The film opens with an unforgettable 24-minute scene depicting the momentous allied invasion of German-occupied Omaha Beach in Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. The battle results in heavy American casualties, including three of four brothers from the same family. Upon discovering that the fourth brother, Private James Ryan could still be alive, the government sends Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks in an Oscar-nominated performance) and his squad behind enemy lines to find Private Ryan so he can be returned home to his grieving mother.

1. "I wonder if I've changed so much, my wife is even gonna recognize me whenever it is I get back to her, and how I'll ever be able to, tell about days like today. Ahh, Ryan. I don't know anything about Ryan, I don't care. The man means nothing to me; he's just a name. But if, you know, if going to Rem"al, and finding him so he can go home, if that earns me the right to get back to my wife, well then, then that's my mission."—Captain Miller (Tom Hanks)
2. "Someday we might look back on this and decide that saving Private Ryan was the one decent thing we were able to pull out of this whole mess. Like you said, Captain, maybe we do that, we all earn the right to go home."—Sergeant Horvath (Tom Sizemore)