Best Steven Spielberg Movies

One of the great adventure movies of all time, Raiders of the Lost Ark has everything -- a fantastic, swashbuckling hero, menacing villains (Nazis), treasure, booby traps, humor, and nonstop excitement.

If only for the opening half hour or so, in which Spielberg gives the audience a no holds barred look at the horror, chaos, and tragedy of war, this movie is a classic WWII film. In addition to being one of the most realistic portrayals of war, though, this movie is also a well-told story with great characters that make it a pleasure to watch.

Although E.T. and Elliott are unlikely heroes, they form a deep friendship and overcome incredible obstacles to achieve what they set out to do. E.T. is a great movie for kids because the kids really are the heroes and save the day for themselves. E.T. himself is one of the sweetest, most endearing characters in film, and he really gives the audience someone to root for.

Even with all the advances in special effects that have been made since this movie first came out in 1975, it still holds up as a classic thriller because Spielberg relied more on the fear produced by what's unseen. John Williams' now famous musical theme for the movie added its own element of suspense that still sends chills down the spine.

cause it freaking rocks!

Although many movies have been made about WWII, this one takes a different angle -- telling the story of a young British boy in China, separated from his parents and sent to live in a concentration camp by the Japanese invading force. His struggle to maintain a sense of normalcy in the midst of the upheaval of war is a brilliant tale of survival.