Steven Spielberg’s Directing Style Explained — 7 Ways He Crafts the Ultimate Cinematic Experience

“Hold on to your butts.” Few directors have left as indelible a mark on modern blockbusters as Steven Spielberg. His massive filmography covers a wide range of subjects and genres, but Spielberg’s core strength remains constant: an unparalleled ability to depict ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances, taking the audience along for an exhilarating ride. “We must go faster,” indeed.

While Spielberg didn’t write many of his most iconic films, he possesses an uncanny knack for choosing material with powerful themes and character arcs that resonate deeply. His protagonists are often average individuals confronting events of overwhelming scale, whether fantastical (roaming dinosaurs) or historical (the brutality of war). Though the ordinary-person-in-extraordinary-circumstances is a common storytelling trope, few filmmakers transport viewers to these worlds as effectively as Spielberg.

This penchant for escapism stems from Spielberg’s own experiences. As a child of divorce who found solace behind a camera, his vivid imagination fueled countless stories removed from reality. At their core, these tales frequently explore strained family relationships, particularly between fathers and children, with the extraordinary events acting as a catalyst for profound growth and change within his characters.

But how does Spielberg create these transportive, deeply felt cinematic experiences that leave audiences captivated? Let’s explore seven key elements of his signature directing style.

The Power of Story

Spielberg’s films often revolve around a central character’s journey from the ordinary world into the extraordinary, where they undergo a cathartic transformation. These protagonists, frequently children, find themselves confronting unfathomable situations that profoundly impact their lives and challenge their perspectives.

Through this lens, Spielberg explores universal themes of family, loss, and the human capacity for heroism in the face of adversity. Whether navigating World War II or fending off rampaging dinosaurs, his young heroes are forced to mature rapidly, their innocence shattered by harsh realities. Yet their resilience and the support of loved ones—rekindled familial bonds, in many cases—empower them to overcome immense obstacles.

For the adults, too, these extraordinary journeys catalyze personal growth, compelling neglectful fathers to become protectors, capitalists to embrace morality over profit, and even enabling an ordinary clerk to become a savior of human lives. In the end, broken families find healing, bitterness gives way to compassion, and the experience leaves an indelible mark on all involved.

The Scope of Production Design

Spielberg’s production design is instrumental in physically encapsulating ordinary characters within extraordinary circumstances, often overwhelming them with sheer scale and grandeur. Massive crowds heighten the intensity of panic and chaos, while gargantuan threats like towering dinosaurs, UFOs, and sharks loom menacingly over the hapless protagonists.

The settings themselves are rendered on an epic scale—sprawling cities, underground mines, and even the fantastical realm of Neverland. In “Schindler’s List,” production design poignantly illustrates the horrific scope of the Holocaust through mountains of personal artifacts symbolizing countless lives destroyed.

By contrasting small subjects against monumental backdrops, Spielberg amplifies the sense of spectacle and stakes, ensuring the audience grasps the sheer magnitude of the extraordinary circumstances his characters face.

The Power of Color

While rarely the primary focus, color plays a crucial supporting role in Spielberg’s visual storytelling. He employs color in three distinct ways: establishing tone, transporting viewers to fantastical realms, and drawing the audience’s attention.

In “A.I.,” shifting color palettes guide the emotional journey, from the warmth of a loving home to the despair of abandonment. The vivid hues of “The BFG” whisk us into the magic of Giant Country, a stark contrast to the drab real world. And in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” swirling neons and bright highlights surrounding the alien crafts leave us as awestruck as the characters.

Spielberg also strategically uses color to direct our gaze, often employing vibrant reds to make specific elements stand out. A little girl’s crimson coat becomes a symbol of innocence amidst the chaos in “Schindler’s List,” while a character’s striking red dress in “The Color Purple” immediately commands our focus.

By manipulating brightness, saturation, and strategic pops of color, Spielberg heightens the extraordinary nature of scenes while artfully guiding our attention and emotional response.

The Immersive Power of Cinematography

Spielberg’s camerawork is a pivotal element in immersing viewers within his expansive worlds. In collaboration with legendary cinematographer Janusz Kamiński, he employs an array of visual techniques—silhouettes, shadows, reflections—but his signature remains the relentless moving camera.

More than a passive observer, Spielberg’s dynamic camerawork is an active participant, pulling us into the heart of the action through intricate blocking and extended takes comprising multiple compositions. In the opening battle of “West Side Story,” for instance, the camera gracefully glides through the space, seamlessly transitioning between varied framings as it follows the choreography.

This approach reaches its apex in Spielberg’s mastery of the “oner”—dazzling long takes that sustain momentum and maintain an intimate connection with the characters, as showcased in the harrowing van escape sequence in “War of the Worlds.”

By keeping his camera in constant motion, Spielberg ensures we’re locked into the extraordinary experiences unfolding on screen, his intricate choreography and dynamic compositions drawing us ever deeper into the spectacle.

