Line #79 Creator/StevenSpielberg


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1200px_steven_spielberg_by_gage_skidmore.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:[[Magazine/TimeMagazine If you were Steven Spielberg, you'll be smiling too.]]]]
3
4	->''"I dream for a living."''
5
6	Every so often, someone emerges in a field and manages to not only revolutionize it, but do so several times. American director and producer Steven Allan Spielberg is one of those people, with a career that has gone uninterrupted since the mid-[[TheSeventies 1970s]]. To put it simply, he is one of the most influential powers in Hollywood.
7
8	Spielberg was born on December 18, 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Leah (née Posner, later Adler), and Arnold Spielberg. After playing with his father's 8mm camera as a kid, he enrolled in a community college with a small film program and used those connections to get work directing TV episodes, including the pilot episode of ''Series/NightGallery''.[[note]]That ''Night Gallery'' episode turned out to be quite a Hollywood passing of the torch, since the star was none other than Creator/JoanCrawford.[[/note]] He also worked as an assistant at Creator/{{Universal}}'s editorial department, and snooped around on film sets to learn more about the trade [[note]]Creator/CharltonHeston recounted in his autobiography ''In the Arena'' how Spielberg tried several times to infiltrate the set of 1965's ''Film/{{The War Lord\|1965}}'', only to be ejected, after which director Franklin J. Schaffner finally gave in and let him watch what was being filmed[[/note]]. In 1971, he got his big break directing the low-budget cult TV film ''Film/{{Duel}}'', a taut thriller that was such a hit that he was allowed to shoot more scenes to give it a cinema release in Europe.
9
10	The success of ''Duel'' got Spielberg a lot of attention, enough for him to be brought on as the director for the film that would launch him into the stratosphere: ''Film/{{Jaws}}'', the [[UrExample first]] {{summer blockbuster}} (setting the record for all-time highest-grossing movie just before ''[[Film/ANewHope Star Wars]]'' came out, pushing the record up even further). With basically a blank check, he followed this up with the BenevolentAlienInvasion film ''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind'', the [=30s=] serial throwback ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'' (the first of the ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' films; he directed all the sequels as well) and the family favourite ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'', which became the highest-grossing film of all time in its day (his ''second'' time achieving that milestone).
11
12	In 1985, Spielberg branched into directing dramas with his ultra-serious ''Film/TheColorPurple1985'', which was nominated for several [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscars]]; it would not be his last excursion into this genre. He went on to make ''Film/{{Hook}}'' in 1991, and ''Film/{{Jurassic Park\|1993}}'' in 1993 (his ''third'' time making the most successful movie of all time), which revolutionized the use of CG animation in film. ''Film/SchindlersList'', released the same year, won the Oscar for Best Picture, ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'' won a handful of Oscars itself, and ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'' saw him taking over directorial reins from his good friend Creator/StanleyKubrick, who died in mid-production. ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'' teamed him with Creator/TomHanks for the second time after ''Saving Private Ryan'', and became another acclaimed hit.
13
14	Spielberg is also known for being a collaborator with other very popular films including ''Film/{{Poltergeist\|1982}}'' and ''Film/TheGoonies'' (a team effort with Creator/RichardDonner and Creator/ChrisColumbus). Even recently he was found working in mega-blockbusters like ''Film/Transformers2007''. He was additionally a co-founder of the studio Creator/DreamWorksSKG in 1994 alongside Creator/{{Disney}} studio chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg and record producer David Geffen. [=DreamWorks=] and Spielberg (as producer) would later go on to make the first ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonor'' video game, widely regarded as the [=PS1=]'s ''[[VideoGame/GoldenEye1997 GoldenEye]]''. He still runs [[VanityPlate Amblin]] [[Creator/AmblinEntertainment Entertainment]].
