28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Steven Spielberg's 'most underrated' film is coming to Netflix and fans can't wait
An iconic film by the legendary director Steven Spielberg is set to hit
Netflix
, and fans are 'losing their minds' with excitement. The acclaimed maker of E. T. and Jurassic Park, Spielberg has a repertoire filled with beloved hits spanning from war biopics to family adventures and edgy thrillers.
However, it's one of his early career gems that has got fans thrilled as it's soon to land on the streaming platform, causing a stir among film enthusiasts on
X
. Regarding his work on this particular film, Spielberg admitted to feelings of unpreparedness yet acknowledged its valuable contributions to his growth.
He remarked: "[It] was the biggest bite I had ever taken out of the cinematic pie up to that point in my career, and I wasn't prepared for it. But I learned how to do it- sort of on-the-job training."
This "on-the-job training" paid off, as fans celebrate the enduring quality of the movie. Social media users express their admiration, with one calling it "one of Spielberg's most interesting films."
Another proclaimed: "My favorite love-on-the-lam flick." The Sugarland Express, marking its 50th anniversary last year, is gearing up for its Netflix debut on May 1, according to sources at What's On Netflix.
The plot centers on a woman who busts her husband out of prison to rescue their son, leading to wild chases across the country.
Movie enthusiasts continue to marvel at the enduring appeal of the film, even after its milestone anniversary, with one awestruck fan confessing it still holds up. They wrote: "Watching Sugarland Express for the first time since the Clinton admin, and losing my mind over this horizontal split diopter."
A split diopter allows a camera lens to simultaneously capture two focal planes. In The Sugarland Express, this technique crisply captures both the car ahead and a rearview mirror reflection.
Goldie Hawn starred in Spielberg's theatrical debut (file)
(Image: Sunset Boulevard, Corbis via Getty Images)
The film has garnered a host of admirers, with recommendations pouring in. One supporter declared: "Spielberg's most underrated, that split diopter is also one of the great single-shot evocations of the era's generation gap."
Echoing the praise, another added: "I just watched this film for the first time yesterday too! This was my favorite shot and moment in the film... with the silhouette shot being up there as well. Truly underrated film by Spielberg and great performances, specifically by Goldie Hawn."
Amazement also surrounds the fact that this was Spielberg's first theatrical film, following his TV feature Duel which aired in 1971.
Comparisons to legendary directors have been made by another viewer, who appreciated the film's style, noting: "Fuses Howard Hawks-esque humanism and tonal dexterity with God tier visual storytelling a la David Lean.
"Populist entertainment that feels personally, even intimately handmade. A couple dozen watches in and it's still one of my hardcore cinematic ideals."
