The Thin Red Line (1998) - The other Academy Award Nominee-heavy World War II film of 1998. Its marketing focus was on the huge cast of named actors. Also, it was different from Private Ryan in its content and intent: TRL focused on humanity within the war.

Shakespeare in Love (1998) - Winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture over Saving Private Ryan (questionable justification). While TRL and Private Ryan focused on war, Shakespeare in Love was a unique romantic comedy with a host of named actors showing a twist to "the greatest love story almost never told."

Life is Beautiful (1997) - The third Oscar-laden film of that year. As a foreign movie, its audience was immediately smaller but the optimistic and light-hearted focus amidst the terrible backdrop of the holocaust certainly drew eyes away from the intense war film of Spielberg and Malick.