15
16	Spielberg has been a long-time friend of Creator/GeorgeLucas ever since they met at a film festival when both were in college (Spielberg said he was insanely jealous of Lucas' student film that eventually became ''Film/THX1138''). While their only official collaborations are ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', and to a lesser extent ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime'' (Spielberg was supposed to direct ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', issues with the Directors Guild of America stopped that from happening), they frequently spend time together and discuss each other's projects. Spielberg was also a frequent collaborator with Creator/StanWinston, the puppeteer and makeup virtuoso who brought the dinosaurs of ''Franchise/JurassicPark'' and the robots of ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'' marvelously to life. He's also famously collaborated with Music/JohnWilliams, with the composer providing the scores for virtually all of Spielberg's films.
17
18	[[HeAlsoDid Aside from film]], Spielberg has also done television work. He directed part of the pilot of ''Creator/RodSerling's Series/NightGallery'' as well as a few TV movies in addition to ''Duel'', and has produced television shows such as ''Series/AmazingStories'', ''Series/SeaQuestDSV'', ''Series/{{ER}}'', and ''Series/UnitedStatesOfTara''.
19
20	He's also delved into animation. He collaborated with Creator/DonBluth in the 1980s to produce box office successes like ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTail'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime'', also starting his own animation studio, Creator/{{Amblimation}}, which would go on to produce the somewhat less successful ''WesternAnimation/WereBackADinosaursStory'', ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTailFievelGoesWest'', and ''WesternAnimation/{{Balto}}''; it and Bluth would be spiritually replaced by Katzenberg's Creator/DreamWorksAnimation (he also had input in DWA's first ''WesternAnimation/Shrek1'' movie). He is also known as the executive producer for (and mistakenly believed to have created, thanks to InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt) Creator/WarnerBros Silver Age cartoons ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}'', ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'', and some lesser known works, such as ''WesternAnimation/{{Histeria}}''[[note]]an educational sketch show parodying historical figures and events -- and pushing the limits of what can and can't be done on kids' TV, just like ''Animaniacs''[[/note]], ''WesternAnimation/{{Toonsylvania}}'' (one of his first animated projects when he created [=DreamWorks=] Studios), and the much-reviled ''Pinky and the Brain'' spinoff ''WesternAnimation/PinkyElmyraAndTheBrain''.
21
22	On top of everything else, he has also worked extensively with the Ride/UniversalStudios parks as a creative consultant. He helped oversee the development of both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, as well as many attractions; including ''Ride/ETAdventure'' [[note]]which he also appears in AsHimself[[/note]], ''Ride/{{JAWS}}'', ''Ride/{{Kongfrontation}}'', ''Ride/BackToTheFutureTheRide'', ''Ride/JurassicParkRiverAdventure'', ''Ride/TheAmazingAdventuresOfSpiderMan'', ''Ride/MenInBlackAlienAttack'', ''Ride/TransformersTheRide'', and so on.
23
24	Spielberg has been married to Creator/KateCapshaw since 1991, and was married to Creator/AmyIrving from 1985 to 1989. He has seven children: one son by Irving, two [[Music/SashaSpielberg daughter]]s and a son by Capshaw, an adopted son and daughter with Capshaw, and [[Creator/JessicaCapshaw a stepdaughter]] from Capshaw's previous marriage.
25
26	In 2018, Spielberg became the first-ever director to have his total worldwide box office cross $10 billion. Even with the plethora of honors he's received over the course of his career, he has said that his Oscars pale in comparison to the honor of being selected as a bearer of the Olympic Flag in the Salt Lake City games of 2002.
