The Best War Movie of All Time Becomes a U.S. Streaming Hit

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When people browse streaming services, they usually look for either brand new movies released by the platform or older, well-loved films that have recently become available again. That’s why the most popular lists on services like Netflix often feature new releases alongside classic movies. However, around holidays, viewers often intentionally seek out specific films to celebrate, causing those familiar titles to suddenly jump to the top of the charts, even without any promotion.

This week, with the Memorial Day holiday in the US, people have been watching a lot of war movies. They weren’t necessarily looking for films about specific wars or time periods, but rather any movie honoring fallen soldiers. Paramount+ has become a popular place to find these films, with subscribers bringing some older favorites back into the spotlight. A great example is Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, widely considered one of the best war movies ever made – it’s unexpectedly jumped into the platform’s Top 10 most-watched list.

Saving Private Ryan Climbs Streaming Charts for Memorial Day

When Saving Private Ryan was released, it immediately stood out for several reasons. Its opening sequence, realistically portraying the intense violence of the D-Day invasion, was unlike anything audiences had seen in a war movie before. While that sequence became the film’s most talked-about feature, the larger story offered even more depth. Saving Private Ryan goes beyond simply showing the horrors of war; it focuses on the soldiers themselves, highlighting their bravery and the lasting impact the conflict had on their lives.

Paramount+ has a lot to offer war movie fans, and Saving Private Ryan isn’t the only popular title. While Top Gun: Maverick continues to be the most-watched movie on the platform – staying in the Top 10 for nearly two years, and likely boosted by Memorial Day – other films are also gaining traction. Michael Bay’s 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi recently joined the Top 10, ranking just above Saving Private Ryan and the first Top Gun movie.

When Saving Private Ryan came out, it was a huge hit with both critics and audiences, earning over $480 million worldwide – making it Steven Spielberg’s most successful film since Jurassic Park in 1993. This success put the movie in a strong position for the Academy Awards, where Spielberg won his second Best Director Oscar, along with awards for Cinematography, Film Editing, and others. Despite predictions that it would also win Best Picture, Shakespeare in Love surprisingly took home that award instead.

Released in 1998, Saving Private Ryan became surprisingly impactful, changing both the landscape of war films and the trajectory of Tom Hanks’ career. While already an acclaimed actor with Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, the film ignited broader public interest in World War II and further boosted Hanks’ popularity. He and director Steven Spielberg subsequently collaborated on three World War II miniseries: Band of Brothers (2001), The Pacific (2010), and Masters of the Air (2022). Hanks also narrated Ken Burns’ World War II documentary, The War, and was even knighted by France for his dedication to honoring World War II veterans.

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2026-05-26 18:40