real set built by [[Alex McDowell]].<ref>{{cite news| author=Roger Ebert| title=The Terminal| work=[[Chicago Sun Times]]| date=June 18, 2004| url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-terminal-2004}}</ref> In 2005, Spielberg directed ''[[War of the Worlds (2005 film)|War of the Worlds]],'' a co-production of Paramount and DreamWorks, based on [[H. G. Wells]]'s [[The War of the Worlds|novel]]; Spielberg had been a fan of the book and of [[George Pal]]'s [[The War of the Worlds (1953 film)|1953 film]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005 |title=War of the Worlds – Production Notes |url=http://www.waroftheworlds.com/productionnotes/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727213403/http://www.waroftheworlds.com/productionnotes/index.html |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |website= |publisher=[[War of the Worlds (2005 film)|War of the Worlds]]}}</ref> Starring Tom Cruise and [[Dakota Fanning]], the film is about an American [[Stevedore|dock worker]] who is forced to look after his children, from whom he lives separately, as he tries to protect and reunite them with their mother when extraterrestrials invade Earth. Spielberg used storyboards to help the actors react to computer imagery that they could not see and used natural lighting and camerawork to avoid an "over stylized" science fiction picture.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=84}} The film was a box office hit grossing more than $600&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=War of the Worlds |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0407304/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829151404/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0407304/ |archive-date=August 29, 2021 |access-date=November 27, 2020 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref>

Spielberg's ''[[Munich (2005 film)|Munich]]'' (2005) is about the Israeli government's secret retaliation after eleven Israeli Olympic athletes were kidnapped and murdered in the 1972 [[Munich Massacre|Munich massacre]]. The film is based on ''[[Vengeance (Jonas book)|Vengeance]]'', a book by Canadian journalist [[George Jonas]].{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=86}} It was previously adapted for the screen in the 1986 television film ''[[Sword of Gideon]]''. Spielberg, who personally remembers the incident, sought advice from former president [[Bill Clinton]], among others, before making the film because he did not want to cause further problems in the Middle East.{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=86}} Although the film garnered mostly positive reviews, some critics perceived it as anti-Semitic;{{Sfn|Jackson|2007|p=87}} it is one of Spielberg's most controversial films to date.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Melman |first1=Yossi |author-link=Yossi Melman |last2=Hartov |first2=Steven |author-link2=Steven Hartov |date=January 17, 2006 |title=Munich: Fact and Fantasy |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/jan/17/israelandthepalestinians.world |url-status=live |access-date=February 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728163025/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/jan/17/israelandthepalestinians.world |archive-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref> ''Munich'' received five Academy Awards nominations: Best Picture, Best Film Editing, [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Score]], [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]], and Best Director for Spielberg. It was his sixth Best Director nomination, and fifth Best Picture nomination.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 78th Academy Awards {{!}} 2006 |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001074434/https://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/78th-winners.html |archive-date=October 1, 2014 |access-date=November 27, 2020 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]}}</ref>{{Sfn|Edge|2008|p=102}}
[[File:Steven Spielberg & Tom Hanks at National World War II Memorial for premiere of The Pacific 2010-03-11.jpg|thumb|right|Spielberg with [[Tom Hanks]] promoting ''[[The Pacific (miniseries)|The Pacific]]'' in Washington, D.C.]]
In the mid-2000s, Spielberg scaled down his directing career and became more selective about film projects to undertake.{{Sfn|Mara|2014|p=60}} In December 2005, he and his partners sold DreamWorks to media conglomerate [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]] (now known as [[Paramount Global]]). The sale was finalized in February 2006.{{Sfn|Edge|2008|p=102}} In June 2006, Spielberg planned to make ''[[Interstellar (film)|Interstellar]]'', but abandoned the project, which was eventually directed by [[Christopher Nolan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Child |first=Ben |date=January 10, 2013 |title=Christopher Nolan's next film mission to go Interstellar |url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jan/10/christopher-nolan-next-film-interstellar |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184122/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jan/10/christopher-nolan-next-film-interstellar |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> During this period, Spielberg remained active as a producer. Spielberg returned to the ''Indiana Jones'' series in 2008 with ''[[Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull]].'' Released nineteen years after ''Last Crusade'', the film is set in 1957, pitting Indiana Jones ([[Harrison Ford]]) against [[KGB|Soviet agents]] led by Irina Spalko ([[Cate Blanchett]]), searching for a [[telepath]]ic [[crystal skull]]. [[Principal photography]] was complete in October 2007, and the film was released on May 22, 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 18, 2007 |title=New Indy Adventure Begins Shooting |publisher=[[Indiana Jones|IndianaJones.com]] |url=http://www.indianajones.com/community/news/news20070618.html |access-date=June 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621003713/http://indianajones.com/community/news/news20070618.html |archive-date=June 21, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Green |first=Willow |date=August 21, 2006 |title=Spielberg, Ford and Lucas on Indy IV |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/spielberg-ford-lucas-indy-iv/ |access-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216150243/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/spielberg-ford-lucas-indy-iv/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This was his first film not released by DreamWorks since 1997.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Masters|first1=Kim|date=June 15, 2016|title=Steven Spielberg on DreamWorks' Past, Amblin's Present and His Own Future|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/steven-spielberg-dreamworks-past-amblins-902544|access-date=July 11, 2016|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217200120/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/steven-spielberg-dreamworks-past-amblins-902544|url-status=live}}</ref> The film received generally favorable reviews from critics, but some fans were disappointed by the introduction of science fiction elements which were uncharacteristic of the previous films.{{Sfn|Hook|2010|p=90}}{{Sfn|Mara|2014|p=60}} Writing for ''[[The Age]]'', Tom Ryan praised Spielberg and Lucas for their realistic 1950s setting—"The energy on display is impressive".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Tom |date=May 23, 2008 |title=Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull |url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/movies/indiana-jones-and-the-kingdom-of-the-crystal-skull-20080524-ge73zx.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184141/https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/movies/indiana-jones-and-the-kingdom-of-the-crystal-skull-20080524-ge73zx.html |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |website=[[The Age]] |language=en}}</ref> It was a box office success, grossing $790&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0367882/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184127/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0367882/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=December 2, 2020 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref>