27	----
28	[[folder:Works Spielberg has directed]]
29	[[index]]
30	* ''Series/NightGallery'' (1969) (TV series, two episodes including the pilot)
31	* "[[Recap/ColumboS01E01 Murder by the Book]]", the first episode of ''Series/{{Columbo}}'' (1971)
32	* ''Film/{{Duel}}'' (1971 MadeForTVMovie, later released theatrically in Europe)
33	* ''Film/SomethingEvil'' (1972 made-for-TV movie)
34	* ''Film/TheSugarlandExpress'' (1974)
35	* ''Film/{{Jaws}}'' (1975)
36	* ''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind'' (1977)
37	* ''[[Film/NineteenFortyOne1979 1941]]'' (1979)
38	* ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'' (1981)
39	* ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'' (1982)
40	* ''Film/TwilightZoneTheMovie'' (1983, "Kick The Can" segment)
41	* ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'' (1984)
42	* ''Film/TheColorPurple1985'' (1985) -- he would later produce the [[Film/TheColorPurple2023 2023 remake]]
43	* ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'' (1987)
44	* ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'' (1989)
45	* ''Film/{{Always}}'' (1989)
46	* ''Film/{{Hook}}'' (1991)
47	* ''Film/{{Jurassic Park\|1993}}'' (1993)
48	* ''Film/SchindlersList'' (1993)
49	* ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark'' (1997)
50	* ''Film/{{Amistad}}'' (1997)
51	* ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'' (1998)
52	* ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'' (2001)
53	* ''Film/MinorityReport'' (2002)
54	* ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'' (2002)
55	* ''Film/TheTerminal'' (2004)
56	* ''Film/{{War of the Worlds\|2005}}'' (2005)
57	* ''Film/{{Munich}}'' (2005)
58	* ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'' (2008)
59	* ''VideoGame/BoomBlox'' (2008) (video game)
60	* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Adventures of Tintin\|2011}}'' (2011)
61	* ''Literature/WarHorse'' (2011)
62	* ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'' (2012)
63	* ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'' (2015)
64	* ''Film/TheBFG'' (2016)
65	* ''Film/ThePost'' (2017)
66	* ''Film/{{Ready Player One\|2018}}'' (2018)
67	* ''Film/{{West Side Story\|2021}}'' (2021)
68	* ''Film/TheFabelmans'' (2022)
69	[[/index]]
70	[[/folder]]
71
72	[[folder:Works he didn’t direct, but was involved in]]
73
74	* ''Film/IWannaHoldYourHand''
75	* ''Film/{{Poltergeist\|1982}}''
76	* ''Film/{{Gremlins}}''
77	* ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture''
78	* ''Film/TheGoonies''
79	* ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTail''
80	* ''Film/TheFlintstones''
81	* ''Film/TheMoneyPit''
82	* ''Film/{{Innerspace}}''
83	* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit''
84	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime''
85	* ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures''
86	* ''Film/JoeVersusTheVolcano''
87	* ''Film/CapeFear'' (uncredited executive producer)
88	* ''WesternAnimation/WereBackADinosaursStory''
89	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}''
90	** ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain''
91	* ''Series/SeaQuestDSV''
92	* ''Series/{{ER}}''
93	* ''Film/{{Casper}}''
94	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Balto}}''
95	* ''Film/{{Twister}}''
96	* ''Franchise/MenInBlack''
97	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}''
98	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt'' (uncredited)
99	* ''Film/VanillaSky''
100	* ''Series/BandOfBrothers''
101	* ''WesternAnimation/Shrek1'' (uncredited)
102	* ''Film/AustinPowersInGoldmember'' (cameo appearance AsHimself)
103	* ''Film/RoadToPerdition'' (uncredited)
104	* ''[[Film/RevengeOfTheSith Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith]]'' (uncredited)
105	* ''Film/MemoirsOfAGeisha''
106	* ''Film/FlagsOfOurFathers''
107	* ''Film/LettersFromIwoJima''
108	* ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries''
109	* ''Film/TheLovelyBones''
110	* ''Series/UnitedStatesOfTara''
111	* ''Franchise/HowToTrainYourDragon'' (uncredited)
112	* ''Film/{{Hereafter}}''
113	* ''Film/TrueGrit''
114	* ''Film/Super8''
115	* ''Film/CowboysAndAliens''
116	* ''Film/{{Fright Night\|2011}}'' (uncredited)
117	* ''Film/RealSteel''
118	* ''Series/TerraNova''
119	* ''Film/TheWolfOfWallStreet'' (uncredited [co-directed one scene])
120	* ''Film/{{Interstellar}}'' (originally slated to direct before Creator/ChristopherNolan)
121	* ''Film/{{Spielberg}}'' (A documentary of his life and work)
122	* ''Film/FirstMan'' (executive producer)
123	* ''VideoGame/{{The Dig\|1995}}'' (its main premise was originally pitched by him, and the game credits him as such)
124	* ''Film/TheTurning'' (uncredited)
125	* ''WesternAnimation/GremlinsSecretsOfTheMogwai''
126	* ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheDialOfDestiny'' (Originally set to direct but later stepped down and was replaced by Creator/JamesMangold, still attached as producer)
127	* ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonsLooniversity''
128	[[/folder]]
129	----
130	!!Tropes associated with Spielberg's filmography.
