Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters (Movies He Didn't Make)

On the August 30, 2024 episode of /Film Daily, /Film editor Ben Pearson is joined by /Film editor and chief film critic Chris Evangelista to talk about what we’re calling Steven Spielberg’s close encounters.

Movies that were eventually made, and not just ones that he considered making, but he seemed to actively work on in some capacity before not directing. So “Night Skies,” his sci-fi horror movie that would have been a spiritual follow-up to Close Encounters, does not count because that was never made and therefore we have nothing to judge.

Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies

White Lightning

California Split

Cruising

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings

Rain Man

Cape Fear

Shrek

Meet the Parents

Twister

Mozart and the Whale

The Mask of Zorro

The Haunting

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Big Fish

Memoirs of a Geisha

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Interstellar

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Oldboy

Exodus: Gods and Kings

American Sniper

The Little Things

Maestro

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