Can You Match The Scene To The Steven Spielberg Movie?
- by Patrick Deslauriers
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Steven Spielberg. Though film buffs can recite a list of their favorite directors from memory, it takes a special sort of brilliance to be remembered among both connoisseurs and more casual moviegoers. Spielberg, though, has somehow managed to achieve just that, and he's remained a household name throughout his career.
When Spielberg first started directing feature films in the 1970's he was, of course, the new kid on the block. But his second ever feature, a little movie called Jaws, turned out to be a pretty big deal. Critics praised it, audiences loved it, and Spielberg's career exploded in spectacular fashion much like his titular shark. Though there were a few dips in the upward trend, Spielberg found his stride quickly, and he wasted no time in creating heart-wrenching dramas, compelling historical narratives, humorous adventures, and cerebral sci-fi.
Spielberg doesn't stick to one topic or genre, but instead continues to branch out to tell a wide range of stories, all of them marked by his personal emphasis on forming an engrossing connection with the audience. Whether the story is about a professor/archaeologist seeking adventures in foreign lands, a dinosaur theme park gone horribly awry, or a group of soldiers trying to bring one of their lost comrades home, a Spielberg film is sure to captivate, entertain, and delight.
This quiz focuses on Spielberg's eclectic career and highlights some of his most beloved films. Can you name them all with only a single picture to guide you?
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Whereas previous Indiana Jones movies are set in World War II when the Nazis are at the height of their power, this installment in the series finds Indy in the midst of the Cold War. Tensions between the USA and the USSR are at an all-time high, and as such the Russians have replaced the Germans as Indy's new enemies. Interest in occult artifacts and powers remains strong, though, and as such Indy is forced to help the Russians locate and return a powerful lost object.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
People tend to forget that it was Spielberg who started us on the path of dinosaur-based mayhem and entertainment in the form of the Jurassic Park films, which continue to grace the screens of our theaters today. Though the series has had its share of tense and terrifying moments, this one tends to stand out from the crowd and definitely resulted in a substantial number of nightmares among kids and adults alike. Being trapped in a cramped space with a flesh-eating dinosaur? No thanks. Being trapped with two of them? Yeah, that's a whole lot of nope.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Spielberg does also make sci-fi movies that don't involve aliens, and those same movies often make you stop and think. Such is the case in this film where, in the not-so-distant future, crime has been almost completely eliminated thanks to the advent of Precrime, an elite task force that predicts and stops crimes before they're even committed. That's all well and good, but what about the ethical dilemmas that come with that practice? John Anderton, played by Tom Cruise, doesn't stop to think about that until it's his name that's selected for a crime.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
It turns out that Spielberg uses aliens in his sci-fi quite a lot, and this movie is no exception. However, Spielberg doesn't always depict malicious martians hell-bent on destroying our lovely planet; he also makes a point of showcasing aliens whose intentions are kind and curious if not entirely benevolent. In this film, as in others, aliens make contact with humans and it results in the betterment and advancement of knowledge of both species. So, as per Spielberg: it's not always a bad thing when extraplanetary tourists come to town.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Okay, I know I said Spielberg likes to use aliens. But he also likes to use war as a setting for his films and examine its effects on places, animals, and people. War has an obvious profound psychological impact on every living thing that is subject to it, but it's also capable of producing significant physical transformations. Whether it's deep scars or missing limbs on human bodies or utterly devastated landscapes which result from years of stalemate warfare, war leaves its mark, and Spielberg is keen to remind us of that.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
