Apple TV's 'Saving Private Ryan' Replacement Is Taking Over U.S. Streaming Charts

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Published Apr 5, 2026, 7:46 PM EDT

In over three years at Collider, senior author Jake has now penned over 2500 articles covering a wide range of TV and film for the resources, lists, utilities, news, and interview teams. Alongside interviewing stars such as Selin Hizli, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Harlan Coben, and Chelsea Peretti, Jake was lucky enough to visit the set of Aardman and Netflix's Wallace and Gromit: A Vengeance Most Fowl in 2024, getting the chance to chat with four-time Academy Award winner Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham. Jake has also worked for other publications, including Agents of Fandom.

28 years ago, war cinema changed forever as Steven Spielberg delivered a stunning, emotionally compelling World War II tale in Saving Private Ryan. The story of Captain John Miller and his squad's terrifying rescue attempt behind enemy lines won over audiences and critics worldwide, earning five Academy Awards from eleven nominations and a glowing review from Roger Ebert, who dubbed it "a powerful experience." The film was also a huge success at the box office, becoming the second-highest-grossing movie of 1998 with a global haul of $485 million.

22 years later, star Tom Hanks would be back in Second World War combat in Apple TV's answer to Saving Private Ryan: Greyhound. Directed by Aaron Schneider, the film stars Hanks as U.S. Navy Cmdr. Ernest Krause, as he "is assigned to lead an Allied convoy across the Atlantic during World War II." The synopsis continues, "His convoy, however, is pursued by German U-boats. Although this is Krause's first wartime mission, he finds himself embroiled in what would come to be known as the longest, largest and most complex naval battle in history: The Battle of the Atlantic."

One of Apple TV’s most popular movies ever, the film has fought its way back into the streaming charts, becoming one of the ten most-watched movies on Apple TV in the U.S., at the time of writing. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film earned a "certified fresh" 78% score from critics, with the consensus on the site reading, "Greyhound's characters aren't as robust as its action sequences, but this fast-paced World War II thriller benefits from its efficiently economical approach." In Matt Goldberg's review for Collider, he wrote:

"Greyhound is a thrilling and captivating ride that brings a fresh perspective to a World War II story that feels like it could use some more attention. Schneider and Hanks wanted to put the viewer in the middle of the action, and they accomplished exactly that with their straightforward, unvarnished military drama."

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'Greyhound' Is Getting a Sequel

The film's success saw the green light given for a sequel, which recently began principal photography in February 2026, in Sydney, Australia. Director Schneider and producer Gary Goetzman will return to the helm, with Hanks and Stephen Graham returning as the battle changes from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In March, it was announced that James Udom, Jonathan Von Mering, Johnathon Schaech, and Eric Lange had joined the cast.

Greyhound is available to watch on Apple TV. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.