The Highest-Grossing Steven Spielberg Movies, From Jaws To Jurassic Park

Quick Links

• Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)

• Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)

• Jaws (1975)

• Saving Private Ryan (1998)

• Ready Player One (2018)

• War Of The Worlds (2005)

• The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

• Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (2008)

• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

• Jurassic Park (1993)

Highlights

• Steven Spielberg's movies have collectively grossed over $28 billion, establishing him as the most commercially successful director in history.
• Spielberg revolutionized the blockbuster genre, creating iconic films that redefined cinema for decades.
• From Jaws to Jurassic Park, Spielberg's movies dominated the box office and set new standards for storytelling.

Steven Spielberg is a major figure of the New Hollywood era, and a pioneer of the modern blockbuster.

Films directed by Spielberg have collectively grossed over $28 billion, making him the most commercially successful director in history.

For five decades, his name has been synonymous with cinematic wonder, heart-stopping thrills, and box-office domination.

Responsible for some of pop culture's most iconic moments, Spielberg revolutionized the blockbuster and repeatedly raised the bar for what movies could achieve.

He made his theatrical film debut with The Sugarland Express in 1974, and became a renowned Hollywood figure with the 1975 summer blockbuster Jaws.

Spielberg's tense masterpiece of beachside terror forever changed how studios marketed and released films.

He followed Jaws up with a string of box office hits like Close Encounters Of The Third Kind and Raiders Of The Lost Ark, establishing his reputation as a hit maker.

Spielberg directed back-to-back blockbuster hits with the science fiction thrillers Jurassic Park, the highest-grossing film ever at the time, and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.

As one of the most influential filmmakers of our time, Spielberg's impact extends far beyond cinema. He co-founded Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks, and he has served as a producer for many successful films and television series.

Spielberg is one of the wealthiest movie directors, with an estimated net worth of $4.8 billion; Spielberg's fortune is tracked in real time by Forbes.

Today, he earns a share of every Universal theme park ticket sold, a lucrative deal fueled by blockbuster hits like Indiana Jones.

Let's look at the highest-grossing Steven Spielberg movies to date.

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10 Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)

Global Box Office, Raiders Of The Lost Ark - $389,925,971

Steven Spielberg's 1981 action-adventure masterpiece, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, introduced the world to the whip-cracking, fedora-wearing archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford).

The film's pulse-pounding chases, exotic locations, and relentless Nazi pursuit of the legendary Ark of the Covenant ignited the blockbuster era.

Spielberg expertly blended classic serial adventure with his signature filmmaking style, creating a timeless thrill ride.

Made for a modest $18 million, the film became the highest-grossing movie of 1981 worldwide, pulling in a global total of $389.9 million.

This included a strong domestic showing of $248.2 million, with international audiences contributing a significant $141.2 million.

9 Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)

Global Box Office, Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade - $474,171,806

After the somewhat darker Temple Of Doom, Spielberg took a lighter tone for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

This return to form for Indy saw him globe-trotting once again but with a generous dose of humor.

The film might even be Spielberg's funniest, with witty banter flowing between Harrison Ford's Indy and a perfectly cast Sean Connery as his estranged father, Henry.

The Last Crusade recaptured the magic of Raiders Of The Lost Ark, with intense action sequences set against historical backdrops.

The search for the Holy Grail became a race against the Nazis once more but with a healthy dose of family drama thrown in for good measure.

This crowd-pleasing formula proved a box office smash, grossing $197.2 million domestically and $277 million internationally, for a global total of $474.2 million.

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8 Jaws (1975)

Global Box Office, Jaws - $477,220,580

A cultural sensation and Spielberg's breakout masterpiece, Jaws forever changed the landscape of summer blockbusters and horror films.

Based on Peter Benchley's chilling novel, the film follows a small Amity Island community terrorized by a relentless great white shark.

Spielberg masterfully uses suspense and suggestion to create an atmosphere of constant dread, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.

He revolutionized the use of unseen threats, with the shark's presence felt more through its menacing music score and sudden attacks than constant onscreen exposure.

The film explores themes of man vs. nature, the fragility of human life, and the cost of protecting idyllic communities. Jaws was a box office leviathan.

It became the first film ever to surpass $100 million domestically, ultimately grossing $477 million worldwide across all of its releases.

It was the highest-grossing film of all time until the release of Star Wars two years later.

Adjusted for inflation, its gross would be almost $2.86 billion in 2024.

7 Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Global Box Office, Saving Private Ryan - $482,351,251​​​​​​​

Saving Private Ryan redefined the war genre with its unflinching portrayal of World War II combat.

Spielberg's direction is gritty and realistic, immersing viewers in the chaos and brutality of war.

The now-iconic opening sequence depicting the D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach stands out for its intensity and commitment to historical accuracy, reportedly costing over $12 million to film over four grueling weeks with 1,500 extras.

Its graphic portrayal of war sparked discussions about the true cost of conflict, while the story's focus on brotherhood and sacrifice offered a powerful emotional core.