Starting in 2009, Spielberg shot the first film in a planned trilogy of [[motion capture]] films based on [[Hergé]]'s ''[[The Adventures of Tintin]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McGrath |first=Charles |date=December 23, 2009 |title=The Man Behind Boy, Dog and Their Adventures |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/23/books/23book.html |access-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-date=June 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611201030/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/23/books/23book.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Spielberg had long been a fan of the comics, and per [[Michael Farr]], Hergé "thought Spielberg was the only person who could ever do Tintin justice."<ref>{{cite news| title=Tintin and the Movie Moguls?| date=May 27, 2007| newspaper=[[The Sunday Times]]|first=Jeff |last=Dawson| url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article1830463.ece| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205054131/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article1830463.ece| url-status=dead| archive-date=2008-12-05}}</ref> ''[[The Adventures of Tintin (film)|The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn]]'' was co-produced by [[Peter Jackson]] and premiered in [[Brussels]], Belgium.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2011 |title=Tintin fans flock to Belgian film premiere |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/8844394/Tintin-fans-flock-to-Belgian-film-premiere.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027062708/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/8844394/Tintin-fans-flock-to-Belgian-film-premiere.html |archive-date=October 27, 2011 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]}}</ref> The film was released in North American theaters on December 21, 2011, in [[Digital 3D]] and [[IMAX 3D|IMAX]].<ref name="reldates">{{cite web |title=The Adventures of Tintin Official Movie Site |url=http://www.us.movie.tintin.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013183713/http://www.us.movie.tintin.com/ |archive-date=October 13, 2011 |access-date=October 13, 2011 |publisher=[[Paramount Pictures]]}}</ref> It received generally positive reviews from critics<ref>{{cite web |title=The Adventures of Tintin |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_adventures_of_tintin/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605050100/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_adventures_of_tintin |archive-date=June 5, 2020 |access-date=April 12, 2012 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=December 21, 2011 |publisher=[[Fandango Media]]}}</ref> and grossed over $373&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Adventures of Tintin |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0983193/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184127/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0983193/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> ''The Adventures of Tintin'' won [[Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film|Best Animated Feature]] at the [[69th Golden Globe Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adventures of Tintin, The |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/adventures-tintin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184127/https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/adventures-tintin |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |website= |publisher=[[Golden Globe Awards]] |language=en}}</ref> Spielberg followed ''Tintin'' with ''[[War Horse (film)|War Horse]]'', shot in England in the summer of 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Steven Spielberg pictured filming new blockbuster on Dartmoor |work=[[The Herald (Plymouth)|The Herald]] |url=http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/SPIELBERG-FILMS-DARTMOOR/story-11666028-detail/story.html |access-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413041822/http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/SPIELBERG-FILMS-DARTMOOR/story-11666028-detail/story.html |archive-date=April 13, 2016}}</ref> It was released four days after ''Tintin'', on December 25, 2011. The film, based on [[Michael Morpurgo]]'s 1982 [[War Horse (novel)|novel]], follows the long friendship between a British boy and his horse Joey before and during [[World War I]].{{Sfn|Mara|2014|p=64}} Distributed by [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Walt Disney Studios]] with whom DreamWorks made a distribution deal in 2009, ''War Horse'' was the first of four consecutive Spielberg films released by Disney. It received acclaim from critics{{Sfn|Mara|2014|p=64}} and was nominated for six [[Academy Awards]], including Best Picture.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nominees and Winners for the 84th Academy Awards |url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/84/nominees.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825202636/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/84/nominees.html |archive-date=August 25, 2013 |access-date=April 12, 2012 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]}}</ref> In a review for ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]'' magazine, Andrew O'Hehir wrote, "at this point in his career Spielberg is pursuing personal goals, and everything that's terrific and overly flat and tooth-rottingly sweet about ''War Horse'' reflects that."<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Hehir |first=Andrew |date=December 25, 2011 |title="War Horse": Spielberg's almost-great World War I epic |url=https://www.salon.com/2011/12/25/war_horse_spielbergs_almost_great_world_war_i_epic/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184135/https://www.salon.com/2011/12/25/war_horse_spielbergs_almost_great_world_war_i_epic/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |website=[[Salon.com]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:2009libertymedal.JPG|thumb|left|Spielberg with Bill Clinton, 2009]]
