|  Year | 
 Award | 
 Category | 
 Nominated work | 
 Result | 
| 1973 | 
Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival | 
Grand Prize | 
Duel | 
Won | 
| 1974 | 
Cannes Film Festival | 
Best Screenplay | 
The Sugarland Express | 
Won | 
| Palme d'Or | 
Nominated | 
| 1975 | 
Writers Guild of America | 
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen | 
Nominated | 
| 1976 | 
BAFTA Award | 
Best Director | 
Jaws | 
Nominated | 
| Directors Guild of America | 
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | 
Nominated | 
| Golden Globe Award | 
Best Director | 
Nominated | 
| 1978 | 
Academy Award | 
Best Director | 
Close Encounters of the Third Kind | 
Nominated | 
| Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | 
Best Director | 
Won | 
| Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | 
Best Writing | 
Won | 
| Directors Guild of America | 
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | 
Nominated | 
| Golden Globe Award | 
Best Director | 
Nominated | 
| Best Screenplay | 
Nominated | 
| Writers Guild of America | 
Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen | 
Nominated | 
| 1979 | 
BAFTA Award | 
Best Director | 
Nominated | 
| BAFTA Award | 
Best Screenplay | 
Nominated | 
| 1982 | 
Academy Award | 
Best Director | 
Raiders of the Lost Ark | 
Nominated | 
| Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | 
Best Director | 
Won | 
| American Movie Awards | 
Best Director | 
Won | 
| Boston Society of Film Critics Awards | 
Best Director | 
Won | 
| César Award | 
Best Foreign Film | 
Nominated | 
| Directors Guild of America | 
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | 
Nominated | 
| Golden Globe Award | 
Best Director | 
Nominated | 
| Kinema Junpo Awards | 
Best Foreign Language Film | 
Won | 
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Won | 
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | 
Best Director | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Nominated | 
| ShoWest | 
Director of the Year | 
 | 
Won | 
| 1983 | 
Academy Award | 
Best Director | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Nominated | 
| Academy Award | 
Best Picture | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Nominated | 
| Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | 
Best Director | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Nominated | 
| BAFTA Award | 
Best Director | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Nominated | 
| BAFTA Award | 
Best Film | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Nominated | 
| Blue Ribbon Award | 
Best Foreign Language Film | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Won | 
| Boston Society of Film Critics Awards | 
Best Director | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Won | 
| César Award | 
Best Foreign Film | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Nominated | 
| David di Donatello Awards | 
Best Foreign Director | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Won | 
| Directors Guild of America | 
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Nominated | 
| Fotogramas de Plata | 
Best Foreign Film | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Won | 
| Golden Globe Award | 
Best Director | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Nominated | 
| Hasty Pudding Theatricals | 
Man of the Year | 
 | 
Won | 
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | 
Best Director | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Won | 
| Kinema Junpo Awards | 
Best Foreign Language Film | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Won | 
| Kinema Junpo Awards | 
Readers' Choice Award | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Won | 
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | 
Best Director | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Won | 
| Sant Jordi Awards | 
Mejor Película Infantil | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Won | 
| 1984 | 
Fantasporto | 
Best Film | 
Twilight Zone: The Movie | 
Nominated | 
| Giffoni Film Festival | 
Nocciola d'Oro | 
 | 
Won | 
| 1985 | 
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | 
Best Director | 
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom | 
Nominated | 
| 1986 | 
Academy Award | 
Best Picture | 
The Color Purple | 
Nominated | 
| BAFTA Award | 
Academy Fellowship | 
 | 
Won | 
| David di Donatello Awards | 
Best Foreign Producer | 
Back to the Future | 
Won | 
| Directors Guild of America | 
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | 
The Color Purple | 
Won | 
| Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series | 
Amazing Stories: The Mission | 
Nominated | 
| Golden Globe Award | 
Best Director | 
The Color Purple | 
Nominated | 
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | 
Best Director | 
The Color Purple | 
Won | 
| 1987 | 
Academy Award | 
Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| Blue Ribbon Award | 
Best Foreign Language Film | 
The Color Purple | 
Won | 
| Christopher Award | 
Best Picture | 
Empire of the Sun | 
Won | 
| National Board of Review | 
Best Director | 
Empire of the Sun | 
Won | 
| 1988 | 
Directors Guild of America | 
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | 
Empire of the Sun | 
Nominated | 
