On a January night in 1952, in Haddon Township, New Jersey, Jewish couple Mitzi and Burt Fabelman take their young son Sammy to see his first film: The Greatest Show on Earth. Dazzled by a train scene, Sammy asks for a model set for Hanukkah, which he crashes late one night. Travers, Peter (November 11, 2022). "Review 'The Fabelmans': Michelle Williams delivers a career-best performance". ABC News . Retrieved November 11, 2022.

It held its German premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on February 21, 2023, as part of the Homage section (where Spielberg's other films Bridge of Spies (2015), Duel (1971), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Jaws (1975), Munich (2005), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Schindler's List (1993) were also screened) and at the awards ceremony, where Spielberg received an honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement. On the announcement, festival directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian remarked: "With an incredible career, Steven Spielberg has not only enchanted generations of viewers all over the world, but has also given a new meaning to the 'cinema' as the factory of dreams ... Be it in the everlasting magic world of teenagers or in the reality that history has carved forever, his movies take us to a different level, where the big screen becomes the adequate surface for our emotions to be fulfilled. If Berlinale 2023 represents a new beginning we couldn't find a better start than the one offered by Spielberg's great work." [91] [92] Theatrical [ edit ] Best Movies of 2022: First Viewings & Discoveries and Individual Ballots". Screen Slate . Retrieved January 30, 2023.a b Kroll, Justin (March 22, 2021). "Steven Spielberg Taps Seth Rogen For Major Role In Next Film Loosely Based On Director's Childhood; Rogen Would Play Favorite Uncle Of Young Spielberg". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 23, 2021 . Retrieved March 23, 2021. David Fear of Rolling Stone wrote that "If the movie does adhere to [Steven Spielberg's] signature beats, and feature so many recognizable Spielbergisms, occasionally to its detriment, it's still one of the most impressive, enlightening, vital things he's ever done." [132] Peter Travers of ABC News was positively overwhelmed by the film, saying "Bring out the Oscars for 'The Fabelmans,' a personal best from Steven Spielberg in no small part because it's a family picture about Spielberg's own family. Sentimental? Sure. Sappy? Never. No movie this year cuts a clearer path to the heart and the power of imagination." [133] Anthony Lane of The New Yorker praised the film, saying "'The Fabelmans' may look nice 'n' easy as it swings along, with a pile of laughs to cushion the ride, and a nifty visual gag in the closing seconds, but take care. Here is a film that is touched with the madness of love." [134] Kit, Borys (March 9, 2021). "Steven Spielberg, Michelle Williams Teaming for Coming-of-Age Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021 . Retrieved March 9, 2021. Principal photography began in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles on July 17, 2021, lasting for 59 days until ending on September 27, 2021. Additional filming took place at Zuma Beach in Malibu, California for the "Ditch Day" scenes, Susan Miller Dorsey High School for the high school scenes, and on soundstages in Santa Clarita, California. [42] [43] [44] [45] The Fabelmans UK release date has finally been confirmed with a plan to come out on the 27th January 2023. However, it was initially only available in North America, which led to a little confusion about what was happening with the UK release. RELATED:

Vlessing, Etan (September 7, 2022). "Steven Spielberg's 'The Fabelmans' Releases New Poster". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved September 7, 2022. Willsher, Kim (February 24, 2023). " 'What a film!' Spielberg's The Fabelmans stuns French critics and audiences". The Guardian. A reimagining of the classic 1968 crime thriller Bullitt is said to be next on Steven Spielberg's slate. The Fabelmans' Review: Steven Spielberg Crafts Another Moving Masterpiece With His Autobiographical Tale - TIFF 2022". Collider. September 11, 2022. Tangcay, Jazz (June 23, 2022). "Legendary Film Composer John Williams Eyes Retirement After Scoring 'Indiana Jones 5' ". Variety . Retrieved June 23, 2022.

With his Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Judd Hirsch became the first actor to receive two nominations over four decades apart, with this being his second nomination and first since the 53rd Academy Awards in 1981, where he was nominated for Ordinary People (1980). It is also the first TIFF People's Choice Award winner to not win any of its Oscar nominations since David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises (2007) and Spielberg's first film to not win any since Ready Player One (2018). Stephen Colbert Forced To Cancel 'The Late Show' This Week After Undergoing Surgery For Ruptured Appendix Volk, Pete (December 27, 2022). "The best movie scenes of 2022". Polygon . Retrieved March 6, 2023.

Spielberg, a 2017 HBO documentary film about Spielberg's life, most of which inspired the plot for this film. Kadner, Noah (April 24, 2023). "Virtual Production—When The Fabelmans Met The Mandalorian". Frame.io Insider . Retrieved April 26, 2023.Pond, Steve (November 9, 2022). " 'The Fabelmans' Star Gabriel LaBelle on Playing Steven Spielberg and Being 'Spoiled' ". The Wrap . Retrieved November 9, 2022. The following year, Sammy is living with his father in Hollywood. He wants to drop out of college but is unable to find work in filmmaking. Burt grudgingly accepts his son's passion and tells Sammy to keep on his path if it makes him happy. Sammy receives an offer to work on Hogan's Heroes. Stream It or Skip It: ‘Faraway Downs’ on Hulu, A Laudable Expansion of Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Australia’ That Tries To Repair The Sins Of The Past