Claim: Saving Private Ryan depicts the Omaha Beach assault during the Normandy landings

Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 American epic war drama film set during the Invasion of Normandy in World War II . Directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Robert Rodat , the film is notable for its graphic portrayal of war , and for the intensity of its opening 27 minutes , which includes a depiction of the Omaha Beach assault during the Normandy landings . It follows United States Army Rangers Captain John H. Miller -LRB- Tom Hanks -RRB- and a squad -LRB- Tom Sizemore , Edward Burns , Barry Pepper , Giovanni Ribisi , Vin Diesel , Adam Goldberg , and Jeremy Davies -RRB- as they search for a paratrooper , Private First Class James Francis Ryan -LRB- Matt Damon -RRB- , who is the last-surviving brother of four servicemen .   The film received critical acclaim , winning several awards for film , cast , and crew , as well as earning significant returns at the box office . The film grossed US$ 481.8 million worldwide , making it the second-highest-grossing film of the year . The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards ; Spielberg 's direction won his second Academy Award for Best Director , with four more awards going to the film . Saving Private Ryan was released on home video in May 1999 , earning another $ 44 million from sales . In 2014 , the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress , being deemed `` culturally , historically , or aesthetically significant . ''