Honestly, Spielberg came up career wise getting his start in the early 70s in an era that was coming up on the verge of innovation in film making. He finished the 70s with two big movies (Jaws and Close encounters) and a big flop (1941). Then of course, the 80s really were the decade of Spielberg as both director and producer. He also had some great things in the 90s, but it feels like he was more low-key during that period and also went a more historical and serious route.