A landmark title in modern cinema, widely praised for its realism and emotional power, is set to land on Amazon Prime UK in July 2025.
With multiple Academy Awards, a now-iconic opening sequence, and a lasting legacy in the genre, this Second World War epic is often ranked among the most powerful depictions of combat ever put on screen.
First released in 1998, Saving Private Ryan begins with a harrowing 27-minute portrayal of the D-Day landings at Omaha Beach, now considered one of the most influential battle scenes in film history.
It follows a fictional mission during the Normandy invasion, inspired by real-life events, to find and bring home a young soldier whose brothers have all died in action.
The story centres on a small unit of American soldiers, led by a captain played by Tom Hanks, who are ordered to locate and rescue the last surviving son of a Midwestern family.
Along the way, the men confront the chaos and moral complexities of war. The cast also features Matt Damon, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Giovanni Ribisi, and Vin Diesel.
Robert Rodat wrote the screenplay, and the film was directed by Steven Spielberg, who also co-produced it. On release, it earned over $480 million at the global box office and received widespread critical acclaim.
It went on to be nominated for 11 Academy Awards, winning five: Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, and Best Sound Effects Editing. Although it was tipped for Best Picture, that honour went to Shakespeare in Love, a decision that continues to spark debate.
Beyond its accolades, the film has been noted for its influence on subsequent depictions of war, both on screen and in public memory.
Spielberg worked closely with military historians and veterans to ensure authenticity, and many praised the film for showing the brutality of combat without romanticising it.
In later years, the film’s style and approach would shape other major projects, including the acclaimed HBO miniseries Band of Brothers and The Pacific, both produced by Spielberg and Hanks. Its impact also extended to video games, documentaries, and education about the Second World War.
In 2014, the film was selected for preservation by the U.S. Library of Congress in the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Saving Private Ryan has been available to stream on Amazon Prime UK since July 1st.