1993 was a very big year for birthday boy Steven Spielberg. The most accomplished, highest-grossing filmmaker of all-time had already had quite a few hits, and several Best Director nominations. But twenty years into his career, he still hadn’t gotten the industry respect he craved.

That all changed in 1993. First, he released Jurassic Park, which outpaced his own E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial to be the highest-grossing film of all time, thus unseating himself. Then his Schindler’s List won Best Picture and Best Director that same year. A director who helms both the industry’s highest-grosser and then the Best Picture? It’ll never happen again.

Among his other achievements, he also went on to win Best Director (but not Best Picture) for 1998’s Saving Private Ryan. And he has been nominated in each of the last six decades at least once.

Not too shabby.

This article is part of a special year-long series of anecdotes, reflections and thoughts about the Academy Awards.