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | 
Best Director | 
Empire of the Sun | 
Won | 
| 1989 | 
American Cinematheque Award | 
American Cinematheque Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| 1990 | 
American Cinema Editors | 
Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| Retirement Research Foundation | 
Television and Theatrical Film Fiction | 
Dad | 
Won | 
| 1991 | 
Daytime Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Tiny Toon Adventures | 
Won | 
| Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Tiny Toon Adventures: The Looney Beginning | 
Nominated | 
| 1992 | 
Daytime Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Tiny Toon Adventures | 
Nominated | 
| 1993 | 
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards | 
Best Director | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| Daytime Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Tiny Toon Adventures | 
Won | 
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | 
Best Director | 
Schindler's List | 
Nominated | 
| Venice Film Festival | 
Career Golden Lion | 
 | 
Won | 
| 1994 | 
Academy Award | 
Best Director | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| Academy Award | 
Best Picture | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | 
President's Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | 
Best Director | 
Jurassic Park | 
Won | 
| Amanda Awards | 
Best Foreign Film | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| American Society of Cinematographers | 
Board of the Governors Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| Australian Film Institute | 
Best Foreign Film | 
Schindler's List | 
Nominated | 
| BAFTA Award | 
Best Film | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| BAFTA Award | 
Best Director | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| Blue Ribbon Award | 
Best Foreign Language Film | 
Jurassic Park | 
Won | 
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| David di Donatello Awards | 
Best Foreign Film | 
Schindler's List | 
Nominated | 
| Daytime Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Animaniacs | 
Nominated | 
| Directors Guild of America | 
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| Golden Globe Award | 
Best Motion Picture - Drama | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| Golden Globe Award | 
Best Director | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| Hochi Film Awards | 
Best Foreign Language Film | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | 
Best Director | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| Mainichi Film Concours | 
Best Foreign Language Film | 
Jurassic Park | 
Won | 
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | 
Best Director | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| PGA Award | 
Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| People's Choice Awards | 
People's Choice Awards Honoree | 
 | 
Won | 
| ShoWest | 
Director of the Year | 
 | 
Won | 
| Society of Camera Operators | 
Governors' Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| Young Artist Awards | 
Jackie Coogan Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| 1995 | 
American Film Institute | 
Life Achievement Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| César Award | 
Honorary César | 
 | 
Won | 
| César Award | 
Best Foreign Film | 
Schindler's List | 
Nominated | 
| Czech Lions | 
Best Foreign Language Film | 
Jurassic Park | 
Won | 
| Daytime Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Animaniacs | 
Nominated | 
| Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Tiny Toons' Night Ghoulery | 
Nominated | 
| Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists | 
Best Director | 
Schindler's List | 
Nominated | 
| Kinema Junpo Awards | 
Best Foreign Language Film | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| London Critics Circle Film Awards | 
Director of the Year | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| Mainichi Film Concours | 
Best Foreign Language Film | 
Schindler's List | 
Won | 
| 1996 | 
Daytime Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Animaniacs | 
Won | 
| Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
A Pinky & the Brain Christmas Special | 
Won | 
| 1997 | 
Daytime Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Animaniacs | 
Won | 
| Daytime Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Special Class Animated Program | 
Freakazoid! | 
Won | 
| Daytime Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Pinky and the Brain | 
Nominated | 
| 1998 | 
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | 
Best Director | 
The Lost World: Jurassic Park | 
Nominated | 
| David di Donatello Awards | 
Best Foreign Film | 
Amistad | 
Nominated | 
| Daytime Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Animaniacs | 
Nominated | 
| Daytime Emmy Awards | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Pinky and the Brain | 
Nominated | 
| Directors Guild of America | 
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | 
Amistad | 
Nominated | 
| European Film Awards | 
Screen International Award | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Nominated | 
| Golden Globe Award | 
Best Director | 
Amistad | 
Nominated | 
| Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards | 
Best Director | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Won | 
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Won | 
| PGA Awards | 
Theatrical Motion Picture | 
Amistad | 
Won | 
| PGA Award | 
Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award | 
Amistad | 
Nominated | 
| Rembrandt Awards | 
Best Director | 
The Lost World: Jurassic Park | 
Won | 
| Russian Guild of Film Critics | 
Best Foreign Film | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Nominated | 
| Satellite Awards | 
Best Director | 
Amistad | 
Nominated | 
| Satellite Awards | 
Best Motion Picture – Drama | 
Amistad | 
Nominated | 
| Toronto Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Won | 
| 1999 | 
Academy Award | 
Best Director | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Won | 
| Academy Award | 
Best Picture | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Nominated | 
| Amanda Awards | 
Best Foreign Film | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Nominated | 
| BAFTA Award | 
Best Film | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Nominated | 
| BAFTA Award | 
Best Director | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Nominated | 
| Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Won | 
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Nominated | 
| Czech Lions | 
Best Foreign Language Film | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Won | 
| César Award | 
Best Foreign Film | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Nominated | 
| Daytime Emmy Awards | 
Outstanding Special Class Animated Program | 
Pinky and the Brain | 
Won | 
| Daytime Emmy Awards | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Animaniacs | 
Nominated | 
| Daytime Emmy Awards | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain | 
Nominated | 
| Directors Guild of America | 
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Won | 
| Empire Award | 
Best Director | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Won | 
| Golden Globe Award | 
Best Director | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Won | 
| Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists | 
Best Foreign Director | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Won | 
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | 
Best Director | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Won | 
| London Critics Circle Film Awards | 
Director of the Year | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Nominated | 
| Online Film Critics Society Awards | 
Best Director | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Won | 
| PGA Awards | 
Milestone Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| PGA Awards | 
Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Won | 
| Satellite Awards | 
Best Director | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Nominated | 
| Satellite Awards | 
Best Motion Picture – Drama | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Nominated | 
| Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
Saving Private Ryan | 
Won | 
| 2000 | 
Daytime Emmy Awards | 
Outstanding Animated Program | 
Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain | 
Won | 
| Directors Guild of America | 
Lifetime Achievement Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| Image Awards | 
Vanguard Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| PGA Awards | 
PGA Hall of Fame – Motion Pictures | 
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial | 
Won | 
| 2001 | 
National Board of Review | 
Billy Wilder Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| Venice Film Festival | 
Future Film Festival Digital Award | 
A.I. Artificial Intelligence | 
Won | 
| 2002 | 
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | 
Best Writing | 
A.I. Artificial Intelligence | 
Won | 
| Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | 
Best Director | 
A.I. Artificial Intelligence | 
Nominated | 
| Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
Minority Report | 
Nominated | 
| Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
Catch Me If You Can | 
Nominated | 
| Christopher Award | 
Television and Cable | 
Band of Brothers | 
Won | 
| Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Miniseries | 
Band of Brothers | 
Won | 
| Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Non-Fiction Special | 
We Stand Alone Together | 
Nominated | 
| Empire Award | 
Best Director | 
A.I. Artificial Intelligence | 
Nominated | 
| European Film Awards | 
Screen International Award | 
Minority Report | 
Nominated | 
| Golden Globe Award | 
Best Director | 
A.I. Artificial Intelligence | 
Nominated | 
| Hollywood Film Festival | 
Hollywood Movie of the Year | 
Minority Report | 
Won | 
| Mainichi Film Concours | 
Best Foreign Language Film | 
A.I. Artificial Intelligence | 
Won | 
| Online Film Critics Society Awards | 
Best Screenplay | 
A.I. Artificial Intelligence | 
Nominated | 
| PGA Awards | 
Television Producer of the Year Award in Longform | 
Band of Brothers | 
Won | 
| ShoWest | 
Lifetime Achievement Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| 2003 | 
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | 
Best Director | 
Minority Report | 
Won | 
| Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
Catch Me If You Can Minority Report | 
Won | 
| César Award | 
Best Foreign Film | 
Minority Report | 
Nominated | 
| Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Miniseries | 
Taken | 
Won | 
| Empire Awards | 
Best Director | 
Minority Report | 
Won | 
| Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists | 
Best Foreign Director | 
Minority Report | 
Nominated | 
| Online Film Critics Society Awards | 
Best Director | 
Minority Report | 
Nominated | 
| SFX Awards | 
Best SF or Fantasy Film Director | 
Minority Report | 
Nominated | 
| Walk of Fame | 
Motion Picture | 
 | 
Won | 
| 2004 | 
David di Donatello Awards | 
Special David | 
 | 
Won | 
| Tokyo International Film Festival | 
Akira Kurosawa Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| 2005 | 
American Film Institute | 
AFI Movie of the Year | 
Munich | 
Won | 
| Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
Munich | 
Won | 
| 2006 | 
American Film Institute | 
AFI Movie of the Year | 
Letters from Iwo Jima | 
Won | 
| Academy Award | 
Best Director | 
Munich | 
Nominated | 
| Academy Award | 
Best Picture | 
Munich | 
Nominated | 
| Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | 
Best Director | 
War of the Worlds | 
Nominated | 
| Art Directors Guild | 
Contribution to Cinematic Imagery Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
Munich | 
Nominated | 
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
Munich | 
Nominated | 
| Chicago International Film Festival | 
Lifetime Achievement Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| Directors Guild of America | 
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | 
Munich | 
Nominated | 
| Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Miniseries | 
Into the West | 
Nominated | 
| Empire Awards | 
Best Director | 
War of the Worlds | 
Nominated | 
| Golden Eagle Awards | 
Best Foreign Film | 
Munich | 
Nominated | 
| Golden Globe Award | 
Best Director | 
Munich | 
Nominated | 
| International Emmy Awards | 
Founders Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | 
Best Director | 
Munich | 
Won | 
| Online Film Critics Society Awards | 
Best Director | 
Munich | 
Nominated | 
| PGA Awards | 
Television Producer of the Year Award in Longform | 
Into the West | 
Nominated | 
| Western Heritage Awards | 
Outstanding Television Feature Film | 
Into the West | 
Won | 
| 2007 | 
Academy Award | 
Best Picture | 
Letters from Iwo Jima | 
Nominated | 
| 2008 | 
Golden Globe Award | 
Cecil B. DeMille Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| Visual Effects Society Awards | 
Lifetime Achievement Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| 2009 | 
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | 
Best Director | 
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | 
Nominated | 
| BAFTA Award | 
Best Casual Game | 
Boom Blox | 
Won | 
| 2010 | 
Emmy Award | 
Outstanding Miniseries | 
The Pacific | 
Won | 
| Motion Picture Sound Editors | 
Film Maker's Award | 
 | 
Won | 
| 2011 | 
American Film Institute | 
AFI Movie of the Year | 
War Horse | 
Won | 
| PGA Award | 
Television Producer of the Year Award in Longform | 
The Pacific | 
Won | 
| Satellite Awards | 
Best Director | 
War Horse | 
Nominated | 
| Western Heritage Awards | 
Outstanding Theatrical Motion Picture | 
True Grit | 
Won | 
| 2012 | 
Academy Award | 
Best Picture | 
War Horse | 
Nominated | 
| Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | 
Best Director | 
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn | 
Nominated | 
| BAFTA Award | 
Best Animated Film | 
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn | 
Nominated | 
| Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
War Horse | 
Nominated | 
| Empire Awards | 
Best Director | 
War Horse | 
Nominated | 
| International Online Film Critics' Poll | 
Best Director | 
Lincoln | 
Nominated | 
| PGA Awards | 
Lifetime Achievement Award in Motion Pictures | 
 | 
Won | 
| Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures | 
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn | 
Won | 
| Theatrical Motion Picture | 
War Horse | 
Nominated | 
| Golden Globe Award | 
 Best Animated Feature Film | 
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn | 
Won | 
| Robert Festival | 
Best American Film | 
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn | 
Nominated | 
| Satellite Awards | 
Best Director | 
Lincoln | 
Nominated | 
| 2013 | 
| Academy Award | 
Best Director | 
Lincoln | 
Nominated | 
| Best Picture | 
Lincoln | 
Nominated | 
| AACTA Awards | 
Best International Film | 
Lincoln | 
Nominated | 
| Best International Direction | 
Lincoln | 
Nominated | 
| Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | 
Best Director | 
Lincoln | 
Nominated | 
| Directors Guild of America | 
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | 
Lincoln | 
Nominated | 
| Golden Globe Award | 
Best Director | 
Lincoln | 
Nominated | 
| PGA Award | 
Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award | 
Lincoln | 
Nominated | 
| 2016 | 
BAFTA Award | 
Best Director | 
Bridge of Spies | 
Nominated | 
| Satellite Awards | 
Best Director | 
Bridge of Spies | 
Nominated | 
| Academy Award | 
Best Picture | 
Bridge of Spies | 
Nominated |