Spielberg directed the historical drama ''[[Lincoln (film)|Lincoln]]'' (2012), starring [[Daniel Day-Lewis]] as President [[Abraham Lincoln]] and [[Sally Field]] as [[Mary Todd Lincoln]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |date=April 13, 2011 |title=Steven Spielberg's 'Lincoln' gets its Mary Todd: Sally Field |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/04/13/spielbergs-lincoln-gets-its-mary-todd-sally-field/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=October 22, 2019 |archive-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207193943/https://ew.com/article/2011/04/13/spielbergs-lincoln-gets-its-mary-todd-sally-field/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Based on [[Doris Kearns Goodwin]]'s book ''[[Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln]]'' and written by [[Tony Kushner]], the film depicts the final four months of Lincoln's life. The film was shot in [[Richmond, Virginia]] in late 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last=Garbarek |first=Ben |date=May 9, 2011 |title=First casting calls for Steven Spielberg movie |url=http://www.nbc12.com/story/14601466/first-casting-calls-for-steven-spielberg-movie |access-date=July 20, 2011 |website=[[WWBT]] |publisher= |archive-date=October 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001220510/https://www.nbc12.com/story/14601466/first-casting-calls-for-steven-spielberg-movie/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and was released in the US in November 2012.<ref>{{cite web |author=Fischer |first=Russ |date=November 19, 2010 |title=Daniel Day-Lewis to Star in Steven Spielberg's 'Lincoln' |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/daniel-day-lewis-lincoln-steven-spielberg/ |access-date=March 10, 2023 |work=[[/Film]] |archive-date=November 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121003803/https://www.slashfilm.com/daniel-day-lewis-lincoln-steven-spielberg/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Lincoln'' was acclaimed and earned more than $250 million worldwide.{{Sfn|Mara|2014|p=65}} It was nominated for twelve Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director,<ref>{{cite web |title=The 85th Academy Awards {{!}} 2013 |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502002219/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2013 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |access-date=March 3, 2013 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]}}</ref> winning [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Production Design]] and [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] for Day-Lewis's performance.{{Sfn|Mara|2014|p=64}} Donald Clarke from ''[[The Irish Times]]'' praised the direction: "Against the odds, Spielberg makes something genuinely exciting of the backstage wheedling."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clarke |first=Donald |date=January 25, 2013 |title=The real deal |language=en |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/the-real-deal-1.966493 |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184148/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/the-real-deal-1.966493 |archive-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref>

=== 2013–present: Recent work ===
[[File:Steven Spielberg (36057844341) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|170px|Spielberg in 2017.]]
It was announced on May 2, 2013, that Spielberg would direct ''[[American Sniper]],''<ref>{{cite news |last=Zeitchik |first=Steven |date=May 2, 2013 |title=Steven Spielberg, Bradley Cooper to team for 'American Sniper' |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-steven-spielberg-bradley-cooper-to-team-on-american-sniper-20130502,0,6075950.story |access-date=May 3, 2013 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190103/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-steven-spielberg-bradley-cooper-to-team-on-american-sniper-20130502,0,6075950.story |url-status=live }}</ref> but he left the project before production began.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=August 5, 2013 |title=Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Part Ways With 'American Sniper' |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/steven-spielberg-american-sniper-1200566895/ |access-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-date=August 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807194403/https://variety.com/2013/film/news/steven-spielberg-american-sniper-1200566895/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Instead, he directed ''[[Bridge of Spies (film)|Bridge of Spies]]'' (2015), a [[Cold War]] thriller based on the [[1960 U-2 incident]], and focusing on [[James B. Donovan]]'s negotiations with the Soviets for the release of pilot [[Gary Powers]] after his aircraft was shot down over Soviet territory. It was written by [[Matt Charman]] and the [[Coen brothers]], and starred Tom Hanks as Donovan, as well as [[Mark Rylance]], [[Amy Ryan]] and [[Alan Alda]].<ref name="June14dates">{{cite magazine|last1=Bahr|first1=Lindsey|title=Steven Spielberg's Cold War thriller and 'The BFG' snag release dates|url=https://ew.com/article/2014/06/16/steven-spielberg-cold-war-bfg/|access-date=October 22, 2019|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=June 16, 2014|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808014355/https://ew.com/article/2014/06/16/steven-spielberg-cold-war-bfg/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was filmed in the fall of 2014 in New York City, Berlin and [[Wrocław|Wroclaw]], and was released on October 16.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=Tom Hanks-Steven Spielberg Cold War Thriller Set for Oct. 16, 2015|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/tom-hanks-steven-spielberg-cold-war-thriller-set-for-oct-16-2015-1201221269/|access-date=June 6, 2014|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=June 16, 2014|archive-date=June 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620054618/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/tom-hanks-steven-spielberg-cold-war-thriller-set-for-oct-16-2015-1201221269/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=July 21, 2014|title=Amy Ryan, Alan Alda Join Tom Hanks in Steven Spielberg's Cold War Thriller|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/amy-ryan-alan-alda-join-tom-hanks-in-steven-spielbergs-cold-war-thriller-1201266172/|access-date=July 21, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811073019/https://variety.com/2014/film/news/amy-ryan-alan-alda-join-tom-hanks-in-steven-spielbergs-cold-war-thriller-1201266172/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Bridge of Spies'' was popular with critics,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bridge of Spies |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bridge_of_spies/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184153/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bridge_of_spies |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=March 10, 2023 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=October 16, 2015 |publisher=[[Fandango Media]]}}</ref> and was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture; Rylance won [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]], becoming the second actor to win for a performance directed by Spielberg.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 88th Academy Awards {{!}} 2016 |date=February 16, 2017 |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108052548/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2016 |archive-date=November 8, 2019 |access-date=December 2, 2020 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |language=en}}</ref>