In this installment of the Indiana Jones series, Indy is subject to a series of unfortunate events and winds up in India along with Willie Scott and his kid friend Short Round. The trio stumble upon a starving village and are tasked with recovering the lost magic stones that belong there. They ultimately succeed, but confront all sorts of fearful challenges along the way including brainwashing, crocodiles, voodoo, highly questionable exotic delicacies, and one guy who's really determined to take people's hearts in his own hands.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Spielberg does war, aliens, dinosaurs, and...animated movies? Apparently so. In recent years Spielberg has shown that he can put forth animated feature films, too, and as such he continues to expand his already diverse capabilities. Though the action is now produced entirely by computer rather than the good old fashioned way, Spielberg doesn't let that stop him from creating compelling, entertaining stories which are only further enhanced by the stunning visuals that come with the meticulous animation process. Why try animation? Because it's there.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Did you forget that Spielberg directed multiple Jurassic Park films? If you did, don't feel bad, because I'll readily admit that I forgot, too. The dinosaurs, of course, return in this installment and, more importantly, so does Jeff Goldblum, who shines as his usual sarcastic self. Richard Attenborough also returns, but fresh faces also show up in the series, including Julianne Moore and Vince Vaughn. It turns out that the owners of Jurassic Park didn't learn from their mistakes, and another island full of dinos has just opened. As usual, things don't pan out very well.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
If there's one thing Spielberg likes more than aliens, war, and archaeology, it's working with Tom Hanks. The pair have collaborated on a multitude of films, including this dramedy, wherein Hanks plays a traveler trapped in the limbo of JFK airport because of a war in his own country. As such, the distressed traveler is forced to live in the airport until things cool down back home. It's not all bad, though; he makes friends and learns (and teaches) some life lessons during his emotional stay.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Pictured here: the moment in an iconic Spielberg film when someone realizes that a much bigger boat will be needed to accomplish the task at hand. There's a great big aquatic threat facing the tiny town of Amity, and it's up to a ragtag group of local fishermen and law enforcement to stop it. Maybe they thought they had an idea of what they were in for but, if Roy Scheider's expression is any indication, they didn't have a clue.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Leonardo DiCaprio stars opposite Tom Hanks in this biographical crime drama set in the 1960's. DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale Jr., a teenager who runs away from home when his parents separate. Having idolized his scheming father, Frank becomes a professional conman, impersonating a lawyer, a doctor, and a pilot and cashing millions of dollars in fake checks. His dalliances don't go unnoticed forever, though, and FBI agent Carl Hanratty (played by Hanks) is on his trail and determined to sniff him out.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Remember how I said it's not always a good thing when aliens show up in Spielberg movies? This is a clear example of why. In this case, the aliens don't care about making contact with humans, building relationships with them, and learning from each other. The only thing they care about is exterminating all of us so they can claim Earth for themselves, and they do it with reckless abandon. They're so reckless, in fact, that they forget to check if they can survive Earth's atmosphere. Turns out that's a resounding no.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Spielberg loves war movies and working with Tom Hanks, so why not combine the two? He does here, in this iconic film set in World War II. Led by Hanks' character Captain Miller, a battalion is tasked with recovering and bringing home a young soldier stuck behind enemy lines. The company ultimately accomplishes their goal but is forced to trek through dangerous territory occupied by enemy tanks, snipers, and infantry along the way, and thus they lose more and more men as their journey progresses. Is the steep cost worth it? None can say.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Some of the best movies are simply about people being people, and that's the case with this Spielberg film. Don't let the image deceive you; this movie is about abuse, and a lifetime of it at that. Set in the early 1900's, the film follows the life of Celie Johnson, a black woman living in the American South who endures forty odd years of abuse at the hands of her diabolical father. Celie's life is one of hardship and struggle, and it's in full swing when we first see her on-screen, 14 and pregnant by her own father.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Earlier I mentioned that Spielberg takes an interest in showcasing the brutal and enduring effects that war can have on people. If there's one of his films that does that in spades, it's this black and white offering. Set in World War II, this movie focuses on a German factory owner who is, to put it lightly, not the greatest guy around. However, when the Nazis' persecution of his Jewish factory workers becomes more and more threatening, he starts realizing the horrors being perpetuated and does his best to come to the aid of the Jewish people.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Indiana Jones was a fun and adventure-filled series. Spielberg wondered: could he could make it even more fun by adding Indy's estranged dad to the mix? He could indeed, especially by casting the legendary Sean Connery as Indy's father. The result was an Indiana Jones movie that was even crazier, funnier, and more intense than the previous installments. Indy was no longer searching for artifacts at the behest of whoever propositioned him. Instead, he was after the Holy Grail, his father's lifetime pursuit. But to do it, he had to put up with his dad's antics. Not ideal for him, but remarkably entertaining for the audience.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
