20 Most Intense Movie Scenes Ever

3. Omaha Beach Landing - Saving Private Ryan

The Normandy landing sequence from Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan set a standard for war film set-pieces that has never really been matched, combining technical wizardry with blunt-force visceral impact.

The 20-minute sequence fully realises the brutal horror of war as men are put down the second they leave their U-boats, are drowned, blown to pieces, set on fire, and perhaps most memorably, die while screaming for their mother and trying to hold their guts in place.

It is pure cinematic horror that stands as the most bracingly realistic depiction of war ever put to screen, with Spielberg's incredible visuals, immaculate sound design and the fantastic performances adding up to film at its most unforgettable.

Watch this scene with a surround sound setup or a great pair of headphones to really get the full benefit.