In 2016, Spielberg made ''[[The BFG (2016 film)|The BFG]],'' an adaptation of [[Roald Dahl]]'s [[The BFG|children's book]], starring newcomer [[Ruby Barnhill]], and [[Mark Rylance]] as the titular Big Friendly Giant. DreamWorks bought the rights in 2010, and [[John Madden (director)|John Madden]] had intended to direct.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pulver |first=Andrew |date=April 28, 2014 |title=Steven Spielberg to tackle The BFG movie |url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/apr/28/steven-spielberg-bfg-movie-roald-dahl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184155/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/apr/28/steven-spielberg-bfg-movie-roald-dahl |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> The film was the last to be written by ''E.T.'' screenwriter [[Melissa Mathison]] before her death.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2014 |title=Steven Spielberg to direct The BFG |url=https://www.roalddahl.com/blog/2014/april/steven-spielberg-to-direct-the-bfg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184218/https://www.roalddahl.com/blog/2014/april/steven-spielberg-to-direct-the-bfg |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=December 2, 2020 |website=roalddahl.com}}</ref> It was co-produced and released by [[Walt Disney Pictures]], marking the first Disney-branded film to be directed by Spielberg. ''The BFG'' premiered as an out-of-competition entry at the [[2016 Cannes Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/programmation/?date=2016-05-14|title=Programme|website=[[Cannes Film Festival|Festival de Cannes]]|access-date=December 1, 2017|archive-date=November 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118102457/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/programmation/?date|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Tartaglione |first1=Nancy |last2=Jaafar |first2=Ali |date=April 14, 2016 |title=Cannes Film Festival 2016 Lineup: 'The BFG', 'Nice Guys', Penn, Refn, Almodóvar & More Confirmed; No Closing-Night Pic |url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/cannes-film-festival-2016-official-selection-lineup-full-list-1201736807/ |access-date=December 1, 2017 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|Penske Business Media, LLC]] |archive-date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414135414/https://deadline.com/2016/04/cannes-film-festival-2016-official-selection-lineup-full-list-1201736807/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and received a wide release in the US on July 1, 2016.<ref name=June14dates /> ''The BFG'' received fair reviews; [[Michael Phillips (critic)|Michael Phillips]] of ''[[The Chicago Tribune]]'' compared certain scenes to the works of [[Alfred Hitchcock]] and [[Stanley Kubrick]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Michael |date=June 29, 2016 |title='The BFG' review: Oscar-winner Rylance delightful to watch in Spielberg adaptation |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/sc-the-bfg-mov-rev-0628-20160628-column.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184205/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/sc-the-bfg-mov-rev-0628-20160628-column.html |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> while ''[[Toronto Sun]]''{{'}}s Liz Braun thought that there were "moments of wonder and delight" but it was too long.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Braun |first=Liz |date=June 30, 2016 |title='The BFG' review: Steven Spielberg can't capture the magic of Roald Dahl |language=en-CA |newspaper=[[Toronto Sun]] |url=https://torontosun.com/2016/06/30/the-bfg-review-steven-spielberg-cant-capture-the-magic-of-roald-dahl |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184202/https://torontosun.com/2016/06/30/the-bfg-review-steven-spielberg-cant-capture-the-magic-of-roald-dahl |archive-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref>

A year later, Spielberg directed ''[[The Post (film)|The Post]]'', an account of ''[[The Washington Post]]''{{'s}} printing of the ''[[Pentagon Papers]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=March 10, 2017 |title=Spielberg, Hanks & Streep's Pentagon Papers Pic A Contender In Next Oscar Race |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/steven-spielberg-tom-hanks-meryl-streep-pentagon-papers-oscar-race-the-post-1202040913/ |access-date=March 30, 2017 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|Penske Business Media, LLC]] |archive-date=March 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311032658/https://deadline.com/2017/03/steven-spielberg-tom-hanks-meryl-streep-pentagon-papers-oscar-race-the-post-1202040913/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Starring Tom Hanks and [[Meryl Streep]], production began in New York on May 30, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last=Robbins |first=Caryn |date=June 6, 2017 |title=Production Underway on Spielberg's THE PAPERS, Starring Meryl Streep & Tom Hanks |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Production-Underway-on-Spielbergs-THE-PAPERS-Starring-Meryl-Streep-Tom-Hanks-20170606 |access-date=December 1, 2017 |website=[[BroadwayWorld]] |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203052623/https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Production-Underway-on-Spielbergs-THE-PAPERS-Starring-Meryl-Streep-Tom-Hanks-20170606 |url-status=live }}</ref> Spielberg stated his attraction to the project: "When I read the first draft of the script, this wasn't something that could wait three years or two years—this was a story I felt we needed to tell today."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Patrick |date=November 20, 2017 |title=Steven Spielberg on timely new film 'The Post': 'History is certainly repeating itself' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2017/11/20/steven-spielberg-timely-new-film-the-post-history-certainly-repeating-itself/879965001/ |access-date=December 2, 2020 |website=[[USA Today]] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120160444/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2017/11/20/steven-spielberg-timely-new-film-the-post-history-certainly-repeating-itself/879965001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film received a wide release on January 12, 2018.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Romano |first=Nick |date=April 22, 2017 |title=Steven Spielberg, Bryan Singer's Queen Film Land Awards Season Releases |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/04/22/queen-bohemian-rhapsody-steven-spielberg-pentagon-papers-release-dates/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319085621/https://ew.com/movies/2017/04/22/queen-bohemian-rhapsody-steven-spielberg-pentagon-papers-release-dates/ |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |access-date=March 10, 2023}}</ref> ''The Post'' gained positive reception; the critic from the ''[[Associated Press]]'' thought "Spielberg infuses every scene with tension and life and the grandeur of the ordinary that he's always been so good at conveying."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bahr |first=Lindsey |date=December 13, 2017 |title=Review: Spielberg, Streep and Hanks deliver in 'The Post' |url=https://apnews.com/article/1388c3e2044a4fa28c87d26043841c95 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184157/https://apnews.com/article/1388c3e2044a4fa28c87d26043841c95 |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |website=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> In 2017, Spielberg and [[Paul Greengrass]], [[Francis Ford Coppola]], [[Guillermo del Toro]] and [[Lawrence Kasdan]] were featured in the [[Netflix]] documentary series ''[[Five Came Back (TV series)|Five Came Back]]'', about the war-related works of directors [[Frank Capra]], [[John Ford]], [[John Huston]], [[George Stevens]] and [[William Wyler]]. Spielberg was also an executive producer.<ref>{{cite web |last=Busch |first=Anita |date=February 28, 2017 |title='Netflix's 'Five Came Back' With Spielberg, Coppola, Del Toro, Greengrass & Kasdan Drops Trailer – Watch |url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/five-came-back-netflix-trailer-spielberg-coppola-del-toro-greengrass-kasdan-1202026705/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301154837/http://deadline.com/2017/02/five-came-back-netflix-trailer-spielberg-coppola-del-toro-greengrass-kasdan-1202026705/ |archive-date=March 1, 2017 |access-date=December 1, 2017 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|Penske Business Media, LLC]]}}</ref> He executive produced the series with [[Barry Diller]] and [[Scott Rudin]].