People forget about this surprisingly dramatic film starring Robin Williams as a frustrated, overworked father who pays little attention to his family. Perhaps that's not so surprising, as he had a strange childhood himself, but how little he seems to care is tragic all the same. Something's gotta give, though, and as such a dramatic event occurs that forces father Peter Banning to be reminded of the magic of childhood and, in turn, make efforts to repair relations with his family.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
More aliens? More aliens. In this Spielberg offering, the extraterrestrials turn out to be friendly folk who just want to talk and maybe share some info over a coffee or space beverage. You'd be forgiven for thinking their intentions weren't so noble, though, since they abduct a bunch of kids. But who knows, maybe that's not an issue where they come from. In any case, contact is finally made near the end of the film, with humans and aliens using colors, music, and other non-verbal stimuli to communicate.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
In this film based on a series of French comics, a young reporter teams up with his faithful dog and his sea captain friend to search for a legendary sunken treasure. Though the young man initially thinks of the treasure as little more than a fairy tale, he soon comes to realize that it's real and, in the eyes of his enemies, worth killing for. Genealogy, history, and myth all come together in this initially quaint story that soon turns into a full-fledged escapade.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
The story of one of the most significant and well-known presidents in United States history is told with great attention to detail in this film, one of Spielberg's most recent offerings. In the midst of a raging civil war, the president is compelled to limit casualties among his people whilst endlessly debating his desire for landmark changes in policy with other government officials, both outside and inside his own cabinet. Not exactly the easiest day he's had at the office.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Kids have a way of stumbling onto things, and when those things are unnatural, all hell can break loose. Such is the case in this Spielberg movie, where a young kid living a quiet, happy life with his parents is suddenly made aware of something very peculiar about himself. Of course, talking directly to one's parents about things is never an option in these kinds of movies, so the boy sets out to find others who can guide or at least help him with his new problem.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
I know, I know, more Indiana Jones. This time, Indy teams up with his friends Marion and Sallah and travels to Egypt once again seeking, you guessed it, a powerful artifact that's been lost to the sands of time. Indy once again finds himself dealing with the dastardly Nazis, but this time they're being assisted by his lifelong rival, French archaeologist René Belloq. Indy ends up being bested by Belloq, but the mysterious powers of the artifact reverse their fates in spectacular fashion.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Spielberg collaborates yet again with Tom Hanks in this film, wherein he plays Frank B. Donovan, a simple lawyer who's called in to defend a Soviet spy at the height of the Cold War. Though Donovan does his job to a T, the CIA asks more and more of him, and he soon finds himself in enemy territory and way over his head. Moral quandaries abound in this film, which demands that the audience consider the implications of strategically trading life for life and people for people in times of conflict.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Spielberg's first ever feature film stars Goldie Hawn as a very frustrated woman. Her husband is in jail and her son has been taken away from her, and she decides that it's time to fight back. She tells her incarcerated husband to get the heck out of jail and meets up with him after the fact to team up and get their son back. They begin by taking a cop hostage, which it turns out isn't the best idea. Needless to say, all hell promptly breaks loose.
Which Steven Spielberg movie is this?
Starring a young Christian Bale in one of his first roles, this film focuses on a young English boy stranded in China during the period of Japanese occupation in World War II. Separated from his parents in a foreign land, the boy must overcome mental, physical, and emotional trauma whilst struggling to survive entirely on his own. This story of perseverance when the very foundations of one's world have come crumbling down is incredibly poignant, and Christian Bale puts forth a masterful performance.