Over the decades, legendary directorSteven Spielberghas created some of the most memorable movies. Whether it is suspenseful thrillers, gut-wrenching dramas, grand science fiction spectacles, or beloved children’s stories, his films have amazed, inspired, and touched the hearts of audiences around the world. His movies take us on a sprawling journey and allow us to think outside of the box. Under Spielberg’s direction, these stories become majestic and intimate.
But Spielberg’s movies do not just attract us with their plots and characters, they also sweep us away with their sheer scale and scope. Some of his most compelling movies unravel at a grand and leisurely pace. These longer runtimes act as an anchor to properly build suspense, have us invested, and develop complex themes that resonate with his elaborate worlds.
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Steven Spielberg never shies away from weaving tales that demand the audience’s time. In fact, several of his career-defining films stretch well beyond the standard two-hour mark,testing not only the viewers' attention spansbut also earning extra brownie points for delivering satisfying endings. So today, we’ll count down the longest of the long – Spielberg’s lengthy masterworks, ranked by their runtime.
12Bridge of Spies – 141 minutes
Bridge of Spiesis a 2015 Cold War spy thriller movie that moves at a deliberate yet suspenseful pace. The story follows American lawyer James Donovan, played by Tom Hanks, who the U.S. government recruits to negotiate the release of an American U2 pilot named Francis Powers after he was shot down over Soviet territory in exchange for Rudolf Abel, a KGB spy. In the process, Donovan develops an unlikely bond with the Russian spy, who Mark Rylance plays. As they navigate the politics and dangers of the Berlin crisis, both the leads deliver an Oscar-winning performance. The title also seems quite apt as it refers to the Bridge that Donovan builds between two opposing countries, showing, with Spielberg’s typically gorgeous visuals, how even in the darkest times, one person’s act of peace can make a difference.
11Minority Report – 145 Minutes
In another one of Spielberg’s astonishing projects, we see how the futuristic police force utilizes three gifted “pre-cogs” that can see crimes before they occur as an aid to decrease false activities happening in the world. But when the chief of police, John Anderton, played by Tom Cruise, is identified as the perpetrator of a future murder, he finds himself being attacked by the same system he once believed in.
Set in the year 2054,Minority Reportis a science fiction thriller that paints a beautiful vision of a dystopian future in Washington, D.C., which is brimming to the top with imaginative futuristic designs. Spielberg also brings to life themes like free will and criminality that remain the moral dilemma at the heart of Philip K. Dick’s short story. Moreover, the extended cast, including Samantha Morton and Colin Farrell, also keeps things moving at a riveting pace to justify the lengthy runtime.
10A.I. Artificial Intelligence – 146 Minutes
By the time this 2001 science fiction film reached the big screens, Spielberg had already become a household name. And withA.I. Artificial Intelligence, he just became an iconic director portraying epic storylines in miniature. The movie follows a vulnerable android child David, who yearns for love and humanity in a future where robots coexist with humankind. Left abandoned after his “mother” is switched off, his lonely and heart-wrenching quest to become a “real boy” leads him on a journey across a brutal future that is always skeptical of the relationship between humans and technology.
Haley Joel Osmentbrings an extraordinary depth to his character of David, and the extended runtime gives room to emotionally resonant scenes between him and his surrogate mother, Monica.
9Lincoln – 150 Minutes
Spielberg’s historically accurate and stunning biopic portrays the 16th president’s complex and lesser-known role in passing the 13th amendment through Congress in order to abolish slavery during the trying times of Civil War. Daniel Day-Lewis plays his part as the towering yet sympathetic leader and makes sure his iconic status as being private and tormented gets enough focus.
The 150 minutes of sprawling runtime allows Spielberg to carry the viewers across this rich period piece with care and precision, maneuvering them to tense political details that played a significant part in the amendment’s passage. Honestly, we wouldn’t mind if the film was even longer if it meant the celebration of Lincoln’s traits of effective leadership, like compromise, empathy, and the ability to appeal to a larger conscience. Overall,Lincolnbuilds a patient and deliberate crescendo as history unfolds.