[[File:Tony Kushner and Angels in America's 20th Anniversary (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|170px|Spielberg collaborated with playwright [[Tony Kushner]] for ''[[West Side Story (2021 film)|West Side Story]]'' (2021) and ''[[The Fabelmans]]'' (2022)]]
Spielberg directed the science fiction [[Ready Player One (film)|''Ready Player One'']] (2018), adapted from the [[Ready Player One|novel of the same name]] by [[Ernest Cline]]. It stars [[Tye Sheridan]], [[Olivia Cooke]], [[Ben Mendelsohn]], [[Lena Waithe]], [[T.J. Miller]], [[Simon Pegg]], and Mark Rylance. The plot takes place in 2045 when much of humanity uses [[virtual reality]] to escape the real world. ''Ready Player One'' began production in July 2016,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Bryan |date=June 26, 2016 |title=New BFFs Spielberg, Rylance team up for 'The BFG' and big things beyond |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2016/06/26/bfg-steven-spielberg-mark-rylance/86164382/ |access-date=July 4, 2016 |website=[[USA Today]] |archive-date=November 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109205427/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2016/06/26/bfg-steven-spielberg-mark-rylance/86164382/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and was intended to be released on December 15, 2017,<ref>{{cite news |author=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=August 6, 2015 |title=Steven Spielberg's 'Ready Player One' Slotted For December 2017 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|Penske Business Media, LLC]] |url=https://deadline.com/2015/08/steven-spielbergs-ready-player-one-december-15-2017-release-warner-bros-1201493651/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807205734/http://deadline.com/2015/08/steven-spielbergs-ready-player-one-december-15-2017-release-warner-bros-1201493651/ |archive-date=August 7, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Busch |first=Anita |date=March 25, 2015 |title=Steven Spielberg To Direct Sci-Fi Cult Favorite 'Ready Player One'; Back At Warner Bros. |url=https://deadline.com/2015/03/ready-player-one-movie-steven-spielberg-ernest-cline-warner-bros-1201398299/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702031556/https://deadline.com/2015/03/ready-player-one-movie-steven-spielberg-ernest-cline-warner-bros-1201398299/ |archive-date=July 2, 2020 |access-date=February 19, 2020 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> but was moved to March 2018 to avoid competition with ''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=February 9, 2016 |title=Steven Spielberg's 'Ready Player One' Pushed Back to Avoid 'Star Wars: Episode VIII' |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/ready-player-one-steven-spielberg-star-wars-1201701175/ |access-date=February 9, 2016 |archive-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728161219/https://variety.com/2016/film/news/ready-player-one-steven-spielberg-star-wars-1201701175/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It premiered at the 2018 [[South by Southwest]] film festival.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 12, 2018 |title=Spielberg's 'Ready Player One' Premiere Hit With Technical Difficulties |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/spielbergs-ready-player-one-premiere-hit-with-technical-difficulties-1202723753/ |access-date=March 10, 2023 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807195445/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/spielbergs-ready-player-one-premiere-hit-with-technical-difficulties-1202723753/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Spielberg's direction was praised along with the action scenes and visual effects, but many critics thought the film was too long and overused 1980s nostalgia.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Nashawaty |first=Chris |date=March 26, 2018 |title=Here's what our critic thought of Steven Spielberg's 'Ready Player One' |url=https://ew.com/movies/2018/03/26/ready-player-one-review/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |language=EN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184206/https://ew.com/movies/2018/03/26/ready-player-one-review/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=December 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burr |first=Ty |date=March 28, 2018 |title=Spielberg's 'Ready Player One' is much deeper than the trailers suggest |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2018/03/28/back-future-way-ready-player-one/BDgDfdTafFEWPJEcynLmJM/story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184159/https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2018/03/28/back-future-way-ready-player-one/BDgDfdTafFEWPJEcynLmJM/story.html |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |website=[[The Boston Globe]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2019, Spielberg filmed ''[[West Side Story (2021 film)|West Side Story]]'', an adaptation of the [[West Side Story|musical of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=March 5, 2014 |title='West Side Story' Remake For Steven Spielberg In Works At Fox – Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2014/03/fox-revives-west-side-story-for-steven-spielberg-as-town-ponders-stacey-snider-move-and-dreamworks-future-693716/ |access-date=March 10, 2023 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|Penske Business Media, LLC]] |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812010519/http://www.deadline.com/2014/03/fox-revives-west-side-story-for-steven-spielberg-as-town-ponders-stacey-snider-move-and-dreamworks-future/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It stars [[Ansel Elgort]] and [[Rachel Zegler]] in her film debut with [[Ariana DeBose]], [[David Alvarez (actor)|David Alvarez]], [[Mike Faist]], and [[Rita Moreno]] in supporting roles. Written by [[Tony Kushner]], the film stays true to the 1950s setting.<ref>{{cite news |last=Teeman |first=Tim |date=July 19, 2017 |title=Tony Kushner: Why I'm Writing a Play About Donald Trump |newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]] |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/tony-kushner-why-im-writing-a-play-about-donald-trump |url-status=live |access-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211121938/http://www.thedailybeast.com/tony-kushner-why-im-writing-a-play-about-donald-trump |archive-date=February 11, 2019}}</ref> ''West Side Story'' was released in December 2021 to positive reviews and received seven [[Academy Award]] nominations including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], and [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]].<ref name="nytimes-oscars">{{cite news |last=Cohn |first=Gabe |date=February 8, 2022 |title=2022 Oscars Nominees List |website=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/movies/2022-oscars-nominees-list.html |access-date=February 8, 2022 |archive-date=February 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208132358/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/movies/2022-oscars-nominees-list.