Good news if you’re in the mood for something powerful, harrowing, and utterly unforgettable, Saving Private Ryan has just marched back onto Netflix UK. Steven Spielberg’s 1998 war epic has returned to the platform, giving you the perfect excuse to revisit one of the most visceral pieces of cinema ever made.
If it’s been a while since you’ve seen it (or you’ve missed it entirely), here’s the setup: Tom Hanks stars as Captain John Miller, who’s tasked with leading a squad of soldiers deep into Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Their mission? Find and bring home Private James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon), the last surviving brother of four servicemen. What follows is two and a half hours of raw emotion, intense moral questions, and some of the most realistic battle scenes ever committed to film.
And yes, the infamous D-Day landing sequence still hits like a gut punch. Even 26 years later, that opening stretch feels more real than most modern blockbusters, grimy, chaotic, and heartbreakingly human.
Why Saving Private Ryan is still worth watching
There’s a reason Saving Private Ryan has topped “greatest war movies of all time” lists for decades. Spielberg captures the horror and heroism of war without glorifying it, and Tom Hanks delivers one of his most quietly devastating performances. The rest of the cast — including a young Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, and Edward Burns — bring a raw authenticity that keeps you glued from the first bullet to the last.
It’s not just about war, though. It’s about courage, sacrifice, and doing the right thing even when it makes no sense. Spielberg and writer Robert Rodat dig deep into what it means to be human under impossible circumstances.
The film picked up five Oscars, inspired a generation of filmmakers and games (Band of Brothers, Call of Duty and more), and hasn’t aged a day. So if you’ve got a free evening and a strong stomach, fire it up on Netflix.
Skip the search — follow Shortlist on Google News to get our best lists, news, features and reviews at the top of your feeds!
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
-
Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson are reuniting for a brand new Luther film at NetflixNew murders. Old enemies. Luther’s back
-
The most talked-about movie of the 2010s just dropped on NetflixJennifer Lawrence’s most daring role meets Darren Aronofsky’s most chaotic vision
-
A24 and Netflix are turning Overcooked into a chaotic new reality showThe cult co-op cooking game is heading to TV
-
The most deliciously uplifting film has returned to NetflixJon Favreau’s 2014 classic is streaming again
-
London is getting two free Stranger Things season 5 screenings - and they're before the official release dateCue the fancy dress
-
Netflix is turning Catan into a cinematic universeWe're trading sheep for popcorn
-
Revolting Rhymes and golden tickets: The best Roald Dahl adaptations ever madeDahl’s worlds on the big screen
-
Netflix just made a subtle branding change across all its original contentBye to the red "N"
