and not much else.

Yeah, he has the classic Hollywood style on lock, too, but it's hard to say where he's really innovated or what exactly his fingerprint is besides, like I said, being a master of emotional manipulation and making his audience "feel good" despite making films about dark subjects.

I wouldn't be mad with Spielberg in the Top 5 simply for being such a master of the Hollywood style, basically setting the bar on that, but I'd take Spike and Marty in a heartbeat over them for ACTUAL INNOVATION and CHALLENGING movies.