Readers Share Their Favourite Steven Spielberg Films

Steven Spielberg is one of the most famous movie directors in the world. He has made dozens of beloved films over more than 50 years. Fans of all ages shared their favourite Spielberg movies with The Guardian, explaining what makes his work so special. Their stories show how movies can stay with people for their whole lives.

For Andrea, 51, from Manchester, UK, the top pick is ET from 1982. She first saw it at eight years old at the cinema with her mum and friends from the Gingerbread Club, a support group for single parents. She cried all the way home on the bus, feeling both happy and sad at the same time. More than 40 years later, just a few notes of John Williams's score are enough to bring tears to her eyes.

Rhea, from Melbourne, Australia, chose Hook from 1991. Many people call it a flop, and even Spielberg himself said he regretted making it. But Rhea can quote every line and still uses phrases from the film in daily life. She watches it at least once a year when she needs a warm feeling of nostalgia.

Scott Harrison, 54, from north Wales, picked Close Encounters of the Third Kind from 1977. He saw it at age five after his dad dropped the family at the wrong cinema by mistake. His mum warned him it might be scary, which made him very nervous. About 15 minutes in, his tummy stopped shaking and he was completely hooked — that night, he asked to leave the curtains open so he could look at the stars.

Niall Laverty from Dublin chose Raiders of the Lost Ark from 1981, praising its non-stop energy and excitement. Indiana Jones cracks his whip through booby-trapped temples, brawls in snowy mountain bars, and races through desert chases. Niall notes that Spielberg's last name means 'play mountain' in German, and that sense of fun shows up right from the first shot. The film tips its hat to 1930s adventure stories and is, in Niall's words, 'the adventure of a lifetime.'

Matthew Vandermeer, 50, from Brisbane, chose Empire of the Sun from 1987. It follows a young boy named Jim, played by Christian Bale, who gets separated from his parents during World War II. Matthew first saw it in school history class and remembers wondering how he would have coped in Jim's situation. For him, the film is not really about war — it is about imagination, resilience, and the choices people make.

Nathan Ossmann, 49, a film studies teacher from Wisconsin, named The Fabelmans from 2022 as his all-time favourite. The film tells the true story of Spielberg's own childhood and how his family shaped him into a filmmaker. Nathan shows it to his students at the end of every school year. He says it teaches the next generation that great movies are built on both science and art.

Mandy Purcell, 54, from Melbourne, chose The Color Purple from 1985. The film tells the story of sisters who are separated and women who help each other through very hard times. Mandy says it is Spielberg's best film because it shows the strength that women find when they support one another. It also features a powerful soundtrack of gospel, jazz, and blues music.

Finally, Mike Abbott, 83, from London, chose Duel from 1971 — Spielberg's very first film as a director. It follows a car driver bullied by a mysterious truck driver on a lonely road. Mike loves how Spielberg builds tension using just the truck and the open road. The film ends with a literal cliffhanger, and Mike calls it very clever work for a directorial debut.