Under the Radar: 10 Forgotten Spielberg Movies Worth Your Time

1. Duel (1971)

Duel marks Spielberg's directorial debut, and what a debut it was! It tells the story of a hapless motorist, David Mann (Dennis Weaver), who finds himself pursued and terrorized by a malicious truck driver across the desert. This cat and mouse chase feels more like a predator stalking its prey, with the predator being, well, an 18-wheeler truck.

This was actually just a TV film, originally intended to be an episode of the ABC Movie of the Week, but it did showcase Spielberg's knack for creating tension and suspense. The entire plot unfolds with very minimal dialogue, and despite its tiny budget of $450,000, Duel managed to create a big impact, setting the stage for Spielberg's career.

2. The Sugarland Express (1974)

In this lesser-known Spielberg flick, we see the story of a determined woman, Lou Jean Poplin (Goldie Hawn), who convinces her husband to escape from prison to assist her in retrieving their son from foster care. Based on a real-life incident, this film marked Spielberg's first theatrical feature film.

Despite receiving positive reviews for its entertaining plot and fine performances, it was overshadowed by the success of Spielberg's subsequent epic, Jaws. The Sugarland Express, however, is a joyride worth taking, punctuated by a strong performance from Hawn and some solid action sequences.

3. Empire of the Sun (1987)

Empire of the Sun is a departure from Spielberg's usual sci-fi and adventure fare, presenting a tale of a young British boy's journey from privileged expat to war prisoner in World War II-era Shanghai. The film features a young Christian Bale in his breakthrough role.

His performance, coupled with Spielberg's skilled direction, results in a compelling and visually arresting film that, despite its financial success and positive reviews, has somehow fallen through the cracks of Spielberg's impressive filmography and remains largely unknown – which is a shame, really.

4. Always (1989)

Not every Spielberg fan knows this, but back in the 80s the director took a dip into the romantic pool with Always, a film about a daredevil pilot who dies in a forest fire and returns as a spirit to help his grieving girlfriend move on. Starring Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, and John Goodman, Always is Spielberg's take on the classic 1943 film A Guy Named Joe. Although it didn't set the box office on fire, it's worth noting that this film's exploration of love, death, and the afterlife adds another string to Spielberg's diverse directorial bow.

5. 1941 (1979)

A World War II farce filled with slapstick and physical humor, 1941 is unlike any other Spielberg film. This comedy, set in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attack, showcases a chaotic Los Angeles, filled with paranoid citizens and misguided military. While it boasts a star-studded cast including Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, and Mickey Rourke, the movie failed to resonate with audiences or critics upon its release.

6. The Terminal (2004)

Many Spielberg aficionados have forgotten about this delightful film. The Terminal stars Tom Hanks as Viktor Navorski, a traveler from Krakozhia, who gets stuck in JFK Airport in New York when his passport becomes invalid due to a political coup back home. This surprisingly feel-good film is based on the real-life story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri, who lived in the departure lounge of Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, for a staggering 18 years.

Although the film was a moderate box office success, grossing over $219 million worldwide, it hasn't managed to maintain a significant place in Spielberg's oeuvre. It's worth a watch for Hanks' endearing performance and the charming romance subplot with Catherine Zeta-Jones' character.

7. Amistad (1997)

Based on the true story of a mutiny aboard the slave ship La Amistad in 1839, Amistad was a heavy hitter with a star-studded cast including Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman, and Matthew McConaughey. Djimon Hounsou gives a compelling performance as the mutiny leader, Cinque.

Although Amistad received positive reviews and a handful of award nominations, it didn't create the splash one would expect from a Spielberg film. Grossing only about $74 million against its $40 million budget, it didn't perform spectacularly at the box office either.

8. Munich (2005)

Munich is a political thriller that tells the gripping story of the aftermath of the Black September terrorist attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics. It follows a group of Israeli government agents tasked with tracking down and assassinating those responsible for the attack. Despite earning five Academy Award nominations and grossing over $130 million worldwide, Munich remains one of Spielberg's less talked about films.

9. The BFG (2016)

Based on the beloved Roald Dahl book, The BFG is a heartwarming story of friendship between a young orphan girl, Sophie, and a friendly giant. As Spielberg's first directorial venture with Disney, the film captures the whimsical charm of the original story but sadly fell short of commercial success. Despite its production budget of $140 million, it only managed to gross $195 million worldwide. The incredible performance capture technology used to bring the BFG (played by Mark Rylance) to life is noteworthy alone.

10. Bridge of Spies (2015)

This historical drama set during the Cold War narrates the story of lawyer James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) assigned to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot in exchange for a Soviet spy. The movie, though critically acclaimed and an Oscar winner (Best Supporting Actor for Mark Rylance), seems to have fallen off most people's radar when talking about Spielberg classics. Bridge of Spies, while not Spielberg's highest-grossing film, raked in a respectable $165.5 million at the box office and got some solid Oscars buzz.