From his crowd-pleasing blockbusters like Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones to critically acclaimed projects like Schindler’s List, Steven Spielberg has delivered a few of the most popular movies of all time. Turning into a beloved American filmmaker, with three Oscars to his name, Spielberg listed his endless source of inspiration.
Speaking with different outlets, Steven Spielberg has noted being influenced by other people’s work and deriving his inspiration from them. Handing down a properly skimmed list of his favorite movies, Spielberg claimed that his filmography is a treasure trove of tributes to those great directors of the past and their works.
1. Dune: Part Two
Among several cult classic movies that influenced Steven Spielberg over the years, the director found his recent favorite in Denis Villeneuve’s magnum opus Dune: Part Two. During an episode of the DGA’s Director’s Cut podcast via Variety, Spielberg expressed his appreciation for the film.
“Dune: Part Two’ is ‘one of the most brilliant science-fiction films I have ever seen.”
Adapted from Frank Herbert’s novels, Spielberg found an incredible source of entertainment and inspiration in Villeneuve’s recent sequel, starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya.
2. Guardians of the Galaxy
Further, on the filmmaker’s list of favorite pop culture films, there’s James Gunn’s MCU ensemble Guardians of the Galaxy that got recently added during his interview via EW. Stating how the film is his favorite of the action subgenre, Spielberg noted being impressed by Gunn’s work.
“I really like Richard Donner’s Superman, Nolan’s Dark Knight, and the first Iron Man movie, but the superhero movie that impressed me was Guardians of the Galaxy,”
Certainly, being a superhero movie fan, Steven Spielberg noted all the films that he enjoyed watching. But among all, Guardians of the Galaxy undoubtedly stood tall.
3. The Dark Knight Trilogy
As mentioned above, Steven Spielberg noted Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight as one of his favorite films in the superhero genre. Shifting from MCU to DC, the director told The New York Times how he admires Nolan’s take on Batman and praised the latter, saying:
“Everything Chris Nolan has touched in Batman, because of the darkness, of what would motivate a character like that, a very rich character, to do the kind of public service work he does.”
Further going through other iterations of Batman, Spielberg touched upon Tim Burton’s Batman films.
4. Tim Burton’s Batman films
Just like he celebrated the Dark Knight trilogy, Spielberg also hailed Tim Burton’s Batman movies. Starring Micheal Keaton in the titular role of the caped crusader, the director noted “I love Tim Burton’s Batman films.”
5. Meet Me in St. Louis
Shifting to his list of classic movies, Steven Spielberg noted Vincente Minnelli’s classic musical Meet Me in St. Louis as one of his top choices. According to IndieWire, the director stated, “I love Meet Me in St. Louis, Judy Garland knocks me out.” Appreciating the actress who starred as a young woman who experiences love and family drama in the movie, Spielberg added the film to his list.
6. The Greatest Show on Earth
Addressing Cecil B. DeMille’s 1952 spectacle The Greatest Show on Earth, Steven Spielberg noted how it was the first movie that he ever saw. Therefore, he even admitted to taking inspiration from the very film, for several projects of his own. Hailing the 1952 movie as his introduction to cinema, Spielberg held it in high regard.
7. The Godfather
Undoubtedly, the famed Francis Ford Coppola’s masterwork The Godfather is on every filmmaker’s list. Similarly, even Spielberg’s list holds a special position for the cult classic movie starring Marlon Brando.
“I was pulverized by the story and the effect the film had on me… I also felt that I should quit, that there was no reason I should continue directing because I would never achieve that level of confidence and ability to tell a story.” the filmmaker told CNN.
Expressing his appreciation for the film, Spielberg even admitted feeling insecure about his work after watching the masterpiece.
8. John Ford Movies
Diving into the classic tales from the 50s, the filmmaker addressed John Ford’s movies as a few of his favorites. During his 2013 interview with the American Film Institute, Spielberg noted being inspired by Ford’s movies.
“I turn on a John Ford film – one or two – before every movie, simply because he inspires me. I’m very sensitive to the way he uses his camera to paint his pictures and the way he frames things… He celebrates the frame, not just what happens inside of it. I have to look at The Searchers. I have to – almost every time.”
Further, by adding Stagecoach and How Green Was My Valley to his list of Ford’s films, Spielberg addressed how he “really admire Stagecoach” and admitted being heavily influenced by Ford’s 1941 picture How Green Was My Valley. Drawn into John Ford’s movies, the director claimed that he derived his inspiration from the filmmaker’s work of art.
9. Steven Spielberg’s List of Films on Goop
Quite surprisingly, Spielberg has a few of his favorite films listed on Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop. Under the travel section of the website, the filmmaker has praised Dustin Hoffman-starring 1982 comedy Tootsie, from Sydney Pollack.
Further, there’s also Victor Fleming’s adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s novel, Captains Courageous, and a shout-out to William Wyler’s 1946 film The Best Years of Our Lives.
10. Fantasia
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Spielberg addressed the impact that Disney’s Fantasia had on him as a child. Therefore, being severely influenced by the 1940 movie, the filmmaker noted taking inspiration from the film for his movie E.T.
“Remember, in Fantasia, Mother Night flying over with her cape… when I was a kid, that that’s what night really looked like… I wanted the opening of E.T. to be that kind of Mother Night.”
