The Best WWII Movie Of The 90s Officially Lands New Streaming Home Next Month

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Barry Pepper as Private Daniel Jackson in a field in Saving Private Ryan

Published Sep 9, 2026, 11:46 AM EDT

Ryan Northrup is a Senior Staff Writer on ScreenRant's Movie & TV News team, where he has authored nearly 5,000 articles, including features and reviews. A graduate of McMaster University, Ryan began his career in public relations before attending Vancouver Film School. There, he built lasting industry connections and optioned a feature film screenplay.

As a movie genre, World War II never really goes away. New films set during this monumental conflict release fairly regularly, and 2026 is no exception. Earlier this year, Pressure starring Brendan Fraser hit theaters and proved popular with audiences and critics alike, and the World War II action is set to continue with Netflix's The Mosquito Bowl this fall. Though the last 26 years have given audiences some hit films in the genre, many titles considered to be true classics arrived prior to 2000, with the '90s, in particular, standing out.

Released in 1998, Saving Private Ryan remains a seminal World War II movie, and it's now confirmed to be heading to Peacock. The Steven Spielberg classic arrives on the streamer on October 9, and it accompanies the streaming debut of the filmmaker's latest, Disclosure Day (2026). As the wait for October 9 begins, Saving Private Ryan remains available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.

Why Saving Private Ryan Is The Best WWII Film Of The 90s

Spielberg's own Schindler's List (1993) certainly gives Saving Private Ryan a run for its money as the best WWII film of that decade due to its especially harrowing portrayal of the Holocaust, but it's arguably Spielberg's 1998 movie that still has the edge. Starring Tom Hanks as a U.S. Army Captain leading a rescue mission behind enemy lines, Saving Private Ryan still has some of the most visceral and intense depictions of combat ever committed to film, including the film's iconic D-Day landing opening sequence.

Featuring a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes and grossing $482.3 million worldwide, the 1998 film was an undeniable hit. In addition to featuring one of the best performances of Hanks' career, Saving Private Ryan features a stellar cast of recognizable actors, including Matt Damon, Vin Diesel, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Adam Goldberg, Barry Pepper, and Giovanni Ribisi, among others.

Other notable 1990s World War II movies include Memphis Belle (1990), Life is Beautiful (1997), and The Thin Red Line (1998).

October Is Steven Spielberg's Month On Peacock

Those who like Spielberg films are in luck this October, with Peacock set to become the home of a handful of notable titles from the filmmaker. In addition to Saving Private Ryan and Disclosure Day, the streamer will acquire The Fabelmans (2022), A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), War of the Worlds (2005), Catch Me If You Can (2002), and The Adventures of Tintin (2011).

Saving Private Ryan is sure to remain a seminal Spielberg entry for years to come, standing alongside movies like Jaws (1975), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), and Jurassic Park (1993). While the best World War II movie is, of course, a matter of personal preference, Spielberg's 1998 war epic certainly deserves to be in the conversation.