Prior to achieving blockbuster success and critical acclaim, Steven Spielberg undertook a grandiose science-fiction endeavor that generated a meager profit of merely $1 at the box office.
This year, Steven Spielberg’s outstanding legacy as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time has been honored with the release of his semi-autobiographical film, The Fabelmans.
The film captures Spielberg’s childhood experiences growing up in a Jewish community, discovering his passion for filmmaking, and his parents’ separation. Regardless of how it fares at the Academy Awards, The Fabelmans is likely to stand the test of time as a culmination of Spielberg’s illustrious career.
As portrayed in the movie, Spielberg’s fascination with filmmaking began at a young age, and in reality, his first full-length film only managed to rake in a profit of $1.
Steven Spielberg’s cinematic career is marked by numerous groundbreaking films, but his journey toward cinematic mastery began long before his big breakthroughs.
Even before he became a household name with the iconic thriller Jaws, and before he showed his talents as a filmmaker with the made-for-TV movie Duel, Spielberg created a bold science fiction project titled Firelight when he was just 17 years old.
The film centers around two scientists investigating a mysterious occurrence of colored lights that they believe is of alien origin, only to discover the shocking truth behind the visitors’ intentions.
The Spark of Genius: Spielberg’s Early Inspirations Revealed
The Fabelmans, Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film, sheds light on his passion for cinema at a young age. After moving to Phoenix, Arizona, Spielberg frequented the local theater to catch up on new releases and revisit classic films.
The movie credits The Greatest Show on Earth as the one that sparked Spielberg’s ambitions, but he was also influenced by timeless films such as Pinocchio, Godzilla, The Day the Earth Stood Still, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Lawrence of Arabia.
Like many aspiring filmmakers, Spielberg’s earliest works were short films he shot with his father’s video camera. To earn a merit badge in the Boy Scouts program, Spielberg made a nine-minute action western called The Last Gunfight, which was inspired by his idol John Ford’s films, with whom he later worked in his first studio job.
Additionally, Spielberg created an ambitious 40-minute war film titled Escape to Nowhere, featuring innovative wooden pivots covered in dirt to simulate explosions as actors ran by. This movie foreshadowed his interest in World War II stories, which would become a recurring theme in his later work.
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“Firelight”: The Early Masterpiece That Showcased Spielberg’s Ambition and Vision
During his early days as a filmmaker, Steven Spielberg’s passion for cinema drove him to create his most ambitious project, “Firelight.” With a limited budget of $500 from his father, Arnold Spielberg, the young filmmaker faced challenges in bringing his science fiction story to life.
However, he was able to cleverly utilize the scrubland and locations in his house to create a believable and immersive environment for his film.
As a musician, Spielberg also composed the score for “Firelight,” showcasing his talents beyond filmmaking. He enlisted the Arcadia High School band to perform his score and sync it with the final cut of the film.
Additionally, Spielberg chose a more experienced cast for “Firelight” from his school’s theater department productions, elevating the quality of the performances.
Perhaps most notably, “Firelight” demonstrated Spielberg’s early use of tracking shots, a technique that would become a hallmark of his later work. While only a brief clip of the film remains today, it is clear that this ambitious project was a formative experience for the young filmmaker, setting him on a path toward his later success.
“From ‘Firefly’ to ‘Jurassic Park’: How Spielberg’s Early Sci-Fi Project Shaped His Legacy”
In his early days, Steven Spielberg had a passion for filmmaking that led him to create his first ambitious project, Firelight. To promote the film, he hired friends and family to distribute flyers and advertised it for a mere $1 per ticket.
Although the profit was minimal, the experience proved invaluable and opened doors for Spielberg’s future in the industry. He went on to intern at Universal Studios and later signed a seven-year contract after his 26-minute short film Amblin’ caught the studio’s attention.
This led to his first professional job as a director for a segment of Night Gallery, a supernatural horror anthology show written by Rod Serling and starring Joan Crawford. These early experiences would set the tone for Spielberg’s impressive legacy in the world of filmmaking.
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Every Steven Spielberg movie in chronological order
Below is a list of Steven Spielberg’s films arranged in chronological order. The list is presented in bullet points for quick and easy reading and contains no spoilers.
- Amistad (1997)
- Lincoln (2012)
- The Color Purple (1985
- War Horse (2011)
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1941 (1979)
- Empire of the Sun(1987)
- Schindler’s List (1993)
- Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- The Adventures of Tintin (2011)
- The Fablemans (2022)
- Bridge of Spies (2015)
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
- Catch Me If You Can (2003)
- The Post (2017)
- Duel (1971)
- Munich (2005)
- The Sugarland Express (1974)
- Jaws (1975)
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind
- E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
- BFG (2016)
- Hook (1991)
- Jurassic Park (1993)
- The Lost World: Jurassic Park
- The Terminal (2004)
- War of the Worlds (2005)
- Minority Report (2002)
- A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
All of Steven Spielberg’s “historical” films in chronological order
If you’re interested in watching all of Steven Spielberg’s films set in historical time periods, we’ve got you covered.
Check out the list below, which is presented in bullet points and is free of spoilers:
- Amistad (1997)
- Lincoln (2012)
- The Color Purple (1985)
- War Horse (2011)
- 1941 (1979)
- Empire of the Sun(1987)
- Schindler’s List (1993)
- Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- Bridge of Spies (2015)
- The Post (2017)
- Munich (2005)
Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated movies
Below, you’ll find a list of all of Spielberg’s films that have received nominations for either Best Director or Best Picture.
Best Picture nominations (wins in bold)
- Jaws (1975)
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
- E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
- The Color Purple (1985)
- Schindler’s List (1993)
- Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- Munich (2005)
- Warhorse (2011)
- Lincoln (2012)
- Bridge of Spies (2015)
- The Post (2017)
- West Side Story (2021)
- The Fablemans (2022)
Best Director nominations (wins in bold)
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
- E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
- Schindler’s List (1993)
- Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- Munich (2005)
- Lincoln (2012)
- West Side Story (2021)
- The Fablemans (2022)
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