An American filmmaker,Steven Spielberghas several high-quality and well-known films under his belt, likeJaws(1975) andJurassic Park(1993). He’s dabbled in various genres throughout the years, making several historical dramas and even a few fantasy films. He’s arguably the greatest director to ever work in science fiction, thanks to movies likeClose Encounters of the Third Kind(1977),E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial(1982),Minority Report(2002), and more.
But from1941(1979) andEmpire of the Sun(1987) toSaving Private Ryan(1998) andWar Horse(2011), this director has also mastered the art ofwarfilms. And while he’s the most popular name to do so — he’s arguably the most famous filmmaker, in general — plenty of other directors throughout cinema history have perfected the war genre. Their work is entirely worth noting before delving into the greatness of Steven Spielberg.
Other Directors Known for Their War Films
Off the bat, there’s one name most prominently worth noting as the truest contender for the throne: Samuel Fuller. He’s also one of the first directors to ever make multiple war movies, with two comingin the same year:The Steel Helmet(1951) andFixed Bayonets!(1951). Next up wasChina Gate(1957), followed byVerboten!(1959),Merril’s Marauders(1962), andThe Big Red One(1980). Six war films in total — pretty impressive numbers, with most of Fuller’s war movies being of the utmost quality.
And while a couple of those aren’t of much value, all three war films under the belt of Gillo Pontecorvo are well worth your time. First wasKapò(1960), followed byThe Battle of Algiers(1966). The latter received widespread praise upon release, and it holds up wonderfully today.Algierseven picked up three nominations at the Academy Awards. What’s more is that Pontecorvo alsocomposed the score, and after directingBurn!(1969), he solidified himself as an all-time great in the war genre.
Around that same time, Ukranian Soviet director Larisa Shepitko releasedWings(1966), withThe Ascent(1977) coming in the following decade. And while neither of those films fall firmly into the genre at hand, they are set amid the backdropof World War II. Shepitko is one of the greatest female film directors to ever live, and those are arguably her two most seminal works. But in terms of Hollywood directors, there are two filmmakers who have given Spielberg a run for his money throughout his career.
In the same year, American film director Oliver Stone released two high-quality war movies:Salvador(1986), andPlatoon(1986). The former holds up well today, while the latter is far more famous. And justifiably so. Platoon is among the most acclaimed war movies ever made, regardless of region or decade. And it marked the first in Stone’s spiritual “Vietnam Trilogy”, which continued withBourn on the Fourth of July(1989) and ended withHeaven & Earth(1993).
Those are all well-made war stints that render Stone one of the greatest to ever do it. But there is one more contemporary, English-language director who’s mastered the genre at hand. English director Sam Mendes first chronicledthe brutalities of warwithJarhead(2005), which remains underrated today. Meanwhile,1917(2019) received rave reviews, and it greatly bolsters his case. However, with multiple well-known war movies and critical darlings to boot, one director stands out as the general of the genre.
Why Steven Spielberg Stands Out
Since debuting in the 1970s, the director at hand has amassed four war films in total — a nice quantity overall. They boast notable name value, too. But what’s more is that they’re all critically acclaimed, raking in numerous nominations at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and every other prominent award ceremony that the industry has to offer.
The first of the bunch was1941, a comedy hybrid with an ensemble cast. At the 52nd Academy Awards, the projectgarnered three nominations: Best Cinematography, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects. And while it’s the lowest-rated war film under Spielberg’s belt in terms of critical acclaim, the other three projects he’s offered in this regard more than make up for that particularly mediocre release.
One such example isEmpire of the Sun, which is held in decent regard today by fans and pundits alike. It garnered six Academy Award nominations, and it holds a 78% approval rating oncritical consensus website Rotten Tomatoes. Pretty impressive stats. But what makes Spielberg the king of this genre is that, on top of boasting a great number of war films, he has the quality to boot. In fact, withSaving Private Ryan, he sort of shocked the world.
Best Steven Spielberg Films, Ranked
A lot of directors have a unique vision and respect the craft of filmmaking, but none more so than Spielberg, who does both with elegance and style.
The opening battle sequencealone solidifies Spielberg as one of the all-time greats in terms of war movies. Sequences of seamless action don’t get much more thorough. And it’s a high-quality narrative through and through, with famous performers like Tom Hanks and Matt Damon seeing the project into critically acclaimed and career-defining fruition.Saving Private Ryangarnered ten nominations at the Oscars, winning half — that includes Spielberg’s second award for Best Director following his work onSchindler’s List (1993).
That’s by far the best (and most famous) war film that Spielberg has to offer. But in the following century, he also releasedWar Horseto great praise from critics and audiences alike. ConsideringLincoln(2012),Bridge of Spies(2015), and the aforementionedSchindler’s Listalso feature clear-cut elements of war films, Steven Spielberg should be rendered the finest director the genre’s ever seen. And, hey — he isn’t done directing. The general may have one or two left.
