Steven Spielberg opens up about turning down projects to prioritize family rime

Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg has revealed that a simple but firm request from his wife, actress Kate Capshaw, played a major role in shaping how he approached his career at the height of his Hollywood success.

Speaking on the podcast IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, the Jurassic Park director reflected on the challenge of balancing global filmmaking demands with family life, admitting that time away from home was a constant struggle.

“One of the biggest challenges is just running out of excuses why I can’t get home for dinner,” Spielberg said. “Because it’s my loss. It’s their loss, but it’s also my loss.”

The Oscar-winning director explained that Capshaw set clear expectations when he was launching DreamWorks with David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg, insisting that family time remain a priority despite the pressures of running a major studio.

“When we formed DreamWorks, Kate said the only way I’m really going to say this is OK with me is if you get home every night by 6 — 5:45 is better — and have dinner with the family,” he recalled.

Spielberg said that agreement became a guiding principle in his life, influencing how he structured his work schedule and reinforcing a “family-first” approach even during his busiest years in the industry.

“Don’t go to work at 6 or 7. Unless you’re shooting… when you’re running a studio, you’ve got to have a 9-to-5 job,” he added.

The filmmaker admitted that prioritizing home life sometimes meant stepping back from major opportunities, including projects he chose not to pursue due to time constraints.

Spielberg also noted that the decision ultimately helped him maintain a healthier balance, saying the arrangement required him to be more intentional about when and how he worked.

The director, who married Capshaw in 1991, shares a blended family of seven children with her and has often credited his home life for keeping him grounded throughout his decades-long career.