The 2 Most Successful Films of Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg has been one of America's top movie directors for decades, helming classic popcorn flicks like "The Terminal" and "Catch Me If You Can" as well as more serious fare like "Schindler's List" and "The Color Purple."

Many, if not most, Steven Spielberg movies have been huge hits at the box office. Some of them have received critical acclaim as well.

What is Steven Spielberg's biggest box office success? What Steven Spielberg movie has won the most Academy Awards?

Do you think you already know the answers?

Between "Jaws," "Jurassic Park," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "E.T.", it may be difficult to guess which Spielberg movie has risen above the rest to perform best at the box office and with critics.

The Biggest Steven Spielberg Movie at the Box Office: "E.T. The Extraterrestrial"

When you look at Steven Spielberg's box office sales, you quickly see how successful his career has been. It is a list of hit after hit, with the top of the hit-list being "E.T." at roughly $435 million*.

Sixteen Steven Spielberg movies have grossed over $96 million. Of that list 14 films have made over $100 million at the box office.

Compare Spielberg's success to -- let's say -- Martin Scorsese. Scorsese has directed a comparable number of feature films, developing a very respectable fan base, yet only three of his films have made over $100 million.

Another director with roots in the same era is Francis Ford Coppola. Regardless of his towering reputation and the wide-spread respect for his abilities, only one of his films has reached the commercial success of $100 million at the box office.

These commercial numbers say very little about the critical responses to the films of these directors, though clearly Steven Spielberg knows how to make movies that put people in the seats.

The Most Award Winning Steven Spielberg Movie: "Schindler's List"

This one was easy.

"Schindler's List" is one of those Spielberg movies that is famous for being serious and good, unlike many of this other flicks which are just considered to be seriously entertaining. A far cry from the light-hearted "E.T.", "Schindler's List" found Spielberg abandoning the "kiddie stuff" and engaging some much darker material.

For "Schindler's List," Spielberg received the Academy Award for Best Director for the first time in his career. The film also won Best picture, winning a total of seven Academy Awards out of 12 nominations.

Steven Spielberg won another Best Director Oscar for his film "Saving Private Ryan", which was another impressive critical success, garnering 11 Academy Award nominations and winning five.

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Sources:

YahooMovies

*Box Office Mojo

The Numbers