12 Movies You Must See Like Saving Private Ryan (2023)

July 24, 1998 Legendary filmmakerSteven Spielbergintroduced the world to Saving Private Ryan, an American war epic set during the bitter hardships of World War II. The film was a masterpiece, an instant classic heralded as one of the greatest films of all time by critics and viewers alike. With an all-star cast led by the incomparable Tom Hanks, Saving Private Ryan took audiences on a vivid and breathtaking journey through the hardships of war and has fundamentally redefined the action war drama genre since its release.

Such was the impact and popularity of Saving Private Ryan that it was nominated for 11 Oscars at the 71st Academy Awards, including Best Actor, Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. The film won 5 of these awards this year. A testament to its achievement as a critical success and commercial blockbuster, it was also the second highest-grossing film of 1998, grossing $481.8 million in theaters worldwide.

The film follows the efforts of a United States Army Ranger captain named John H. Miller (played by Tom Hanks) as he leads his group of soldiers (including Vin Diesel, Barry Pepper, Tom Sizemore and Edward Burns) through the dangers of invasion. from Normandy in their attempts to conduct a search and rescue operation for a paratrooper (played by Matt Damon), who is the only surviving member of four friendly soldiers.

With its ultra-realistic combat sequences, historical accuracy, intriguing cinematography, incredible script and incredible cast, Saving Private Ryan is at the top of the list of those who consider themselves fans of good cinema, let alone fans of war movies. The impact it made reverberated throughout the film industry long after its debut, inspiring countless people to reignite their passion not just for war movies, but war-themed books and video games as well.

Whether the world will be blessed with another war movie that can match or surpass the monumental milestones of Saving Private Ryan remains to be seen. If you're up to this point looking for movie recommendations to watch, if you love Saving Private Ryan, look no further. Here is the list of the best movies similar to Saving Private Ryan that we recommend. You can watch some of these movies like Saving Private Ryan on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime.

12. Apocalypse Now (1979)

Francisco Ford CoppolaApocalypse Now is a Vietnam War epic that showcases American cinema at its most daring and inspiring. The film was released on August 15, 1979, with an incredible cast, including Marlon Brando (whose performance as Colonel Walter E. Kurtz was highly acclaimed) and Robert Duvall (who received several Best Supporting Actor awards for his performance). Lieutenant Colonel William "Bill" Kilgore), to name a few. In Apocalypse Now, Captain Benjamin L. Willard (played by Martin Sheen) is sent to Cambodia on a dangerous mission to assassinate the mutinous Colonel Kurtz, who has won the trust and respect of the local population. The horrific effects of war and violence visualized in this film leave audiences in shock and despair to this day.

11. Black Hawk Down (2001)

Released in 2001, Black Hawk Down is an intense, action-packed portrayal of the US military's incursion into Mogadishu as they attempt to capture the leader of a rebel faction. With a visionary directorRidley Scottat the helm and with an all-star cast including Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana and Josh Hartnett, Black Hawk Down will keep any war movie enthusiast hooked until the end. The film won two Academy Awards for Best Editing and Best Sound Mixing at the 74th Academy Awards.

10. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

When it comes to war movies, Inglourious Basterds is a must. The brilliant and always enigmatic Quentin Tarantino uses his unique imagination, both in writing and directing, to reach new heights in this nearly two-and-a-half-hour war epic. Set against the backdrop of war-torn Europe, Inglourious Basterds follows the premise of a fictional story of two elaborate plots to assassinate the Nazi hierarchy, one led by a group of American Jewish soldiers and the other by a French Jewish refugee.

The film features an incredible cast, withBrad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender and Eli Roth, the exceptional members, each playing their respective roles with sublime perfection. Christoph Waltz deserves special mention for his portrayal of Hans Landa. Inglourious Basterds was released in theaters worldwide in August 2009 to critical and business acclaim. It grossed approximately $320 million in theaters worldwide and received an avalanche of awards and nominations for its cinematic achievements.

9. Zug (1986)

Winner of 15 out of 23 nominated awards, including Best Picture at the 59th Academy Awards from writer-director Oliver Stone, Platoon immerses viewers in the vivid nightmare of the Vietnam War from beginning to end through many powerful and compelling scenes. Released on December 19, 1986, it stars Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, Keith David, Kevin Dillon, John C. McGinley, Forest Whitaker and Johnny Depp. Based on Stone's personal experience as a U.S. Infantryman in Vietnam, "Platoon" illuminates the horrors of combat, the endless patrols and loss of life suffered by a force of American soldiers in the jungles of Vietnam, as well as the nightmares of violent confrontations and the ruthlessness of their politically motivated superiors. "Platoon" is undoubtedly a must-see for any war movie fan.

