Becoming a household name in the film industry is not easy. We are talking about hundreds to thousands, of people involved in making a film — and to stand out among respected peers and colleagues is a tall order. Directors in particular are tasked with making their visions come to life. Some of the most brilliant and creative minds of our time are those in the film industry. Steven Spielberg is a name that is directly attached to some of what are considered the best movies of all time. In fact, Spielberg’s greatest movies are the stuff of legend, with the likes of Jurassic Park, E.T., and Indiana Jones in his back pocket.

Updated February 8th, 2023: If you're a fan of the legendary director, writer, and producer Steven Spielberg, you'll be happy to know this article was updated.

Spielberg has been in the spotlight for a long time. His ability to stay relevant throughout history with a continuous outpour of phenomenal work is a testament to just how incredible he is as a director. The debate on which Spielberg movie is the best is one that will go on and on. However, if we were to narrow things down to just a decade, we could give some of his works the true recognition they deserve. We have put together a ranking of all Steven Spielberg movies from the 90s that you should check out.

8 An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991, producer)

Produced by Spielberg and animated by his Amblimation studio, An American Tail: Fievel Goes West follows the story of Fievel Mousekewitz, a Jewish mouse who emigrates to the Wild West in search of a better life. Often described as a "John Ford Western with mice", this animated comedy proves that Spielberg needs to direct an epic Western.

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However, this is not the only reason to watch Fievel Goes West. Film critic and author Molly Haskell, who explored Spielberg's works in her book Steven Spielberg: A Life in Films, is sure that "the Fievel saga is more deeply personal for Spielberg than 1993's Schindler's List, the film that certified the director’s rebirth as a Jew, and his much-vaunted evolution into a newfound 'maturity.'"

7 Dreams (1990, executive producer)

In 1990, Spielberg and George Lucas helped the legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa to bring his magical realist anthology Dreams to life. They were instrumental in arranging the film's $12 million budget, which is modest by Hollywood standards but high for Japan. So now we have the chance to enjoy this touching and beautiful collection of eight tales based on Japanese folklore and Kurosawa’s nighttime visions. Dreams will delight cinema lovers.

6 Hook (1991, director)

Spielberg is the kind of director that doesn't keep himself in a box. In fact, he has a variety of projects under his belt and for his movie-making genius in the 90s, we definitely need to talk about Hook. We are all emotionally attached to at least one film with the late Robin Williams. Williams plays Peter Banning, a middle-aged lawyer whose origins are tethered to Peter Pan. This 1991 adventure fantasy film is a fun ride, so if you are going through Spielberg's filmography, make sure you do not skip over this one.

5 The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997, director)

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few decades, you definitely know the Jurassic Park movies as just one of the defining projects of Spielberg's career. Well, in just the 90s alone, Spielberg began the franchise in 1993 and followed up with the sequel four years later in 1997. And this is where we get The Lost World: Jurassic Park.

This sequel is exactly what you expect: if the first time went horribly wrong, why not try it again? The research team visits a hidden site away from the ruins of the first Jurassic Park where more dinosaurs are hidden. However, they are constantly trying to stay ahead of another team for access to the majestic creatures. If you are a fan of the first Jurassic Park or the franchise as a whole, this movie is a must.

4 Amistad (1997, director/producer)

Amistad is an American historical drama that is definitely a heavy watch. This 1997 Spielberg film is not one of the first projects that come to our minds when we think about Spielberg, but, boy, does it live up to any and all expectations. Amistad is based on events that happened on La Amistad, a Spanish slave ship in the mid-1800s. This movie also showcases an incredibly stacked cast with names like Djimon Hounsou, Morgan Freeman, Matthew McConaughey, Anthony Hopkins, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

3 Jurassic Park (1993, director)

In 1993, a dynasty was born. Spielberg bought us a one-way ticket into Jurassic Park, and even decades after the first film came out, Jurassic Park remains one of the most impactful movies in history. Jurassic Park stars Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, and many more.

Related: Steven Spielberg's Best Movies From the 80s, Ranked

We follow a research team that has the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit an island and venture into a theme park featuring prehistoric dinosaurs that have been revived using DNA. Of course, the age-old story happens and things go wrong. Now, although almost the entire world has seen this movie and most of the proceeding sequels, if you haven't, the time is now to view this piece of cinematic history.

2 Saving Private Ryan (1998, director/producer)

Saving Private Ryan is and remains one of the best movies in history. Spielberg really outdid himself with this one. The 1998 war drama follows Captain John Miller, played by the incomparable Tom Hanks, and his men as they go on a risky mission to rescue Private James Ryan (Matt Damon) beyond enemy lines. This film is triumphant in its ability to capture an audience's attention and heart to follow each and every character as they face their dire realities in the heat of war. You will not be disappointed when watching this film.

1 Schindler’s List (1993, director/producer)

This is not the only movie on this list that is deserving of a tissue box warning, but if your tissues are not out, this one is bound to make you cry. Spielberg directed the 1993 war drama film Schindler's List. In this film, we follow Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler, a businessman who becomes a Nazi when World War II begins.

This film is absolutely relentless, emotionally speaking, and although its over-three-hour run-time may seem intimidating, do not let that skew you. This masterpiece of a film will pull on your heartstrings and leave you in shambles. If you are thinking about watching anything from Spielberg's filmography, Schindler's List is a must. For this film, Spielberg won the Oscar for Best Director in 1994.