131	* AdolfHitlarious: After applying it in some level on films like ''[[Film/NineteenFortyOne1979 1941]]'' and two of the ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' movies (''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'' and ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade''), he put on record that he swore off ever using this trope again after filming ''Film/SchindlersList'', thinking that portraying the Nazis as anything else but pure unmockable evil was just in poor taste. This is one of the various RealLifeWritesThePlot elements that led to a planned ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'' sequel set during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII to be scrapped and forced ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'' to use Russian Communists as the villains. ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheDialOfDestiny'' went back to using Nazi villains once Spielberg stepped down as director and Creator/JamesMangold took over, though Spielberg remained on board as a producer and loved the final film when he saw it.
132	* AssociatedComposer: All those {{leitmotif}}s you currently have stuck in your head are composed by Music/JohnWilliams, who has scored all but four of Spielberg's films since ''Film/TheSugarlandExpress''. (The sole exceptions are ''Film/TheColorPurple1985'', which they mutually agreed would be better served with music by Music/QuincyJones; ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'', due to a health issue; ''Film/{{Ready Player One\|2018}}'', due to time constraints[[labelnote:*]]post-production for Spielberg's other film ''Film/ThePost'', as well as ''Film/TheLastJedi'', were both occurring concurrently with that of ''Ready Player One''[[/labelnote]]; and ''Film/{{West Side Story\|2021}}'', due to the film having a built-in soundtrack from the [[Theatre/WestSideStory original musical]].)
133	* AuthorAppeal: In most of Spielberg's films, fathers or father-figures are either [[DisappearedDad absent]] or [[ParentalIssues aloof]]. [[http://voices.yahoo.com/steven-spielbergs-daddy-issues-manifested-film-1499577.html Several]] [[http://www.hollywood.com/news/movies/42791504/how-steven-spielberg-s-daddy-issues-influenced-every-film-from-e-t-to-lincoln?page=all essays]] have analyzed this as a manifestation of Steven's childhood getting projected into his art (his own [[FantasyForbiddingFather father strongly disapproved of his interest in movies]], though he admitted [[WellDoneSonGuy he was wrong after Steven's incredible success]]).
134	* BittersweetEnding: A good chunk of his movies have either this or happy endings, if the hero dies it will be a dignified HeroicSacrifice or be remembered in the end for what they've done.
135	* BlackAndWhiteMorality: Unsurprisingly, any of his films that deal with [[ThoseWackyNazis the Third Reich]] fall squarely into this. Even ''Film/SchindlersList'', which makes a point of showing the title character as a deeply flawed and imperfect man, makes clear that his vices are not in the same league as those of the Nazi characters.
136	* CelebrityCameo: Spielberg has a brief cameo at the end of ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'', where he plays the Assessor of Cook County, Illinois (i.e. the guy they actually need to pay the $5000 bucks to save the orphanage to). He also appears AsHimself in ''Film/AustinPowersInGoldmember''.
137	* CentralTheme: Spielberg's films touch upon several recurring themes, depending on the film. These films include coming across the extraordinary, faith, and tension of parent-child relationships (especially difficult father-son relationships) His family-friendly films often deal with themes of growing up, family, and feelings of wonder and the power of imagination.
