Parents Guide for
Saving Private Ryan (1998) More at IMDbPro »

Note: The number at the beginning of each section refers to how explicit that aspect of the film is on a scale of 1-10. The fraction at the end of the Frightening/Intense Scenes category is the total sum of all the sections out of the highest sum possible (50) and therefore an approximation of how much explicit content of any kind is in the film.

Sex & Nudity: 3

Soldiers share sexual stories about their life before the war, with some fairly graphic language.

Violence and Gore: 10

The film contains prolonged sequences of war violence not suitable for young children. The opening and closing sequences feature prolonged violence with dismemberment, excessive blood splatter, exposed entrails, soldiers engulfed in flames and other disturbing images. The film also features a scene in which a soldier succumbs to his battlefield wounds - this scene, as with many of the other scenes in the film, could be unsettling to young viewers.

The beginning is very graphic and bloody.

Saving Private Ryan is said by many to be one of the most violent films ever made. Use extreme caution with younger viewers.

While it is one of the best films ever (in my opinion) Saving Private Ryan is easily the most graphic and bloody film ever made, with only Braveheart coming even close. Saving Private Ryan is a great film, but it's a dark, heavyweight drama with a lot of gore, and could definitely be disturbing to some.

Unless the child in question is very mature, do not even consider showing this movie to children before they are at the absolute, very least 17. It will be guaranteed to frighten/disgust/disturb younger viewers.

Profanity: 7

Moderate to strong swearing throughout.

21 f-words and its derivatives, as well as 12 uses of FUBAR, which is the soldier's acronym for -(SPOILERS)- "f*cked up beyond all recognition."

About 40-50 uses of s*it or b*llsh*t. Similar amounts of d*mn, h*ll, and ass.

A couple uses of b*stard and S.O.B. One or two uses of c*cksucker

God's name is taken in vain a lot throughout the film.

Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: 2

The film features the use of tobacco products (namely, cigarettes).

Frightening/Intense Scenes: 8

The battle sequences throughout the film are intense both literally and emotionally. The opening and closing sequences feature brutal and realistic war-fighting, high-stress situations, loud gunfire and booming explosions.

The opening sequence features gratuitous amounts of violence that can be unsettling and startling to the unprepared viewer. The violence is unrelenting and drawn-out in nature; the film spares little in the department of realism.

The film's realism may stir painful memories for those who have fought or experienced a combat situation.

A German soldier and an American soldier (one who is closely involved in the storyline) have a brutal, intense fight that is quite disturbing. It ends when the German soldier slowly drives a knife into the chest of the American, while whispering with sweat dripping from his face.

An idea of how accurate the TECE (below) is: 5-10 is a little-kid suitable, G-Rated type of film (i.e. Care Bears, Sleeping Beauty); 10-15 is going to be a little harsher, but not by much (i.e. The Incredibles); 15-20 could be pretty high up there (i.e. Indiana Jones), 20-25 is going to pretty darn adult (i.e. The Dark Knight); 25-30 is going to be a film most likely not suitable for anyone under 17(i.e. Braveheart); 30-40 is going to be an absolutely, positively adults-only film (i.e. THIS), and 40-50 is going to be hard R to NC-17 (i.e. Pulp Fiction).

Total Explicit Content Estimation: 30/50.