Steven Spielberg is known for his massive blockbuster franchises such as Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park, both movie series that became an integral part of childhood for many fans. As the decades rolled in, the filmmaker transitioned to more serious and mature themes, leaving behind some of his greatest creations.
It was quite unfortunate that he was criticized by many for the films he was so widely recognized for and so dearly beloved by fans, and so this became the catalyst that forced Spielberg to venture into a whole new level of filmmaking.
Steven Spielberg’s Earlier Movie Franchises Were Slammed By Critics
In an essay article by Francis Mrema via Medium, he pointed out what critics say about Steven Spielberg’s works. As a fan, he was equally disappointed with the negative comments about the auteur.
Spielberg’s more cerebral critics (or those who try to appear so) have always been quick to berate his work as simplistic and mawkish.
The writer pointed out that those critics fail to understand what young viewers understood – that Spielberg’s movies are more than just visual effects and cinematography, but they have heart.
Throughout the ‘70s and the ‘80s, the director helmed several films that dominated the box office. Fans were so obsessed with Indiana Jones, ET the Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, you name it! While the youngsters enjoyed these, the “grown-ups” sort of despised them. Mrema lamented in the essay:
A man whose name was once synonymous with child-centered, hopeful visions of space, technology, and the future that won over audiences worldwide now only makes critically successful, “artsy” films about the Holocaust, WWII…
He was clearly talking about 1993’s Schindler’s List. Spielberg made the transition to more serious themes after working on sci-fi adventures movies for so long because he was slammed for it. But, little did he know, and the critics who bashed his works, that his epic historical drama would cement his legacy in the field of cinema.
Schindler’s List received 12 nominations at the Academy Awards, winning seven including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. It was also a massive commercial success after grossing over $322 million against a budget of $22 million, as per Box Office Mojo.
Steven Spielberg Was Determined To Make Schindler’s List Despite His Own Doubts
Steven Spielberg admitted he was reluctant to make his first “adult” film after toiling with science fiction movies for years. He confessed via The Hollywood Reporter:
I hadn’t made what I’d call my first “adult” film, and I was terrified of Schindler’s List being my first, because what if I wasn’t mature enough? I was certain I wasn’t ready to deal with the gravitas of that subject matter, morally or cinematically.
The success of Schindler’s List indeed proved his doubters wrong. Even though Spielberg concentrates more on being a producer nowadays, no one can deny that his earlier movies, albeit called “simplistic and mawkish”, were pillars of the adventure and science fiction genre.
Schindler’s List is available to watch on Prime Video.