8. The Wounded Closet (2008)

In 2009, "The Hurt Locker" was released in theaters internationally and gave us an emotional look at the Iraq war. It follows the story of an American bomb disposal unit in Iraq who becomes a target for insurgents. Led by the wildly carefree and unorthodox Sergeant William James, the team must summon all their courage and mental toughness to navigate the treacherous conditions of the Iraq War. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker stars Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse and Guy Pearce. The film was critically acclaimed, being nominated for 9 Academy Awards and winning 5 of them.

7. Enemy at the Gates (2001)

This historical war drama revolves around the Battle of Stalingrad, in which Jude Law and Ed Harris play the roles of two snipers on opposite sides of a brutal war, desperate to outwit each other in a high-stakes game with dire consequences for everyone. the losers. Enemy At The Gates was released to a global audience in 2001 and was written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jean-Jacques Annaud. Be sure to check it out if you're a war movie fan and looking for something you haven't seen before.

6. American Sniper (2014)

On the subject of snipers, the 2014 war movie American Sniper is another fascinating perspective for those who haven't seen it yet. Beautifully directed and captivatingly acted, this riveting insight into the impossibly difficult decisions a sniper must make in times of war. WithClint Eastwoodbehind the camera and starring Bradley Cooper, it's easy to see why. The film was an unprecedented success at the box office while it was playing in theaters. During that time, $547 million in ticket sales made American Sniper one of the highest-grossing war films of all time. It's no surprise that the film also featured at the 87th Academy Awards, earning a total of 6 nominations, underscoring its billing as a great film.

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5. Tigerland (2000)

A wonderful film that might not be on many war movie enthusiasts' radar, Tigerland is definitely worth checking out if you haven't heard of it. Released in 2000, this American war drama is set in a training camp designed to prepare American soldiers for the Vietnam War and stars Colin Farrell in the lead role of Private Roland Bozz. A cold, hard look at the lives of young soldiers who have never been to war, "Tigerland" is an experience that is as moving as it is eye-opening.

4. Wut (2014)

Another truly compelling film, 2014's Fury tells the story of a battle-hardened military tank commander, played by Brad Pitt, and his ragtag crew as they resort to shady deeds and fight their way through Nazi Germany during World War II. Directed by David Ayer, Fury was critically acclaimed and grossed over $210 million in theaters worldwide. Needless to say, this two hour and fifteen minute epic deserves the attention of any true war movie fan.

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3. Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Inspired by the capsules worn by soldiers, Full Metal Jacket is a brilliant war film that depicts the immensely difficult training regimen that a new recruit goes through physically and mentally in a Marine Corps boot camp. Directed, co-written and produced by the greatStanley Kubrick, is based on the 1979 novel The Short-Timers by Gustav Hasford and was the last film released by him during his lifetime. It was released in US theaters on June 26, 1987.

The film follows the challenging experiences and struggles of a unit of US Marines in training, centered on soldiers The Joker (Matthew Modine) and Pyle. Learning is tremendously uncomfortable and tiring under your extremely nasty and abusive instructor,Artillery Sergeant Hartman, and visibly undermines the sanity of the main characters throughout the film. This is undoubtedly an enticing sight for any war movie enthusiast.

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2. Lone Survivor (2013)

Based on real facts,'Sole Survivor'is a US sniper's account of how he, and only he, survived to complete the story of his unit's grueling and deadly firefight against the Taliban in Afghanistan during an unsuccessful counterterrorism mission known as Operation Red Wings. Writer and lead director Peter Berg manages to perfectly capture the essence of Marcus Luttrell's unity exploits in the face of terrifying danger, while transferring the high intensity of the action across the screen to the audience, who remain immersed throughout the film's two hours. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, Taylor Kitsch and Eric Bana, Lone Survivor received rave reviews from critics and earned two Academy Award nominations for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing.

1. We Were Soldiers (2002)

We Were Soldiers, an American war film starring Mel Gibson, was released in 2002 to much fanfare and positive response from critics, who praised the direction, acting and accurate portrayal of the Battle of la Drang during the Vietnam War. If you want to see a dramatic depiction of war performed by an experienced cast and have about two and a half hours to spare, We Were Soldiers is definitely recommended.

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