The Art of Editing

While less discussed, editing is a crucial ingredient in Spielberg’s immersive approach. Adhering primarily to continuity editing principles, his editor Michael Kahn crafts smooth transitions designed to be virtually unnoticed, allowing audiences to remain fully absorbed in the story’s emotional landscape.

Central to this technique is an emphasis on striking close-ups of faces reacting to the abnormal events transpiring around them. In “Jaws,” a series of tightly framed shots of Brody’s increasingly anxious expressions, intercut with his tense POV of the crowded beach, masterfully ratchets up the tension before the eventual shark attack.

For more intricate set pieces like the Munich massacre in “Munich,” Spielberg and Kahn meticulously establish and maintain a clear sense of scene geography through carefully constructed editing patterns. We follow every step of the unfolding plan, understanding exactly where all players are positioned and the escalating stakes as complications arise.

By keeping us oriented within the action while grounding us in the characters’ emotional experiences, Spielberg’s editing keeps viewers tethered to the heart of even his most extraordinary stories.

The Impact of Sound Design

While visuals are paramount in cinema, Spielberg understands the power of sound to shape and elevate the viewing experience. His soundtracks employ dynamic contrasts, oscillating between the most minute, intimate details and thunderous cacophonies that leave us reeling.

In the iconic T-Rex attack from “Jurassic Park,” sound designer Gary Rydstrom creates a masterclass in building suspense through audio cues. The scene opens with near-silence, amplifying the slightest auditory hints—ripples in a glass of water, a rearview mirror’s rattle—before the earth-shaking roar of the T-Rex shatters the tension.

On a deeper level, specific sound motifs help emphasize narrative importance. In “The Post,” the purposeful inclusion of Katharine Graham’s footsteps conveys power and presence as the lone woman navigating a male-dominated environment, the percussive tapping of her heels underscoring her growing authority and determination.

By manipulating sonic textures, intensities, and carefully planted aural details, Spielberg enhances both the visceral impact and thematic resonance of his stories.

The Emotional Power of Music

For over four decades, John Williams has been Spielberg’s invaluable creative partner, his iconic scores elevating the director’s work to emotional heights. Beyond their sheer catchiness and bombast, Williams’ sweeping melodies possess a transporting quality, sweeping us off to worlds of danger, wonder, and heroism.

More than simple accompaniment, the music actively shapes our experience, instructing us how to feel and what to anticipate in each moment. The “Raiders March” rouses our spirits for Indy’s daring exploits; the soaring theme of “E.T.” imbues the alien’s journey with childlike magic; and the haunting violin strains in “Schindler’s List” lament the unspeakable tragedy of the Holocaust.

In the climactic moments of “E.T.,” Spielberg made the rare decision to edit the film around Williams

The Emotional Power of Music

For over four decades, John Williams has been Spielberg’s invaluable creative partner, his iconic scores elevating the director’s work to emotional heights. Beyond their sheer catchiness and bombast, Williams’ sweeping melodies possess a transporting quality, sweeping us off to worlds of danger, wonder, and heroism.

More than simple accompaniment, the music actively shapes our experience, instructing us how to feel and what to anticipate in each moment. The “Raiders March” rouses our spirits for Indy’s daring exploits; the soaring theme of “E.T.” imbues the alien’s journey with childlike magic; and the haunting violin strains in “Schindler’s List” lament the unspeakable tragedy of the Holocaust.

In the climactic moments of “E.T.,” Spielberg made the rare decision to edit the film around Williams’ score rather than the other way around. By allowing the composer’s natural musical phrasing to dictate the rhythm and pacing, the sequence achieves a profound sense of catharsis—the product of two masters at the peak of their respective crafts.

The Magic of Spielberg

What makes Steven Spielberg the undisputed master of the blockbuster is his unique ability to depict ordinary individuals thrust into extraordinary circumstances in a way that leaves audiences emotionally invested and thoroughly transported. He achieves this through:

• Deeply resonant stories about personal growth and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity
• Epic production design that dwarfs characters within grand, meticulously crafted settings of astounding scale
• Strategic use of color to establish tone, create a sense of escapism, and guide the viewer’s focus
• Dynamic, involving camerawork that thrusts us into the heart of the action through intricate blocking and seamless long takes
• Invisible yet purposeful editing that orients us within complex set pieces while prioritizing character reactions
• Meticulous sound design full of evocative details that amplify the emotional experience
• Iconic, transporting musical scores that shape our journey through these extraordinary realms

By wielding these filmmaking tools with unparalleled mastery, Spielberg crafts cinematic experiences that burrow into our imaginations and leave an indelible impact. His blockbusters have inspired generations of audiences and storytellers, forever altering our concept of what a Hollywood movie can achieve.

Whether revisiting beloved classics or discovering Spielberg’s latest grand adventure, audiences around the world will forever be grateful to “hold on to their butts” and surrender to the singularly thrilling visions of this legendary director. For Spielberg’s quintessential strength is not merely depicting the ordinary amidst the extraordinary—it’s making us feel like we actually lived it.