15 Highest-Grossing R-Rated Movies Ranked From Worst To Best
2. Saving Private Ryan
Ranking: #14
Earnings: $481,840,909
A blisteringly intense, action-packed and hauntingly emotional foray into the horrors of war, Saving Private Ryan is an unforgettably hard-hitting experience that also showcases possibly the best directing Steven Spielberg has ever done.
The film's USP is the opening half-hour, which depicts the battle of Omaha Beach and is one of the most perfect scenes in film history. That is the main thing the film tends to be remembered for and while the film never quite lives up to that opening, it is nevertheless a generally exceptional work that's still one of cinema's best war films, although the framing device is pure cliche and it is a little too long.
Spielberg's direction is incredible, there's loads of strong drama and the performances are generally terrific, save for the ever-overrated Matt Damon who's a bore as the title character. It's a film which manages to be both intensely thrilling and exceptionally upsetting, making this a fantastic combo of thrills and intelligent drama.
The rightful Best Picture winner of 1998 without a doubt, this is still one of Steven Spielberg's finest works and it deserves to be remembered for so much more than just one battle scene.