The 1998 war epic Saving Private Ryan, directed by Steven Spielberg, is now available to stream on Sky Cinema and Amazon Prime Video in the UK. The film has long been celebrated as one of the greatest war movies ever made, with critics and audiences alike praising its realism and emotional impact.
Set during the 1944 Normandy landings in World War II, the story follows Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) and his squad as they search for Private James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon), whose three brothers have been killed in combat. The film's opening sequence, depicting the Omaha Beach assault, is widely regarded as one of the most remarkable war scenes ever filmed. It cost $12 million to produce and involved around 1,500 extras over three to four weeks.
Spielberg insisted on authenticity, requiring the principal cast to complete a week-long boot camp to understand the realities of a World War II soldier. The film was shot almost entirely in chronological order, which some crew members described as a mentally demoralising experience as actors left the production when their characters died.
Saving Private Ryan was a box office success, grossing $481.8 million worldwide and becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 1998. It won five Oscars, two Golden Globes, two BAFTAs, and Saturn awards. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 94% critics' approval rating and a 95% audience score.
One critic described it as 'one of the most impactful, immersive war movies of all time', while another called it 'a stone cold masterpiece ranking among the very best war films of all time'. Viewers have echoed this sentiment, with one saying, 'Honestly I can't see any flaws in this movie, it's perfect!'