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Spielberg also received nominations from the [[Golden Globe Awards]], [[Directors Guild of America]], and [[Critics' Choice Movie Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Palotta |first=Frank |date=December 10, 2021 |title=Spielberg and Oscar buzz could give 'West Side Story' a big opening weekend |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/10/media/west-side-story-box-office-analysis/index.html |access-date=December 10, 2021 |website=[[CNN]] |archive-date=December 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210193327/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/10/media/west-side-story-box-office-analysis/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Economist]]'' praised the choreography, stating that it "stunningly melds beauty and violence".<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 22, 2022 |title=''West Side Story'' and the magic of remakes |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/01/22/west-side-story-and-the-magic-of-remakes |access-date=February 11, 2022 |archive-date=February 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211193907/https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/01/22/west-side-story-and-the-magic-of-remakes |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2022, Spielberg said that ''West Side Story'' would be the last musical he will direct.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=March 19, 2022 |title=Steven Spielberg on Producing: "The Smartest Thing I Do Is Hire Women" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/steven-spielberg-pga-hiring-women-1235115081/ |access-date=March 20, 2022 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en-US |archive-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611021057/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/steven-spielberg-pga-hiring-women-1235115081/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spielberg's 2022 film ''[[The Fabelmans]]'' is a fictionalized account of his own adolescence, which he wrote with Tony Kushner.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=J. Kim |date=May 4, 2021 |title=Steven Spielberg's Next Film Is Titled The Fabelmans, About a Young Spielberg |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/steven-spielberg-the-fabelmans-title-casting-call-young-spielberg |access-date=March 9, 2023 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en |archive-date=May 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504212238/https://www.ign.com/articles/steven-spielberg-the-fabelmans-title-casting-call-young-spielberg |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Gabriel LaBelle]] plays [[Sammy Fabelman]], a character inspired by Spielberg, while [[Michelle Williams (actress)|Michelle Williams]] plays Sammy's mother Mitzi Fabelman, [[Paul Dano]] plays Burt Fabelman, his father, [[Seth Rogen]] plays Bennie Loewy, Burt's best friend and co-worker who becomes Sammy's surrogate uncle, and [[Judd Hirsch]] as Mitzi's Uncle Boris.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=May 26, 2021 |title=Steven Spielberg Sets Newcomer Gabriel LaBelle To Star In Untitled Film Based On Director's Childhood |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/steven-spielberg-gabriel-labelle-younger-spielberg-untitled-film-loosely-based-on-directors-childhood-1234763409/ |access-date=March 9, 2023 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|Penske Business Media, LLC]] |language=en-US |archive-date=May 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526170154/https://deadline.com/2021/05/steven-spielberg-gabriel-labelle-younger-spielberg-untitled-film-loosely-based-on-directors-childhood-1234763409/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Keegan |first=Rebecca |date=March 2, 2022 |title=Paul Dano on His Terrifying Batman Villain and Why He's No Longer Scared of Going Hollywood |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/paul-dano-the-batman-riddler-the-fabelmans-1235101919/ |access-date=March 7, 2022 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-date=March 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306043855/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/paul-dano-the-batman-riddler-the-fabelmans-1235101919/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Filming began in Los Angeles in July 2021, and the film premiered at the [[2022 Toronto International Film Festival]] on September 10, Spielberg's first appearance at that festival.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=July 22, 2022 |title=Steven Spielberg's ''The Fabelmans'' To World Premiere At Toronto Film Festival |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/the-fabelmans-premiere-toronto-film-festival-steven-spielberg-1235074987/ |access-date=July 22, 2022 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|Penske Business Media, LLC]] |archive-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611002922/https://deadline.com/2022/07/the-fabelmans-premiere-toronto-film-festival-steven-spielberg-1235074987/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It received widespread critical acclaim and won the festival's [[Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award|People's Choice Award]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=September 18, 2022 |title=Steven Spielberg's 'The Fabelmans' Wins Toronto International Film Festival's People's Choice Award |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/steven-spielberg-the-fabelmans-toronto-film-festival-peoples-choice-award-1235375979/ |access-date=October 14, 2022 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315105806/https://variety.com/2022/film/news/steven-spielberg-the-fabelmans-toronto-film-festival-peoples-choice-award-1235375979/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It received a limited theatrical release on November 11, 2022, by [[Universal Pictures]], before expanding wide on November 23.<ref>{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=December 6, 2021 |title=Steven Spielberg's ''The Fabelmans'', Based On Filmmaker's Childhood, Sets 2022 Theatrical Release |url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/steven-spielbergs-the-fabelmans-based-on-filmmakers-childhood-sets-2022-theatrical-release-1234885646/ |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|Penske Business Media, LLC]] |archive-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206193423/https://deadline.com/2021/12/steven-spielbergs-the-fabelmans-based-on-filmmakers-childhood-sets-2022-theatrical-release-1234885646/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Steven Spielberg, Berlinale 2023-3.jpg|thumb|right|Spielberg at [[Berlinale]] at 2023]]
