Steven Spielberg is considered one of the best directors of all time, and has been creating heartbreaking and heartwarming movies for nearly 50 years. Spielberg’s films range from blockbusters like Jaws and the Indiana Jones series to historical dramas like Lincoln and Schindler’s List, with massive hits in every decade since the 1970s. Despite the often epic nature of his films, Spielberg also crafts beautiful, poignant moments of humanity and emotion. Let’s look at some of the most emotional moments in his movies, ranked.

9 The Revolt – Amistad (1997)

The opening scene of Amistad captures the audience’s attention right from the beginning, as Joseph Cinqué (Djimon Hounsou) leads a revolt aboard a Spanish slave ship. Setting the scene in a storm amps up the tension, as the flashes of lightning and rain add a rawness to the scene. Cinqué standing in the rain after killing his captain is an emotional embrace of freedom. While the rest of the movie is set in a courtroom, and doesn’t quite match this scene’s level of thrill, it’s a gripping start that immediately makes the audience feel for the characters and root for their freedom.

8 Joey and Albert Reuniting – War Horse (2011)

War Horse, a movie about a boy and his beloved horse, makes use of many common horse movie tropes, as Albert (Jeremy Irvine) forms a close bond with Joey, a horse his father doesn’t want, because he won’t be much use on a farm. Albert perseveres anyway, training Joey to plow and save the farm. When World War I starts, Albert’s father is forced to sell Joey, and Albert promises to find him again. Years later, after Albert has enlisted in the army and is temporarily blinded in battle, he hears of a wounded horse. Using the owl call he taught Joey to respond to, the horse is reunited with Albert, who can describe him perfectly, even blinded. It’s cliché, but no less emotional, to see their reunion after what they’ve both been through.

7 “Welcome to Jurassic Park” – Jurassic Park (1993)

This 1993 blockbuster started the Jurassic Park franchise, and the first time the characters – and the audience – see the dinosaurs in full glory remains one of the best moments in the series. Inside the park for their tour, Alan Grant (Sam Neill) grabs Ellie Sattler’s (Laura Dern) head and turns it toward a towering Brachiosaurus. John Williams’ amazing score kicks in, and John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) grandly welcomes everyone to Jurassic Park, as we see even more dinosaurs roaming the field. The scene remains just as full of wonder, awe, and delight almost thirty years later.

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6 Climbing the Pagoda – Empire of the Sun (1987)

Empire of the Sun is a World War II movie that tells the story of a young boy named Jim (Christian Bale), who is imprisoned in an internment camp during the Japanese occupation of China. According to Goliath, Bale beat out 4,000 actors for the role, and his performance perfectly captures the emotional situation, particularly in the scene where the American army attacks the base. Thrilled with the idea of his freedom, Jim climbs a pagoda to watch the army. Dr. Rawlins, a friend he made at the camp, climbs up to protect him. At this moment, Jim’s excitement fades, and he confesses that he no longer remembers what his parents look like; a heartbreaking scene that shows the toll this war has taken on a young boy.

5 Tony’s Death – West Side Story (2021)

While a remake of the 1961 West Side Story was risky, Spielberg expertly pulled off the story of Tony (Ansel Elgort), and Maria (Rachel Zegler), two lovers on opposite sides of dueling gangs. The musical numbers dazzle just as much as the original, and the performances are amazing across the whole cast. The film also provides more scenes of Tony and Maria falling in love, which makes Tony’s death at the end even more emotional. Anita (Ariana DeBose) powerfully addresses the violence and loss that took too many lives, and both gangs coming together to carry Tony’s body in the perfect end to this movie.

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4 Nettie and Celie’s Reunion – The Color Purple (1985)

This adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel has many iconic and emotional moments, but the most emotional is The Color Purple‘s ending scene. Sisters Celie (Whoopi Goldberg) and Nettie (Akosua Busia) have spent years apart from each other, the letters they planned to exchange through the years kept from them. When they’re finally able to reunite as adults, running across a field of flowers, the audience feels every emotion of their years apart and what they’ve been through in that time. The movie closes with them playing a hand game they played as children, a full-circle moment of growing up and sibling love.

3 The Graveyard – Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Considered to be one of the best World War II movies, Saving Private Ryan focuses on the mission, led by Tom Hanks’ Captain Miller, to save a young private (Matt Damon) after his three brothers die in the war. With some of the grittiest, most violent war sequences on film, the audience sees the toll this mission takes on all the soldiers, many of whom die in the quest to save Ryan. When they finally succeed, Miller encourages Ryan to earn the sacrifices the team made and live his life after he gets home. In the final scene, an elderly Ryan breaks down and asks if he was worth all the death it took to save him. He salutes Miller’s gravestone and says he hoped he earned his life. It’s a heartbreaking scene that reflects all the bravery and sacrifice that led to it.

E.T. the Extraterrestrial, which was released in 1982 and recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, tells the tale of a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas) who befriends a lost alien trying to return home. Elliott and E.T. share each other’s feelings, and bond over their loneliness. When the government intervenes, Elliott escapes with E.T. to help him return home. Thomas’ performance is emotional and genuine, bringing to life the true sadness Elliott feels about saying goodbye. Before he leaves, E.T. tells Elliott he will always be with him, emotionally capping off this wondrous tale of friendship.

1 Oskar Schindler Being Comforted – Schindler’s List (1993)

The Holocaust movie Schindler’s List is heartbreaking and emotional from the start, detailing an absolutely horrific and cruel time in history. Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) is a German man who acquires a factory, which he uses to save hundreds of Jewish people, by transporting them to work in the factory instead of being taken to a death camp. When Schindler breaks down and says that he wishes he saved more people, the workers comfort him and remind him of all the lives he did save, showing him what a difference he made. Mental Floss reported that Spielberg thinks the importance of this film only continues to grow, and seeing such kindness and bravery in the face of evil proves why.