138	* CreatorCameo: He has a small appearance in his 1972 MadeForTVMovie ''Something Evil'' (a rare non-Creator/{{Universal}} TV effort), is heard as the coast guard in ''Film/{{Jaws}}'' before Quint breaks the radio, walks alongside George Lucas in an airport in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'', and watches a CNN broadcast in ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark''. For a case where he produced, in ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' Spielberg is the guy driving the trolley while Billy's dad is on the phone.
139	* CreatorThumbprint:
140	** It's not surprising to learn that Creator/JJAbrams is directly inspired by Spielberg's style, considering that Spielberg himself had a tendency to include {{Lens Flare}}s in his own films, though most of these from intense light sources that often backlit actors.
141	** Characters often talk over each other, resulting in two conversations simultaneously occurring or eventually merging in a scene.
142	** There's a reason why ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' and ''Podcast/RiffTrax'' often joke that any shot of a character staring in awe at something offscreen is guest directed by Spielberg.
143	** Spielberg had a streak of films with WWII-era airplanes appearing in them, starting modestly with ''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind'' and continued much more prominently in ''[[Film/NineteenFortyOne1979 1941]]'', the ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' movies, ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'' and ''Film/{{Always}}''.
144	* DevelopmentHell: Spielberg was announced to helm a ''ComicBook/{{Blackhawk}}'' film in early 2018 with Creator/DavidKoepp at the script. Outside of a late 2020 update on Instagram about the script by Koepp in which he indicated to still be working on it, nothing has seemingly moved forward on the project, likely a result of Warner Bros' well-documented executive leadership problems during that period.
145	* DisappearedDad: Divorce and absent fathers is a common topic in Spielberg's films, like ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'' and ''War of the Worlds''. Said to have been partially [[RealLifeWritesThePlot drawn from his parents divorce]] in his youth.
146	* EmotionalTorque: [[http://youtu.be/kBN9jpooZoM?t=10m18s His main motivation in filmmaking]].
147	* EnforcedMethodActing: He's renowned for finding creative ways to coax performances out of child actors, most famously in ''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind''.
148	* {{Fanservice}}: Almost totally averted in Spielberg's works. Sexuality is usually offscreen, nudity is rarely seen, and when nudity ''is'' seen it's usually for FanDisservice, as with a murder scene in ''Munich'' or concentration camp prisoners in ''Schindler's List''.
149	** One of the very rare straight examples (combined with NakedPeopleAreFunny) is actually a parody of a FanDisservice scene in an earlier Spielberg film. In the opening scene of ''Film/{{Jaws}}'', a young woman goes skinny-dipping on a beach in the early hours of the morning, only to be eaten by a shark. In the opening scene of ''[[Film/NineteenFortyOne1979 1941]]'', a young woman goes skinny-dipping on a beach in the early hours of the morning [[spoiler: only to be rather surprised by a surfacing Japanese submarine; unlike in the previous scene, she escapes after suffering nothing more than a NakedFreakOut.]] Bonus points because it was the same actress in both scenes.
150	* TheFilmOfTheBook: ''{{Film/Jaws}}'', ''Film/TheColorPurple1985'', ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'', ''{{Film/Hook}}'', ''Film/{{Jurassic Park\|1993}}'' and ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark'', ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'', ''Film/{{War of the Worlds\|2005}}'', ''{{Film/Munich}}'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''{{Film/Lincoln}}'', ''Film/TheBFG'', and ''Film/{{Ready Player One\|2018}}''.
151	* FirstContact: Spielberg made four films with this theme: ''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind'', ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds2005'', and ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull.'' Only the third one shows the aliens as clear villains.
152	* FriendToAllChildren: His works use a lot of child actors and he's known for being one of the better directors to deal with kids, always able to get good performances out of them but never forgetting that they're still kids and need to have a normal childhood.
