Raiders of the Lost Ark currently dominates Saving Private Ryan 78–22
The adventure beats the war film, soundly.
Who do you think should win?
The Verdict Director's Cut
This matchup has 18 votes. The picture may shift as more people weigh in.
Same director, seventeen years apart, and the early film is running the table. Raiders is Spielberg with nothing to prove and everything to show off — the swordsman gag, reportedly improvised because Harrison Ford was too sick for the scripted whip fight, still gets the biggest laugh in his filmography. Ryan is the mature masterwork, but gravity asks and Raiders just gives. That's pure pleasure outvoting solemn achievement, and pleasure never needs a reason.
The Numbers
| Raiders of the Lost Ark | Saving Private Ryan | |
|---|---|---|
| Head-to-Head | 78% | 22% |
| Overall Win Rate | 68% | 54% |
| Championships | 4 | 40 |
| Budget | $18M | $70M |
| Return | 21.7x | 6.9x |
Where This Matchup Sits
Across genres on BingeBracket, Raiders of the Lost Ark sits at #4 in Adventure and Saving Private Ryan ranks #2 in War.
Within Steven Spielberg's filmography on the platform, Raiders of the Lost Ark at #1 and Saving Private Ryan at #4 out of 11.
Elsewhere on the platform, they have a common problem — Jurassic Park beats both of them. Whatever else separates these two films, they share that one loss.
The tournament titles favor Saving Private Ryan (40 to 4), which makes the head-to-head result all the more notable. The film with the stronger resume is losing the direct matchup.
Across 17 years, raw box office numbers don't compare fairly. On return-on-budget, Raiders of the Lost Ark earned 21.7x while Saving Private Ryan returned 6.9x. Raiders of the Lost Ark also takes the head-to-head on BingeBracket.
Where to Watch
Availability may vary by region.
Want to pit Raiders of the Lost Ark against something else?
Build your own bracket with any films you want.