Is This Steven Spielberg's Worst Film Of All Time?
When it comes to talking about the greatest directors of all time, there are a few names that always come into the mix. Alfred Hitchcock, Martin Scorsese, and Stanley Kubrick all enter the chat, but for many, you'd have a hard time convincing them that anyone but Steven Spielberg should hold the top spot.
Spielberg not only creates genuine works of art, but in many cases, he also creates absolutely perfect popcorn entertainment. The man had "Schindler's List" and "Jurassic Park" come out the very same year. And that's not even getting into all of the other first-class projects in his filmography like "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Jaws," "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," and "Saving Private Ryan," to name a few. Most directors would be lucky to create one film that's as good as any in the above list, but Spielberg cranks them out like hotcakes.
However, even the greatest of all time have some misfires. Even Michael Jordan had his off days. And by and large, when you look at lists of his work, one flop stands out like a sore thumb.
1941 is largely considered Steve Spielberg's worst film
Steven Spielberg isn't exactly known for making comedies. Sure, his movies will have jokes in them. After all, who could forget the scene when they stumble upon a bunch of dino-droppings in the first "Jurassic Park?" It's funny stuff, but Spielberg hasn't exactly stretched himself into doing a broad comedy where you're supposed to have a joke every minute or so. Once you watch "1941," you'll see why he's stuck chiefly with dramas.
"1941" is a 1979 war comedy, which follows a group of Army guys and everyday civilians who go into a panic after the attack at Pearl Harbor. They all worry Los Angeles will be the next target, and insanity ensues. There's a ton of comedic talent in front of the comedy, including John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, but it wasn't enough to save this movie from critics' disdain.
The movie holds a 42% on the Tomatometer, among the lowest of Spielberg's films. Plus, when Rolling Stone ranked all of the director's films, "1941" came in dead last. It doesn't fare well much anywhere else. When looking at other lists of Spielberg's best movies, "1941" is pretty much always near the bottom. However, it's worth mentioning that even his worst movie still holds some merit. "1941" was nominated for three Academy Awards the year it came out for Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound. It just shows how much of an immense talent Steven Spielberg is when he can still bring something noteworthy to an out-and-out flop.