Steven Spielberg Fast Facts

CNN Editorial Research

Updated 0237 GMT (1037 HKT) December 4, 2021

Steven Spielberg, who turns 67 on Wednesday, December 18, has directed 27 movies over four decades and won three Academy Awards, including two for Best Director. His movies have grossed more than $9 billion, and Spielberg is worth several billion himself, <a href="http://www.forbes.com/profile/steven-spielberg/" target="_blank">according to Forbes magazine</a>. Take a look back at the career of one of the world's greatest visual storytellers.
Photos: Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera
Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera – Steven Spielberg, who turns 67 on Wednesday, December 18, has directed 27 movies over four decades and won three Academy Awards, including two for Best Director. His movies have grossed more than $9 billion, and Spielberg is worth several billion himself, according to Forbes magazine. Take a look back at the career of one of the world's greatest visual storytellers.
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Spielberg, left, talks with actors Goldie Hawn, William Atherton and Michael Sacks on the set of his 1974 film "The Sugarland Express." Prior to that, Spielberg had directed television shows and made-for-TV movies. Spielberg's first film in 1964, "Firelight," was about UFOs attacking a town.
Photos: Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera
Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera – Spielberg, left, talks with actors Goldie Hawn, William Atherton and Michael Sacks on the set of his 1974 film "The Sugarland Express." Prior to that, Spielberg had directed television shows and made-for-TV movies. Spielberg's first film in 1964, "Firelight," was about UFOs attacking a town.
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Spielberg, arms crossed, and his camera crew wade in water on the set of "Jaws" at Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. The 1975 film made $60 million in its first month, which in 2013 dollars would be equal to about $256 million. "Jaws" was the highest-grossing movie of all time until "Star Wars."
Photos: Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera
Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera – Spielberg, arms crossed, and his camera crew wade in water on the set of "Jaws" at Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. The 1975 film made $60 million in its first month, which in 2013 dollars would be equal to about $256 million. "Jaws" was the highest-grossing movie of all time until "Star Wars."
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Spielberg, right, listens to actor Richard Dreyfuss on the set of the 1977 science-fiction film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." The film earned Spielberg his first Oscar nomination for Best Director.
Photos: Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera
Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera – Spielberg, right, listens to actor Richard Dreyfuss on the set of the 1977 science-fiction film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." The film earned Spielberg his first Oscar nomination for Best Director.
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Actor Toshiro Mifune, left, listens as Spielberg runs through a scene from "1941" with him and co-star Christopher Lee. The 1979 comedy, a satirical film about hysterical Californians preparing for a Japanese invasion after Pearl Harbor, was considered a bust.
Photos: Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera
Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera – Actor Toshiro Mifune, left, listens as Spielberg runs through a scene from "1941" with him and co-star Christopher Lee. The 1979 comedy, a satirical film about hysterical Californians preparing for a Japanese invasion after Pearl Harbor, was considered a bust.
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Spielberg works on a miniature set for "Raiders of the Lost Ark." The 1981 movie would be the first in the highly successful Indiana Jones film franchise.
Photos: Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera
Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera – Spielberg works on a miniature set for "Raiders of the Lost Ark." The 1981 movie would be the first in the highly successful Indiana Jones film franchise.
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Spielberg, wearing a hat, works with actors Peter Coyote, Henry Thomas and Dee Wallace during the filming of "E.T.; The Extra-Terrestrial" in 1982. As of 2013, the movie had made more than $792 million worldwide.
Photos: Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera
Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera – Spielberg, wearing a hat, works with actors Peter Coyote, Henry Thomas and Dee Wallace during the filming of "E.T.; The Extra-Terrestrial" in 1982. As of 2013, the movie had made more than $792 million worldwide.
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Actress Kate Capshaw is directed by Spielberg on set of the film "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" in 1984. Capshaw, who played Indiana Jones' love interest in the movie, would later become Spielberg's future wife. The year 1984 was also when Spielberg founded his production company Amblin Entertainment.
Photos: Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera
Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera – Actress Kate Capshaw is directed by Spielberg on set of the film "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" in 1984. Capshaw, who played Indiana Jones' love interest in the movie, would later become Spielberg's future wife. The year 1984 was also when Spielberg founded his production company Amblin Entertainment.
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Actress Whoopi Goldberg has a conversation with Spielberg during production of the 1985 film "The Color Purple." The film, an adaptation of Alice Walker's novel, was nominated for Best Picture and earned Goldberg a Best Actress nomination.
Photos: Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera
Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera – Actress Whoopi Goldberg has a conversation with Spielberg during production of the 1985 film "The Color Purple." The film, an adaptation of Alice Walker's novel, was nominated for Best Picture and earned Goldberg a Best Actress nomination.
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Actor Christian Bale, left, Spielberg and John Malkovich talk on the set of "Empire of the Sun" in 1987. The film is taken from J.G. Ballard's novel based on Ballard's experiences as a boy in a Japanese prison camp during World War II.
Photos: Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera
Steven Spielberg: The man behind the camera – Actor Christian Bale, left, Spielberg and John Malkovich talk on the set of "Empire of the Sun" in 1987. The film is taken from J.G. Ballard's novel based on Ballard's experiences as a boy in a Japanese prison camp during World War II.
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Executive producer George Lucas, left, and Spielberg confer on the set of the film "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" in 1989. The two influential filmmakers have worked on multiple movies together.