1998 Film Named the Best World War 2 Movie Ever And It Captured a Brutal Moment
World War 2 has always been a topic for poignant film making due to the the stakes and the human psychology. Never was good and evil more starkly defined during a conflict.
Some foreign movies, though, have done a good job capturing the psychology of the enemy. Think movies like Das Boot, a German thriller that takes viewers into the depths of the sea alongside a U-boat commander. However, it's an American movie that took the top spot on a list of the best World War 2 movies ever made. According to Ranker, that movie is Saving Private Ryan.
Saving Private Ryan, when it came out in 1998, stood out for several reasons. For one, it documented the D-Day invasion of Normandy with stunning realism and brutality. For another, it documented the efforts to save a soldier after his brothers had all died.
"Directed by Steven Spielberg, this 1998 war saga delves into the terrifying brutality of World War II. The film follows soldiers' efforts to find and bring home a stranded paratrooper whose brothers have tragically fallen in combat," Ranker explained. "It secured the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Cinematography, leaving a lasting impact in film history. Its unvarnished portrayal of the reality of war, coupled with a poignant human story, has rendered it an iconic representation of World War II on the silver screen."
Why Was D-Day So Important?
The Eisenhower Presidential Library explains the importance of D-Day. "The D-Day operation of June 6, 1944, brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. The operation, given the codename OVERLORD, delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France. The beaches were given the code names UTAH, OMAHA, GOLD, JUNO, and SWORD," the website says. The goal was to achieve a quick end to the war.
According to the Imperial War Museums, "The invasion of northern France in 1944 was the most significant victory of the Western Allies in the Second World War. American, British and Canadian forces established a foothold on the shores of Normandy, and, after a protracted and costly campaign to reinforce their gains, broke out into the French interior and began a headlong advance."
The invasion was a massive loss for the Germans. "The German Army suffered a catastrophe greater than that of Stalingrad, the defeat in North Africa or even the massive Soviet summer offensive of 1944," the Imperial War Museums explains.
What Were the Other World War 2 Movies in the Top 10?
What were the other World War 2 movies in the top 10? According to Ranker, they are as follows, in order:
2. Patton
3. Schindler's List
4. The Longest Day
5. The Great Escape
6. A Bridge Too Far
7. The Bridge on the River Kwai
8. Das Boot
9. Hacksaw Ridge
10. Tora! Tora! Tora!
The 2026 Movie 'Pressure' Is Revisiting the D-Day Theme
There's a new movie out in June 2026 that is also revisiting D-Day called Pressure. However, that movie chronicles the build-up to the crucial invasion.
"In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and with the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, PRESSURE follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they face an impossible choice--launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether," the Rotten Tomatoes review says.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 10:12 AM.