The film earned Spielberg his second Academy Award for "Best Director," and bagged a total of five Oscars. Saving Private Ryan netted a total box office gross of $482 million, making it the highest-grossing film of the year.

Spielberg's pay agreement earned him an estimated $40 million.

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6 Ready Player One (2018)

Global Box Office, Ready Player One - $1,104,054,072

An electrifying love letter to pop culture and gaming, Ready Player One marked Spielberg's successful venture into the immersive world of virtual reality.

Based on Ernest Cline's novel, the film follows Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan), a teenager who escapes his bleak reality by venturing into the OASIS, a vast virtual world where anything is possible.

Spielberg packs the screen with nostalgia-inducing references to iconic films, games, music, and more, creating a feast for the eyes.

The film explores themes of virtual versus real-life connections, the dangers of unchecked corporate power, and the enduring power of imagination.

Ready Player One surpassed financial expectations, shattering the $440 million break-even mark.

With a production budget of $175 million, the film scored $137.7 million in North America and $469.5 million in other territories, culminating in a total of $607.8 million worldwide.

5 War Of The Worlds (2005)

Global Box Office, War Of The Worlds - $603,873,504

Steven Spielberg's 2005 re-imagining of H.G. Wells' classic sci-fi tale, War Of The Worlds, took audiences on a terrifying thrill ride.

Spielberg opted for a modern setting, placing ordinary people like divorced dockworker Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) face-to-face with a devastating alien invasion.

War Of The Worlds masterfully balanced gripping action sequences with moments of quiet vulnerability, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

The film's special effects were groundbreaking at the time, bringing the alien tripods and their destructive power to life on the big screen.

The film's opening week was met with a strong reception, grossing $64 million and setting the stage for its continued success at the box office.

War Of The Worlds went on to achieve a total gross of $603.9 million worldwide.

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4 The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

Global Box Office, The Lost World: Jurassic Park - $618,638,999

Capitalizing on the groundbreaking success of Jurassic Park, Steven Spielberg returned to the world of genetically engineered dinosaurs in The Lost World: Jurassic Park.

Spielberg shifted thematic gears slightly, exploring the ethics of animal exploitation and the dangers of commercializing prehistoric creatures.

The film brought back Jeff Goldblum's sardonic mathematician Ian Malcolm, this time thrust back into the world of dinosaurs alongside new characters played by Julianne Moore and Vince Vaughn.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park became the fastest film to pass the $100 million mark, achieving the feat in just six days.

It ultimately grossed $229.1 million in the U.S. and $389.5 million internationally, for a total of $618.6 million worldwide.

3 Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (2008)

Global Box Office, Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull - $786,636,033

The long-awaited return of the iconic archaeologist, Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull reunited Harrison Ford with his fedora and whip under Steven Spielberg's direction.

This fourth installment in the franchise ventured into the Cold War era, with Indy facing off against Soviet agents in a race to acquire a mysterious crystal skull with otherworldly powers.

Spielberg retained the series' signature action style, crafting intriguing set pieces like a precarious car chase along a cliffside, and Indy's daring escape from a warehouse at the film's opening.

However, the film also embraced a more fantastical tone, introducing elements like telekinesis and alien skulls with mind-altering powers, which received polarizing reactions from fans.

The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull grossed over $790 million worldwide, which makes it the franchise's highest-grossing film when not adjusted for inflation.

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2 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Global Box Office, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial - $792,910,554

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial remains a timeless classic, a cinematic touchstone, and a testament to Spielberg's power to evoke universal emotions.

This visually striking film follows young Elliott (Henry Thomas), who befriends a stranded alien and helps him find his way home.

The film's concept was based on an imaginary friend that Spielberg created after his parents' divorce. He explores themes of friendship, longing, and the importance of believing in the extraordinary.

E.T. was a runaway box office sensation, surpassing Star Wars to become the highest-grossing film of all time at the time (a record Spielberg would later break with Jurassic Park).

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial dominated the box office for weeks, and achieved global earnings of $792 million during its theatrical runs.

With a budget of only $10.5 million, E.T.'s box office dominance allowed Spielberg to earn an incredible $500,000 per day from his profit share.

1 Jurassic Park (1993)

Global Box Office, Jurassic Park - $1,114,456,337​​​​​​​

A landmark in filmmaking and a cultural phenomenon, Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park redefined the possibilities of visual effects and blockbuster storytelling.

This adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel takes viewers on a breathtaking journey to a theme park populated by cloned dinosaurs.

Spielberg ingeniously blends groundbreaking CGI with animatronic dinosaurs, creating a sense of awe and terror as audiences come face-to-face with prehistoric creatures.

The film explores the ethics of genetic engineering, the dangers of unchecked ambition, and the lasting fascination with the natural world, and it is the highest-grossing Steven Spielberg movie to date.

Jurassic Park's pioneering use of computer-generated imagery is considered to have paved the way for the special effects practices of modern cinema.

Jurassic Park earned $402.5 million in the United States and Canada and $628.7 million overseas, for a worldwide gross of $1.029 billion, surpassing Spielberg's own E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial to become the highest-grossing film of all time — until the release of Titanic in 1997.

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