153	* GenreProlificCreator: While often associated with science fiction (''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind'', ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'', ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', ''Film/MinorityReport'', ''Film/{{Ready Player One\|2018}}''), he's done monster movies (''Film/{{Jaws}}'', ''Film/{{Jurassic Park\|1993}}''), action adventure (''Franchise/IndianaJones''), comedy (''[[Film/NineteenFortyOne1979 1941]]''), romance (''Film/{{Always}}'', ''Film/TheTerminal''), war epics (''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'', ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', ''Literature/WarHorse''), crime dramas (''Film/TheSugarlandExpress''), disaster movies (''Film/{{War of the Worlds\|2005}}''), fantasy (''Film/{{Hook}}'', ''Film/TheBFG''), {{biopic}}s (''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan''[[note]]Although later research found it was all widely BasedOnAGreatBigLie.[[/note]], ''Film/{{Lincoln}}''), {{period piece}}s and historical dramas (''Film/TheColorPurple1985'', ''Film/{{Amistad}}''), political thrillers (''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'', ''Film/ThePost''), suspense thrillers (''Film/{{Duel}}''), comic book movies (''WesternAnimation/{{The Adventures of Tintin\|2011}}''), even a musical (''Film/{{West Side Story\|2021}}'').
154	* {{Gorn}}: "Gorn" might be too strong a word, but ''Schindler's List'', ''Saving Private Ryan'' and ''Munich'' don't shy away from what happens when people suffer violent deaths.
155	* GreyAndGrayMorality: More common than his critics who find him too family-friendly would imagine; in particular, his espionage movies.
156	* GrowingUpSucks: Many of Spielberg's films thrive on innocent, naïve and escapist adventure stories, often shown from a child's point of view. Half of the time they are boyish fantasies. This has lead many movie critics to compare him to a cinematic ''Literature/PeterPan'' character, whose films never touch upon real adult issues. Spielberg even made a Peter Pan film, ''Film/{{Hook}}''! The criticism has died out a little from the moment Spielberg started making more adult films such as ''Film/TheColorPurple1985'', ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'' and ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', but even in these serious films you'll find lighthearted and comedic moments. Creator/TerryGilliam once (quite unfairly) criticized Spielberg for always wanted to leave his audience with ''happy endings and answers to everything.'' A few of Spielberg's films. most notably ''Film/{{Hook}}'' and ''Film/{{Ready Player One\|2018}}'', set out about averting this trope, emphasizing the joys of adulthood and engaging with the world and forming relationships in a more mature way.
157	* HeroicSacrifice: When good people die in Spielberg's films, they often sacrifice themselves to a greater cause. See Eddie Carr in ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark'' and Miller in ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan''.
158	* KidHero: Children are often cast as heroes in Spielberg's films or they are at least deemed very important to the progression of the story.
159	* TheKnightsWhoSaySquee: One of the most accomplished, legendary directors in film history. Has big-name actors champing at the bit to work with him. Still so impressed by Creator/AnthonyHopkins that he couldn't bring himself to call Hopkins anything but "Sir Anthony" for the entire shoot of ''Film/{{Amistad}}''. (Hopkins prefers "Tony".)
160	* MilitarySuperHero: In Spielberg's work, soldiers are always cast as brave ordinary people one should look up to, especially if they are American. They won't be perfect people, but they always live up to their duty and do ''what is right''. There's also a strong theme in his more recent work of joining the army ''for the greater good''. In ''Film/{{War of the Worlds\|2005}}'' and ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'' a youngster wants to join the army, in both occasions because he wants to do his patriotic duty and help his country out. Needless to say, in both cases the boys survive.
