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Saving Private Ryan

R Released Jul 24, 1998 2h 49m War History Drama TRAILER for List
94% Tomatometer 149 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) takes his men behind enemy lines to find Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have been killed in combat. Surrounded by the brutal realties of war, while searching for Ryan, each man embarks upon a personal journey and discovers their own strength to triumph over an uncertain future with honor, decency and courage.
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Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan

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Critics Consensus

Anchored by another winning performance from Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg's unflinchingly realistic war film virtually redefines the genre.

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Critics Reviews

View All (149) Critics Reviews
Wendy Ide Times (UK) The 24-minute sequence at the start of Steven Spielberg’s Second World War drama is one of the greatest pieces of combat cinema yet made. Jul 11, 2022 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian An old-fashioned war picture to rule them all - gripping, utterly uncynical, with viscerally convincing and audacious battle sequences. Rated: 5/5 Jun 6, 2019 Full Review Michael Rechtshaffen Hollywood Reporter The visual masterwork finds Spielberg atop his craft, weaving heart-pounding action and gut-wrenching emotion that will leave viewers silently shaken... If words occasionally fail the picture, the images speak indelible volumes. Jul 24, 2017 Full Review Jana Monji Age of the Geek Who knew the pairing of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks would result in three well-produced limited series on WW II? The opening scenes are thrilling but the script's structure relies on an interpreter and that should make us question other war films. Rated: 3/5 Jun 21, 2024 Full Review Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight Not for the squeamish, “Saving Private Ryan” is a film that does not shy away from realistic violence and paints the most vivid portrait of war on film that I’ve seen. Rated: 3.5/4 Oct 4, 2023 Full Review Akos Peterbencze The Screen Saving Private Ryan’s most impressive and lasting feat remains its ability to remind us about the soldiers we lost — and more importantly, who they were as human beings. Jul 25, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Hussein It's one of the Greatest War Films of all Time!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/18/24 Full Review Ben W Incredible! Absolutely breathtaking Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/21/23 Full Review Sara G Loved watching this historic movie on the big screen! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/20/23 Full Review Niklas L 1. This movie depicts the plain brutality of war without comfortably shielding the viewer. Most importantly, it is not horror: It is just plainly brutal. 2. I set out watching this movie waiting for a American-war-heroicism story to happen. I was positively surprised to the greatest extent possible. The movie is not about american heroes, the american soldiers commit great atrocities during the movie, such as shooting surrendering prisoners. Furthermore, the movie is about the very fact that whilst saving a life in the war (that of Private Ryan) is a good act in itself, its consequences may be bad because the act of saving Ryan is a "serious misallocation" of resources, slowing the war effort. Overall, the book is about the many ethical dilemmas that crop up during the mission. Should you attack the gun nest? Should you shoot the german soldier or free him? Should you defend the bridge or get to safety? Many of these ethical dilemmas stay dilemmas, which has a lasting impact on the viewer. 3. Superb acting! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/05/24 Full Review Gorptholemew T 🍅 9.5/10 Intense adrenaline filled World War II story conceived by the amazing Steven Spielberg. Honestly I’m not one to talk patriotic but like damn this film slaps me in the America FUCK YEAH feels. Now to get serious, Of course I don’t know what war actually is like because I’m a stupid child but the way this film handles the material is very Ernest and quite disturbing, which perfectly gets the point across it has enough personality for each character to keep you invested in the story in the emotion that comes with it and this film is definitely one that just locks you in to the screen. Also, I’m just a sucker for anything World War II. 9.5/10 Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/25/24 Full Review Sams K It's one of the most important war movies of all time, by the way it's overrated like the most Spielberg cinematography, I have to say that the first scene it's very realistic and well-done. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/13/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Saving Private Ryan

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Cast & Crew

The Thin Red Line 80% 80% The Thin Red Line Windtalkers 33% 50% Windtalkers We Were Soldiers 64% 84% We Were Soldiers To End All Wars 62% 85% To End All Wars Flags of Our Fathers 76% 69% Flags of Our Fathers TRAILER for Flags of Our Fathers Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) takes his men behind enemy lines to find Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have been killed in combat. Surrounded by the brutal realties of war, while searching for Ryan, each man embarks upon a personal journey and discovers their own strength to triumph over an uncertain future with honor, decency and courage.
Director
Steven Spielberg
Producer
Ian Bryce, Mark Gordon, Gary Levinsohn, Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter
Robert Rodat
Distributor
Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG
Production Co
DreamWorks SKG, Mutual Film Company, Amblin Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Mark Gordon Productions
Rating
R (Graphic Sequences of War|Graphic Sequences of Violence|Language)
Genre
War, History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 24, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 27, 2016
Runtime
2h 49m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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