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
Shrek
Meet the Parents
Twister
Mozart and the Whale
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

All the other stuff you need to know:



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