161	* TheOner: Unlike many other directors, Spielberg's oners are on the short end of the scale (averaging about 1-1:30), and he rarely calls attention to them. Many of them are more "invisible coverage" of a scene, essentially moving around actors, the camera and action to create "separate shots" but without breaking up the action. Some great examples includes Marcus and Indy's dialogue at Indy's home in ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'' (1:36) or the dialogue above the ferry in ''Film/{{Jaws}}'' (1:43). His motion capture films like ''WesternAnimation/{{The Adventures of Tintin\|2011}}'' and ''Film/{{Ready Player One\|2018}}'' all have extensive Oners, however all due in part by what seems to be Spielberg's realization that the limits of a real life cinematographer are missing in the world of animation.
162	* ParentalIssues: In Spielberg's work a lot of troubled father-son relations can be found or adults who don't like children. These two tropes keep reappearing in almost every film he makes.
163	* ParentsAsPeople: A recurring theme throughout his filmography is realistic parental figures who generally mean well and love their kids but have their own flaws and biases and sometimes don't know what is best or how to relate to them. While they are never shown as perfect, they are almost always given a lot of sympathy and understanding.
164	* PatrioticFervor: Spielberg is quite proud of his home country and likes to show it in his work, especially when American soldiers fight Nazis. However he is also critical of blind patriotism as in ''[[Film/NineteenFortyOne1979 1941]]'', racism (''Film/{{Amistad}}'', ''Film/TheColorPurple1985'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}''), the RedScare (''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'', ''Film/BridgeOfSpies''), anti-immigrant attitudes (''Film/TheTerminal''), and also corruption (''Film/ThePost''). He also took a small jab at imperialism in ''War of the Worlds'' with a character commenting "occupations never work", referencing the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.
165	* ProductionPosse:
166	** Has often worked with producers Bonnie Curtis, Creator/KathleenKennedy, Frank Marshall, Gerald R. Molen, and Colin Wilson. Starting with ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'' he has also worked with Kristie Macosko Krieger (who started out as his assistant on various films).
167	** Music/JohnWilliams has composed the scores to all but four of his movies: ''Film/TheColorPurple1985'' was scored by Music/QuincyJones, ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'' which was scored by Music/ThomasNewman, ''Film/{{Ready Player One\|2018}}'' which was scored by Music/AlanSilvestri, and ''Film/{{West Side Story\|2021}}'', for which Music/DavidNewman rearranged Music/LeonardBernstein's original score.
168	** Cinematographer Janusz Kaminski and production designer Rick Carter have worked on nearly all of Spielberg's movies since the 90s.
169	** Costume designer Joanna Johnston has worked with Spielberg seven times since ''Last Crusade'', while Mary Zophres has worked with him 3 times.
170	** Editor Michael Kahn has edited all of Spielberg's films since their first collaboration on ''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind'' (with the exception of ''Film/ETTheExtraterrestrial'').
171	** Spielberg has worked with writer Creator/DavidKoepp five times, and Creator/TonyKushner four times.
172	** Creator/TomHanks has worked with Spielberg five times, Creator/HarrisonFord has worked with him four times (five if you count his DeletedRole in ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial''), Creator/RichardDreyfuss has worked with him three times, and Creator/MarkRylance is set to work with him four times. He's also made two films each with Creator/DanielCraig, Creator/TomCruise, Creator/MorganFreeman, Creator/BenKingsley, Creator/SimonPegg, Creator/JessePlemons, Creator/AmyRyan, Creator/MerylStreep, and Creator/RobinWilliams.
173	* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: Heavily on the idealistic, often whimsical side. Even in his films portraying the harsh realities of war, there's a certain lever of optimism and wonder.
174	* SummerBlockbuster: He invented and popularized the genre after ''Film/{{Jaws}}'' became the best-selling film of all time in 1975. He broke his own record twice with the release of ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'' (1982) and ''Film/{{Jurassic Park\|1993}}'' (1993).
175	* SpecialEffects: Spielberg's films are known for their technical achievements in the fields of special effects, [[StarringSpecialEffects most notably in]] ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'' and ''Film/JurassicPark1993''. However, they always complemented the stories and the characters instead of the other way around.
176	* TearJerker[[invoked]]: Despite being a special effects innovator Spielberg is known for his emotional depth in his stories and has a great sense of CharacterDevelopment, though sometimes he is accused of taking it to over-the-top levels.
