Steven Spielberg has once again made history. With his Best Director nomination for West Side Story, Spielberg became the first director in the history of the Oscars to receive the honor over the course of 6 decades. This was also his eighth nomination, which ties him for having the third most of all time alongside Billy Wilder and behind Martin Scorsese, who has 9, and Roman Holiday director William Wyler, who has the most with 12.

As is the case throughout all of his filmography, there is a broad range of genres and stories amongst the films he received an Academy Award nomination. But perhaps what is most surprising is the list of his films that did not secure him a nomination – classics such as Jaws or Catch me If You Can, amongst several others, did not land Spielberg a nod. Even without some of his highest regarded films, Spielberg’s batch of nominations is still an incredibly strong selection of films, so let’s get to ranking them.

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Munich (2005)

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Image via DreamWorks

Based on the true story of the covert Mossad operation to assassinate those who were involved in the murders of the Israeli Olympic team members at the 1972 summer games in Munich. The drama is among the darkest of Spielberg’s filmography, as it directly addresses the challenging subject of the endless Israel-Palestine conflict, which is still contentious to this day. The film still manages to contain several thrilling and immaculately constructed sequences that could have only of come from Steven Spielberg. Eric Bana leads the film with what is probably his best dramatic performance, while the supporting cast includes Daniel Craig and Ciarán Hinds.

Lincoln (2012)

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Daniel Day Lewis won his third Oscar for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln in this period drama that showed how the 16th president pushed through the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery and ending the Civil War. Spielberg’s direction is measured and thoughtful, taking what could have in other hands been arduous viewing into a transporting historical epic, that wondrously brings to life one of the defining moments in the United States’ history. The supporting cast is uniformly strong, with turns from Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones and Joseph Gordon-Levitt providing strong screen partners for Day-Lewis’ excellence.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

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Spielberg followed up his breakout blockbuster, Jaws, with his first science fiction feature, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. When Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) believes he witnesses an unidentified flying object, he becomes obsessed with pursuing proof that he witnessed alien life. The film is one of Spielberg’s earliest masterpieces and earned him his first Best Director Oscar nomination. Close Encounters has some of the most reverential images and sequences in all of science-fiction cinema. It was met with critical and commercial acclaim, securing Spielberg as one of the most exciting young directors of his generation.

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

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Spielberg got his second win with this World War II epic that was also a box office sensation upon its release. The opening D-Day beach landing sequences is among the most intricate and exciting in all of war cinema. It also showed Spielberg at the top of his game, creating an image of war that felt all too real, using graphic violence that was not precedent in his filmography. Tom Hanks leads an ensemble cast that includes character actors like Edward Burns and Giovanni Ribisi, as well as future movie stars Matt Damon and Vin Diesel, and appearances from Bryan Cranston, Paul Giamatti and Ted Danson.

West Side Story (2021)

Ansel Elgort as Tony and Rachel Zegler as Maria, 'West Side Story'

Moments into this newest production of West Side Story was it clearly apparent that Spielberg had been imagining his version for what has been, essentially, his entire life. The deliberate movements in the cinematography were signature Spielberg, with the camera flying like magic through the beautifully choreographed musical numbers, carefully and precisely the key moments of the action. Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner managed to stay true to Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s original show, whilst also updating it for modern sensibilities. Again, the performances are all largely excellent with Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, Mike Faist and David Alvarez all giving star making performances.

E.T. (1982)

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An all-time classic film about a lonely boy and his alien. When it was released in 1982, E.T. was a cultural behemoth on a scale that film’s rarely reach in the modern landscape. The touching story of Elliot (Henry Thomas) and E.T. continues to resonate with audiences and capture the imagination of future generations. The practical effects used to bring E.T. to life are still affective for viewers and John Williams’ score is one for the ages. Spielberg brings his big-hearted sensibilities to the fore, and creates some of the most iconic imagery of his career.

Schindler’s List (1993)

Liam Neeson in 'Schindler's List'

Spielberg made his masterpiece and finally won his first Academy Award with this moving drama about the holocaust. Based on the true story of how Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) saved the lives of over 1,200 people during the Nazi’s systemic genocide of the Jewish people. Ralph Fiennes is excellent in the film, giving a chilling, career best performances as the monstrous Nazi Amon Goeth. Spielberg has spoken many times about how he felt a tremendous sense of duty when making the movie, describing it as the most important film he’s ever made. Spielberg brought a spotless level of authenticity to the film, which imbued it with a distressing sense of realism.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

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Image via Paramount Pictures

Spielberg was at a low point in his career. After the box office and critical miss that was the World War II comedy, 1941, Spielberg decided to work with his friend, George Lucas, who had an idea for an action movie that starred a treasure hunting archeologist. The duo were inspired by old adventure serials and so, alongside screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, they created Indiana Jones and the story for Raiders of the Lost Ark. After a scheduling conflict that ruled out the first choice, Magnum P.I. star Tom Selleck, Harrison Ford stepped into the role of Indiana Jones, a 1930s college professor who moonlights as a Nazi-fighting adventurer. In order to ensure the shoot went well, Spielberg worked with a storyboard for the first time, which became a step of pre-production that he's carried through the rest of his films. Raiders of the Lost Ark became the highest grossing film of 1981, spawned three sequels with a fourth, that will be directed by James Mangold, on the way. The film was nominated for 8 Academy Awards and won 4, as well as a special recognition award for sound editing. It arguably saved his career, cemented him as one of the most influential filmmakers of his era and as a Hollywood icon.