Steven Spielberg has shared multiple lists of his favourite films over the years (Image: Getty)
Over the course of his career, Steven Spielberg has consistently cited the films that shaped him as both a storyteller and filmmaker.
While he’s shared more than 30 titles over the years as favourites, some have stood out due to the frequency with which he’s praised them, the personal impact they’ve had, or how clearly they’ve influenced his own work.
Here, we look at 10 films that Spielberg has most often highlighted – presented in order of how publicly, and passionately, he’s discussed them.
10. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – Directed by Frank Capra
Frank Capra’s heartwarming holiday classic holds a special place in Spielberg’s heart. Speaking to Turner Classic Movies, Spielberg called Capra “a filmmaker who could make people cry and smile within the same scene.” In several interviews, including one with AFI, Spielberg cited It’s a Wonderful Life as “a film that made me believe in the power of storytelling.”
The story of George Bailey’s redemptive journey has inspired generations, and Spielberg often praises Capra’s ability to blend sentiment with sincerity. “It’s a film I return to often,” he once said. “It’s perfect.”
9. The Godfather (1972) – Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
At the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony honouring Francis Ford Coppola, Spielberg publicly declared The Godfather “the greatest American film ever made.” The director recounted meeting Coppola in 1967 and being invited to watch an early cut of Apocalypse Now. Decades later, his admiration had only grown.
“You have taken what came before and redefined the canon of American film,” Spielberg said during his tribute. “And in so doing, you’ve inspired a generation of storytellers.”
His reverence for The Godfather is both artistic and personal – Spielberg frequently refers to its influence on his own generation of filmmakers and credits Coppola with raising the bar for all who followed.
8. The Searchers (1956) – Directed by John Ford
John Ford’s sweeping Western has had an enduring impact on Spielberg’s visual style. “I’m very sensitive to the way he uses his camera to paint his pictures and the way he frames things. And the way he stages and blocks his people, often keeping the camera static while people give you the illusion there’s a lot more kinetic movement occurring when there’s not. In that sense, he is like a classic painter. He celebrates the frame, not just what happens inside of it. I have to look at ‘The Searchers.’ I have to — almost every time”, he told AFI.
Spielberg once admitted to watching the film dozens of times, often before shooting his own Western-inspired scenes.
7. Tootsie (1982) – Directed by Sydney Pollack
Though not necessarily among Spielberg’s all-time absolute favorites, Tootsie holds a place of esteem with the director. On Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop website, where Spielberg shared a list of recommended films to rent and enjoy, he included this 1982 comedy classic starring Dustin Hoffman.
The film’s clever blend of humor and social commentary resonated with Spielberg, who appreciated its craft and performances. He modestly noted: “These are not necessarily my all-time favorite films… but good choices to rent and enjoy!”
Tootsie was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, with Jessica Lange winning Best Supporting Actress.
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6. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) – Directed by William Wyler
William Wyler’s post-war drama is among Spielberg’s admired classics. Spielberg has praised Wyler for his versatility and ability to reinvent himself stylistically, stating: “Among my favorite directors is William Wyler, who never came out of the same hole twice. I’ve always admired those directors who were able to so totally reinvent themselves stylistically… I basically lit candles to the directors that I couldn’t pigeonhole.”
The Best Years of Our Lives was a major success both critically and commercially, telling the deeply human story of returning World War II veterans adjusting to civilian life.
5. Stagecoach (1939) – Directed by John Ford
John Ford’s Stagecoach is another foundational influence for Spielberg. He told AFI he admired how Ford began using landscape as a storytelling element: “I really admire Stagecoach because, for one thing, it was John Ford’s first foray into Monument Valley. So he was starting to use landscape art to help tell his story, to create God’s country, and to put little figures in a grand landscape.”
Spielberg also highlighted Ford’s dramatic visual storytelling moments, saying: “I also like when the guy has the bible open and the arrow goes through the book into his heart. That’s pretty cool.”
4. Citizen Kane (1941) – Directed by Orson Welles
Frequently cited as one of the greatest films ever made, Citizen Kane has a special place in Spielberg’s cinematic education. In an interview with the American Film Institute, he praised the film’s audacity and technical innovations: “It means everything to me. ‘Citizen Kane’ is if not the icon, it is an icon of courage. I’m talking about the courage of the filmmaker — the audacity. It’s about courage and audacity, and ‘I’m making this my way.’”
Spielberg further explained: “We’re going to see from one inch to infinity in every shot. We’re going to see ceilings. We’re going to tell a very convoluted mystery story about a man’s life. And it is just one of the great movies ever made.”
3. Lawrence of Arabia (1962) – Directed by David Lean
Spielberg has often described Lawrence of Arabia as a film that profoundly shaped his understanding of cinema’s potential. In a 2021 Empire essay, he recalled: “When I was in my teens, Lawrence of Arabia opened in Phoenix, Arizona, and I went with my parents… I sat bolt upright for the entire film.”
He also called the film “a major miracle.” In an interview with AFI, Spielberg said: “It showed me what movies could be.”
The sweeping desert vistas, Maurice Jarre’s unforgettable score, and Peter O’Toole’s commanding performance left a lasting imprint on Spielberg’s cinematic vision. He later helped oversee a restoration of the film.
2. Fantasia (1940) – Disney
Spielberg has frequently cited Disney’s Fantasia as a childhood favorite that ignited his imagination. Speaking with Rolling Stone in 1982 while promoting E.T., he said: “Remember, in ‘Fantasia,’ Mother Night flying over with her cape, covering a daylight sky? I used to think, when I was a kid, that that’s what night really looked like… The Disney Mother Night was a beautiful woman with flowing, blue-black hair, and arms extended outward, twenty miles in either direction.”
He explained how this vision inspired the opening of E.T.: “I wanted the opening of ‘E.T.’ to be that kind of Mother Night.” Fantasia’s innovative blend of music and animation expanded Spielberg’s view of what film could accomplish as a sensory and emotional experience.
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) – Directed by Stanley Kubrick
At the pinnacle of Spielberg’s list is 2001: A Space Odyssey, a film he has called a “religious experience.” In a joint interview with James Cameron, Spielberg said: “The first time I went to a movie and really felt like I was having a religious experience.”
He revealed his dedication to the film by saying: “I watched the film 18 times in its first couple years of release, all in theaters.”
Spielberg recalled an unforgettable audience reaction: “I had a guy in my theater who actually walked up to the screen with his arms out and he walked through the screen… People were blown out because the person disappeared into the screen, during [the Star Gate sequence] of all times.”