Despite the favorable critical reception, ''West Side Story'' and ''The Fabelmans'' were box office failures, which ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' suggested could be attributed to a decline in the popularity of Spielberg in a film-going environment altered by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], and the public's loss of interest in [[Prestige picture|prestige films]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eriksen |first=Kaare |date=December 1, 2022 |title='Fabelmans' Fumble Points to Box-office Blues for Prestige Films |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/vip/fabelmans-fumble-points-to-box-office-blues-for-prestige-films-1235447094/ |access-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216182455/https://variety.com/vip/fabelmans-fumble-points-to-box-office-blues-for-prestige-films-1235447094/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Fabelmans'' received seven [[Academy Award]] nominations, including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]], and [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay|Best Original Screenplay]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |date=January 24, 2023 |title=Steven Spielberg On 'Fabelmans' Oscar Noms, His First Screenplay Nod, 'Indiana Jones' & Why Theatrical B.O. "Will Come Back" |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|Penske Business Media, LLC]] |url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/oscars-2023-steven-spielberg-the-fabelmans-indiana-jones-disney-series-1235239433/ |access-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315031030/https://deadline.com/2023/01/oscars-2023-steven-spielberg-the-fabelmans-indiana-jones-disney-series-1235239433/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sanchez |first=Gabrielle |date=March 13, 2023 |title=''The Banshees of Inisherin'', ''TÁR'', ''Elvis'', and ''The Fabelmans'' were all shut out of this year's Oscars |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |url=https://www.avclub.com/banshees-of-inisherin-tar-the-fabelmans-shut-out-oscars-1850218763 |access-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313161025/https://www.avclub.com/banshees-of-inisherin-tar-the-fabelmans-shut-out-oscars-1850218763 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was, however, a major box office success in France and became the highest-rated film of the 21st century in the country, with a 4.9 average from critics on [[AlloCiné]] from 43 reviews, with all but 6 giving the film 5 stars. ''[[Cahiers du Cinéma]]'' wrote that Spielberg, at age 76, had "come to represent like no other, the idea of cinema as wonder, at a time when the relationship to the spectacular and the cinema seems more tormented than ever" and declared that the film will "undoubtedly remain the most important and singular film of his career".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm-255726/critiques/presse/ |title=The Fabelmans |work=AlloCiné |access-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320144401/https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm-255726/critiques/presse/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/24/film-spielberg-the-fabelmans-reviews-french-critics-audiences |title='What a film!' Spielberg's The Fabelmans stuns French critics and audiences |first=Kim |last=Willsher |date=February 24, 2023 |work=The Guardian |access-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612185754/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/24/film-spielberg-the-fabelmans-reviews-french-critics-audiences |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spielberg had planned to direct ''[[Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny]]'', but he stepped down and was replaced by [[James Mangold]]. Spielberg said that he would remain "hands on" as a producer,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vary |first1=Adam B. |last2=Kroll |first2=Justin |last3=Lang |first3=Brent |date=February 26, 2020 |title=Steven Spielberg Won't Direct 'Indiana Jones 5,' James Mangold in Talks to Replace (Exclusive) |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/steven-spielberg-indiana-jones-5-james-mangold-harrison-ford-1203515698 |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226185816/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/steven-spielberg-indiana-jones-5-james-mangold-harrison-ford-1203515698/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Stolworthy |first=Jacob |date=October 1, 2020 |title=Indiana Jones 5 writer says Steven Spielberg quit as director because his ideas 'didn't work' |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/indiana-jones-5-steven-spielberg-quit-director-harrison-ford-release-date-trailer-b740989.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/indiana-jones-5-steven-spielberg-quit-director-harrison-ford-release-date-trailer-b740989.html |archive-date=May 25, 2022}}</ref> along with Kathleen Kennedy and [[Frank Marshall (producer)|Frank Marshall]]. In 2016, it was announced that it would be written by [[David Koepp]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=March 18, 2016 |title='Indiana Jones 5' Taps Writer David Koepp, a Steven Spielberg Regular |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/indiana-jones-5-writer-david-koepp-1201733969/ |access-date=July 4, 2016 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=May 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512135313/https://variety.com/2016/film/news/indiana-jones-5-writer-david-koepp-1201733969/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with a release by Disney on July 19, 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=March 15, 2016|title=Steven Spielberg & Harrison Ford Team Up For 'Indiana Jones 5'; Disney Sets July 2019 Release|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|Penske Business Media, LLC]]|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/steven-spielberg-harrison-ford-team-up-for-indiana-jones-5-disney-sets-july-2019-release-1201720725/|access-date=July 4, 2016|archive-date=July 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727051116/https://deadline.com/2016/03/steven-spielberg-harrison-ford-team-up-for-indiana-jones-5-disney-sets-july-2019-release-1201720725/|url-status=live}}</ref> After a change of filming and release dates,<ref>{{cite web |date=April 25, 2017 |title=Star Wars: Episode IX and Next Indiana Jones Get Release Dates |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-ix-and-next-indiana-jones-get-release-dates |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425203226/http://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-ix-and-next-indiana-jones-get-release-dates |archive-date=April 25, 2017 |access-date=December 1, 2017 |website=[[StarWars.