When Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story was first announced, many wondered why the prolific director would want to re-do something that had already such an iconic place in the cultural zeitgeist, and even won 10 Oscars in 1961. But the results speak for themselves: Speilberg’s first-ever musical is an absolute knock-out that is not only one of the best movies of the year, but one of the best of his career.

Set in 1957 New York City, the film tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love as the relationship between two teenagers – Tony (Ansel Elgort) and Maria (Rachel Zegler) – fuels the fire between two warring gangs fighting for supremacy over New York’s West Side. It’s a tale as old as time, but Spielberg reinvigorates it by adopting elements of both the original 1957 stage show and the beloved film to create a masterful adaptation that is simultaneously faithful and more modern, and altogether timely.

Nominated for 7 Oscars in 2022, including Best Picture.