177	* ThematicSeries: Spielberg considers ''Film/{{Duel}}'', ''Film/{{Jaws}}'' and ''Film/{{Jurassic Park\|1993}}'' to be one, and has also connected ''Film/ETTheExtraterrestrial'', ''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind'' and ''Film/{{War of the Worlds\|2005}}'' (friendly aliens, enigmatic aliens, hostile aliens). Other possible thematic series include ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', ''Film/MinorityReport'' and ''Film/{{Ready Player One\|2018}}'' (dystopian scifi exploring the evolution of technology) and ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'', ''Film/SchindlersList'' and ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'' (films exploring the personal impact of World War II on the survivors).
178	* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
179	** Creator/GeorgeLucas wanted him to direct ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', but the Director's Guild of America wouldn't allow it because Lucas was no longer a member of the Guild.
180	** He was approached to direct ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', but he declined, and later apparently offered to direct ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'', but Lucas turned him down. Spielberg later helped direct a few parts of ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith''.
181	** He's always wanted to direct a Film/JamesBond movie, but Creator/EonProductions head Creator/AlbertRBroccoli rejected him twice. The first time, early in his career, Broccoli turned him down because he was young, inexperienced, and unknown. Spielberg approached Broccoli again after directing ''Film/{{Jaws}}'', but Broccoli wouldn't hire him because he was afraid he'd demand too much money and ask for too much creative control.
182	** [[JustForFun/OneOfUs Being a big fan]] of ''Franchise/MortalKombat'', he was originally going to have a cameo in the [[Film/MortalKombatTheMovie first film adaptation]] of the games, where he'd be directing one of Johnny Cage's movies, but scheduling conflicts forced him to drop out at the last minute. The character he would have portrayed ultimately appears to be a CaptainErsatz of him.
183	** He was attached to direct the first ''Film/HarryPotter'' movie but backed out for a few reasons. One is that he wanted to make the film animated but Creator/WarnerBrothers and Creator/JKRowling weren't sold on the idea. Two was that he didn't have much experience working with kids or making movies for kids at that point, which is why Creator/ChrisColumbus was eventually picked to direct. Another is that he considered it too much of a built-in slam dunk and wanted something he saw as more "challenging" to make work.
184	** He was going to have a small cameo in ''Film/{{Casper}}'' that was actually filmed, but later cut for pacing.
185	** ''Film/{{Interstellar}}'' was written for him to direct. Many have noted that a certain plot twist near the end would fit far better into a Spielberg film than a Creator/ChristopherNolan one.
186	** He spent several months working on ''Film/RainMan'' before commitments to ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'' forced him to drop out. He gave all his notes to the film's eventual director, Creator/BarryLevinson, and would eventually work with the film's lead actors, Creator/DustinHoffman and Creator/TomCruise, on ''Film/{{Hook}}'' and ''Film/MinorityReport'' and ''Film/{{War Of the Worlds\|2005}}'', respectively.
187	** Even before he directed ''Film/{{West Side Story\|2021}}'', he had long desired to direct a musical. He once noted that ''[[Film/NineteenFortyOne1979 1941]]'' was planned as one but changed during its chaotic production. Later he was attached to a project about opera divas but that was shelved. The closest he came was the opening of ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom''.
188	** Spielberg and David Koepp were announced to work on a ''ComicBook/{{Blackhawk}}'' film adaptation in 2018 (whether it was to be set in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse or not had never been made clear). [[Creator/DCStudios DC Films]]' infamous tendency to announce projects and never commit to them, their string of huge box office bombs between 2020 and 2023 and the restructuring as DC Studios with an impending ContinuityReboot have prevented it from getting off the ground.
189	** Was initially attached to direct ''[[Film/{{Cruising}}]]'' in the early 1970s, but dropped out after three years due to being unable to come up with a satisfactory script.

Context Creator / StevenSpielberg