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 and realistic portrayal of war, and for the intensity of its opening 27 minutes, which includes a depiction of the
Omaha Beach assault of June 6, 1944. It follows
United States Army Rangers Captain John H. Miller (
Tom Hanks) and a squad (
Tom Sizemore,
Edward Burns,
Barry Pepper,
Vin Diesel,
Giovanni Ribisi,
Adam Goldberg, and
Jeremy Davies) as they search for a
paratrooper,
Private first class James Francis Ryan (
Matt Damon), who is the
last-surviving brother of four servicemen.