11. The Shining
Being famously close with Stanley Kubrick before his untimely death in 1999, Steven Spielberg recalled enjoying The Shining. Claiming to have watched the horror flick nearly 25 times, the filmmaker extended his support and appreciation for Kubrick.
“I have since seen The Shining 25 times. It’s one of my favorite pictures. Kubrick films tend to grow on you, but you have to see them more than once.” Spielberg told via Cinema Art.
12. Citizen Kane
During his discussion with AFI, Steven Spielberg addressed the unparalleled 1941 Orson Welles triumph Citizen Kane. Holding the movie in the highest regard, the director noted, “It means everything to me… It is one of the great American experiences in the cinema.”
13. Lawrence of Arabia
Being awestruck by the 1962 movie Lawrence of Arabia, Spielberg recalled the famous mirage scene, in an essay for Empire in 2021.
“When I was in my teens, Lawrence Of Arabia opened in Phoenix, Arizona, and I went with my parents… I sat bolt upright for the entire film.”
Mesmerized by the brilliance of the movie, Spielberg later described David Lean’s 1962 epic as “a major miracle” to AFI.
14. It’s A Wonderful Life
Spielberg has often mentioned Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life and cited the film as a major inspiration throughout his career. Speaking with New York Daily News, the director stated, “I realized, like George Bailey at the end of It’s a Wonderful Life, at the end of watching [Susan Lacy’s] documentary, I realized how many friends I truly have in this world.”
Sharing a personal connection with the film’s protagonist, the filmmaker expressed his appreciation for the movie.
15. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
Being a fan and friend of George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away, Steven Spielberg went to watch the first screening of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Totally mesmerized by the film, the director added Lucas’ iteration to his list of favorites.
According to Collider reports, even after watching the unfinished cut of the pioneering sci-fi project, Spielberg turned into the franchise’s first vocal fan.
16. Viva Las Vegas
Spielberg’s love for George Sidney’s 1964 movie Viva Las Vegas, holds a separate position on his list. Actress Teri Garr recalled for an Australian Elvis fan club, how much Spielberg loved the 1964 movie.
“One day he was talking about his favorite movies. His favorite movie was Viva Las Vegas. And I was in Viva Las Vegas.” Garr shared.
That’s how we got to learn about the filmmaker’s lesser-known appreciation for George Sidney’s Viva Las Vegas.
17. That Man from Rio
Repeatedly cited that Steven Spielberg took inspiration from That Man from Rio, for Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark, New York Times noted that the filmmaker has been a fan of the movie. According to the outlet, That Man from Rio has even been considered as one of Spielberg’s favorites.
18. The Seven Samurai
Alongside Lawrence Of Arabia, It’s A Wonderful Life and The Searchers, Steven Spielberg has often added The Seven Samurai as his top favorites. “Before I go off and direct a movie, I always look at four films” Spielberg hailed the four cult classics, via Far Out Magazine.
19. From Russia with Love
Finally, here’s a James Bond movie in Steven Spielberg’s list of favorites. The filmmaker has often revealed how he once wanted to direct a Bond movie after watching From Russia with Love, which ended up being his favorite spy film of all time. Directly influenced by the movie, Spielberg has often paid tribute to the James Bond franchise in different ways and even hired former Bond actor Sean Connery for his Indiana Jones sequel.
20. Touch of Evil
During his discussion with Empire, Spielberg addressed legendary filmmaker Orson Welles’s 1958 movie Touch of Evil. Taking inspiration for the 1971 TV movie Duel, the director admitted to using a scene from Touch of Evil, while directing his film’s final scene.
“At the end of that, I said to Dennis Weaver, ‘Remember all those scenes in Touch Of Evil where you were the night watchman?’… Dennis said, ‘Say no more. I know exactly what you’re getting at.’ Then he gave me that moment at the end.”
21. Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Appreciating the edited 1956 American version Godzilla: King of the Monsters, of Ishirō Honda’s 1954 kaiju thriller Godzilla, Spielberg noted how the film directly influenced his understanding of action and impacted his movie Jurassic Park.
“The only Godzilla I saw was the one with Raymond Burr,” Spielberg told via Japan’s Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of The Big G.
22. 2001: A Space Odyssey
Claiming to have watched 2001: A Space Odyssey over 18 times, Steven Spielberg noted being a major fan of the film. During a discussion with AMC via IndieWire, Spielberg gushed over the film as he stated, “2001’ had a profound impact on my life and my daily life”.
Having a religious experience after watching the movie multiple times at the theatres, Spielberg addressed how people were blown out by the movie, following its release, much like he was.
23. The Thing from Another World
Christian Nyby’s 1951 classic The Thing from Another World has been Steven Spielberg’s favorite sci-fi movie, that has impacted generations of cosmically curious movies from Spielberg, over time. Although he has rarely mentioned this film, according to IndieWire, The Thing from Another World remains one of his favorite sci-fi.
24. The 400 Blows
François Truffaut’s directorial debut, The 400 Blows, remains one of Spielberg’s favorites of all time. The 1959 French New Wave staple narrating the troubled coming-of-age story, has been on the director’s list for a long time, as per IndieWire.
25. Psycho
Being a true horror fan, Spielberg’s list of favorite movies comes to an end with Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. According to IndieWire, the director has often added this particular movie as his inspiration and even tried meeting Hitchcock. But since the director was unimpressed with Jaws, he often dodged Spielberg’s attempted encounters.