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Barfield |first=Charles |date=March 19, 2018 |title=Spielberg Confirms 'Indy 5' Will Begin Production In April 2019 |url=https://theplaylist.net/spielberg-indy-5-20180319/ |access-date=March 9, 2023 |website=[[The Playlist]] |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807153132/https://theplaylist.net/spielberg-indy-5-20180319/ |url-status=live }}</ref> it was postponed again when [[Jonathan Kasdan]] was announced as the film's new writer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=June 28, 2018 |title=''Indiana Jones 5'' Will Miss 2020 Release Date (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/indiana-jones-5-release-date-spielberg-harrison-ford-1202861005/ |access-date=March 10, 2023 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=August 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813211544/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/indiana-jones-5-release-date-spielberg-harrison-ford-1202861005/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Soon after, a new release date of July 9, 2021, was announced.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=July 10, 2018 |title=Disney Pushes 'Indiana Jones 5' a Year to 2021, Dates 'Maleficent 2,' 'Jungle Cruise' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/indiana-jones-5-release-date-pushed-again-2021-1125975 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710225312/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/indiana-jones-5-release-date-pushed-again-2021-1125975 |archive-date=July 10, 2018 |access-date=July 10, 2018 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> In May 2019, [[Dan Fogelman]] was hired to write a new script, and Kasdan's story, focused on the [[Nazi gold train]], would not be used; the script was ultimately credited to Mangold, Koepp, [[Jez Butterworth]], and [[John-Henry Butterworth]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schmidt |first=Joe |date=May 1, 2019 |title=Indiana Jones 5 Gets New Writer, Abandoned Plot Details Revealed |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/indiana-jones-5-new-writer-abandoned-plot-details-revealed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101184200/https://comicbook.com/movies/news/indiana-jones-5-new-writer-abandoned-plot-details-revealed/ |archive-date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=December 18, 2020 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en}}</ref> In April 2020, it was announced that the release of the film was delayed to July 29, 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic,<ref>{{cite news |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=April 3, 2020 |title='Black Widow,' 'Eternals,' 'Indiana Jones 5' and More Disney Films Get New Release Dates |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/disney-mulan-black-widow-release-dates-coronavirus-1203550173 |access-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-date=April 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403231745/https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/disney-mulan-black-widow-release-dates-coronavirus-1203550173 |url-status=live }}</ref> and in October 2021, the release date was again delayed to June 30, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=October 18, 2021 |title=Disney Delays 'Doctor Strange 2,' 'Thor 4,' 'Black Panther' Sequel and 'Indiana Jones 5' |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/disney-delays-doctor-strange-thor-black-panther-1235091673/ |access-date=December 2, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018154442/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/disney-delays-doctor-strange-thor-black-panther-1235091673/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film began production in the UK in June 2021<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Wiseman |first1=Andreas |date=June 2, 2021 |title='Indiana Jones 5' to Begin Filming in the UK Next Week |newspaper=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|Penske Business Media, LLC]] |url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/indiana-jones-5-begin-filming-uk-next-week-harrison-ford-phoebe-waller-bridge-mads-mikkelsen-1234767764/ |access-date=March 9, 2023 |archive-date=June 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602152223/https://deadline.com/2021/06/indiana-jones-5-begin-filming-uk-next-week-harrison-ford-phoebe-waller-bridge-mads-mikkelsen-1234767764/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and finished in February 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lovett |first=Jamie |date=February 27, 2022 |title=Indiana Jones 5 Wraps Filming |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/indiana-jones-5-wraps-filming/ |access-date=February 27, 2022 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |archive-date=February 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227152845/https://comicbook.com/movies/news/indiana-jones-5-wraps-filming/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2025, Spielberg began shooting his [[Untitled Steven Spielberg film|next as-yet untitled film]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/video/emily-blunt-video-interview-steven-spielberg-edge-of-tomorrow-red-sea-studio/ | title=Emily Blunt Recalls Trying Not to "Dork Out" in Meeting with Steven Spielberg & Talks Career Lessons: "It's Good for Me to Put My Feet to the Fire" – Red Sea Studio | date=December 7, 2024 }}</ref> reportedly about [[Unidentified flying object|UFOs]]. The screenplay was written by [[David Koepp]], based on an original idea from Spielberg.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/martin-scorsese-frank-sinatra-biopic-dicaprio-jennifer-lawrence-1235973769/|last=Siegel |first=Tatiana| date=April 17, 2024 |title=Ageless Auteurs: Scorsese Eyes Frank Sinatra Biopic With Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, Spielberg Tackling UFO Movie and More|access-date=April 27, 2024|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> The film will star [[Emily Blunt]], [[Josh O'Connor]], [[Colman Domingo]], [[Colin Firth]], and [[Eve Hewson]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/wyatt-russell-steven-spielberg-movie-1236196776/ | title=Wyatt Russell in Talks to Join Steven Spielberg's Next Event Movie | date=December 7, 2024 }}</ref> and is set to be released in theatres on May 15, 2026 by Universal Pictures.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2024-09-16 |title=Colman Domingo Circling Steven Spielberg's Next Event Film At Amblin And Universal |url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/colman-domingo-steven-spielberg-movie-1236090816/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 23, 2024|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/steven-spielberg-next-movie-summer-2026-release-date-1236014435/|title=Steven Spielberg Sets New Film for Summer 2026, Reunites With 'Jurassic Park' and 'War of the Worlds' Screenwriter|access-date=November 29, 2024|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-19 |title=Steven Spielberg's Latest Gets A New Title |url=https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/2/5/spielberg |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=World of Reel |language=en-US}}</ref>