Claim: Steven Spielberg is a director.

Steven Allan Spielberg , , -LRB- born December 18 , 1946 -RRB- is an American director , producer , and screenwriter . He is considered one of the founding pioneers of the New Hollywood era , as well as being viewed as one of the most popular directors and producers in film history . He is also one of the co-founders of DreamWorks Studios .   In a career spanning more than four decades , Spielberg 's films have spanned many themes and genres . Spielberg 's early science-fiction and adventure films , such as Jaws -LRB- 1975 -RRB- , Close Encounters of the Third Kind -LRB- 1977 -RRB- , Raiders of the Lost Ark -LRB- 1981 -RRB- , and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial -LRB- 1982 -RRB- , were seen as archetypes of modern Hollywood escapist filmmaking . In later years , his films began addressing humanistic issues such as the Holocaust , the transatlantic slave trade , civil rights , war , and terrorism in such films as The Color Purple -LRB- 1985 -RRB- , Empire of the Sun -LRB- 1987 -RRB- , Schindler 's List -LRB- 1993 -RRB- , Amistad -LRB- 1997 -RRB- , Saving Private Ryan -LRB- 1998 -RRB- , Munich -LRB- 2005 -RRB- , War Horse -LRB- 2011 -RRB- , Lincoln -LRB- 2012 -RRB- , and Bridge of Spies -LRB- 2015 -RRB- . His other films include Jurassic Park -LRB- 1993 -RRB- , A.I. Artificial Intelligence -LRB- 2001 -RRB- , and War of the Worlds -LRB- 2005 -RRB- .   Spielberg won the Academy Award for Best Director for Schindler 's List and Saving Private Ryan , as well as receiving five other nominations . Three of Spielberg 's films -- Jaws , E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial , and Jurassic Park -- achieved box office records , originated and came to epitomize the blockbuster film . The unadjusted gross of all Spielberg-directed films exceeds $ 9 billion worldwide , making him the highest-grossing director in history . His personal net worth is estimated to be more than $ 3 billion . He is also known for his long-standing associations with several actors , producers , and technicians , most notably composer John Williams , who has composed music for all but two of Spielberg 's movies which are The Color Purple and Bridge of Spies .