8The Fabelmans – 151 Minutes
The Fabelmansis a semi-autobiographical story based on Steven Spielberg’s own childhood and adolescence. It follows a young boy named Sammy Fabelman, played by the one and only Paul Dano, as he discovers a passion for filmmaking after his parents take him to see “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Not knowing back then that this moment would go on to define his entire life, we see Sammy’s turbulent family dynamics (barring the wholesome support from his mother), his burgeoning talent, and the intense exploration of his blood relationships. From following his artistic calling with a camera, he starts making films at home, and the portrayalcaptures the magic of his stories. The movie is full of heart and humor and at its core, it depicts one man’s journey to find his unique cinematic voice.
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7The Color Purple – 154 Minutes
At nearly two and a half hours, Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking adaptation of Alice Walker’s beloved novel captures the unwavering strength, tolerance, and deep spirituality of African American women in the American South across decades of oppression, hope, and eventual change.The Color Purplestars Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, and it follows the life of Celie and her younger sister Nettie as they overcome a life of poverty and abuse.
Spielberg takes his time and grants each character their due complexity – whether it is the protagonist Celie or anyone she encounters along the way. The movie carries its thematic concerts around gender, class, and racial injustice and creates a balance with intensely compassionate moments of human grace. Ultimately, the movie earns its place in one of the more important, profound projects in the history of cinema.
6Empire of the Sun – 154 Minutes
This 1987 war epic follows a privileged British boy, played by a young Christian Bale, who is separated from his parents during World War II and is eventually imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp. Based on J.G. Ballard’s semi-autobiographical novel, this coming-of-age story is imbued with an abundance of emotion and heart. It captures scenes of death, deprivation, food shortage, and chaos while also gracing the screens with subtle, hopeful moments of creative play, idealism, and friendship.
Spielberg evokes thesheer horror of the time and marvels of warthrough a child’s wide eyes, which is not only refreshing but also very thought-provoking. From charting the events that took place at Pearl Harbor to Jim’s wonder upon witnessing the chaos in Shanghai, everything aboutEmpire of the Sunis rich and immersive.
Based on a real-life incident that took place in the 19th century,Amistadis Spielberg’s outstanding dramatization of the 1839 La Amistad revolt. It centers on the uprising of slaves who were illegally transported from Sierra Leone to Cuba. Led by Joseph Cinque, the revolution resulted in the slaves being brought to the U.S., where they were arrested and ultimately argued for their freedom in the Supreme Court.
By using beautifully composed, widely-timed scenes, director Stephen Spielberg earns plenty of space to portray the slaves' agonizing conditions, making sure they resonate, even through long moments of silence. On the other hand, there are powerful courtroom arguments that see the characters debating on humanity and injustice. When the final climax arrives, it’s worth every minute of buildup.
4West Wide Story – 156 Minutes
Under Steven Spielberg’s stunning direction, thisbeloved musical gets an epic reimaginationas it finds fierce rivalries and young love blossoming in 1950s New York City.West Wide Storyfollows Tony and Maria, two young people on opposite sides of a bitter feud between a Caucasian and a Puerto Rican gang. As they fall in love, it sparks a fresh wave of danger, action, and turmoil, with both sides clashing in the most engrossing ways. W
ith powerhouse performances from Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler, the movie creates unforgettable musical numbers against the backdrop of societal tensions and personal hopes. In the end, they rise against all odds, and young, passionate love becomes the heart of this timeless tale of tragedy, giving us the promise of a better tomorrow.
3Munich – 164 Minutes
Munichweaves a taut geopolitical thriller around Israel’s secret retaliation against the Palestinian terrorist responsible for killing eleven Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Despite being long, the complexity of the mission is pretty evident. The covert Mossad team that is tasked with systematically assassinating those responsible is led by Eric Bana and Daniel Craig, so naturally, the performances are phenomenal. But as the retribution takes its toll, one member of the team begins to question the need and cost of such violence. Every character is rich and multidimensional as they wrestle with terrorism and moral ambiguity.
Overall, with his excellent direction, Spielberg shows how, when telling a truly important story, a three-hour runtime can easily fly by.
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