Are you a fan of the 2001 Band of Brothers war drama series? Created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, the series portrays an unromanticized aspect of how gruesome war can actually be, although there was only one season of this incredible show. If you’re looking for more shows based on war drama, we’ve got a list for you.
Must-Watch Shows If You Liked Band of Brothers
10. The Man in the High Castle (2015-2019)
The Amazon Original show is loosely based on a novel by Philip K. Dick of the same name. It takes you through a dystopian world where the outcomes of WWII are different. The series has a total of four seasons that depict what happens after Nazi Germany’s Axis powers and the Empire of Japan win the world war. This leads to the division of the United States into three parts- A nazi-controlled section, a Japanese-controlled section, and a buffer zone separating the two. While both Band of Brothers and The Man in the High Castle have different storytelling, they share similarities in depicting the impact left by the historic war.
9. Tenko (1981-1984)
BBC’s Tenko is a must-watch for its stellar cast and strong performances. The classic show is based on true events where a group of Australian, Dutch, and British women are taken hostage by the Japanese as prisoners of war during WWII. The drama series is set after the fall of Singapore in 1942. We see these civilian women go through torture and suffering in the Japanese internment camps. The Allied government forgets about these missing civilian women and they end up forming a strong bond despite their differences.
8. The Liberator (2020)
Netflix‘s The Liberator is based on a 2012 book titled ‘The Liberator: One World War II Soldier’s 500-Day Odyssey’ written by Alex Kershaw. The show’s creator, Jeb Stuart, is well-known for movies such as Die Hard and The Fugitive. The four-part miniseries was created by using the Trioscope Enhanced Hybrid Animation technology. The Liberator also takes you through the dramatic journey of WWII where Felix Sparks and his 157th Infantry Regiment known as E Company head on a mission to liberate Europe, like in Band of Brothers. The miniseries follows their 500-day journey through Italy, France, and Germany.
7. Catch-22 (2019)
Based on the famous 1961 novel by Joseph Heller, Catch-22 tells a satirical tale of a US Army Air Force bombardier, Yossarian. It also stars George Clooney, who is also a producer on the show. Yossarian’s only problem is he cannot withdraw from his duties due to the bureaucratic rule of Catch-22. The rule implies that a man will be considered insane if willingly flies dangerous combat missions, however, if he makes a request to be removed that will imply his sanity and thus he cannot be relieved of his duty. This twisted tale of dark humour shows a different side of war and how the characters form a camaraderie just like in Band of Brothers.
6. World War II in Colour (2009)
If watching realistic and detailed journeys of World War II is something you enjoy, then WWII in Colour is tailor-made for you. Just like Band of Brothers takes you through the pragmatic approach towards the impact of WWII, this documentary will certainly give you a more realistic view of this historic incident. The show gives you a peek into the original archival footage from WWII which has been colourized and remastered.
5. Five Came Back (2017)
Another documentary that takes you through the real journey of five filmmakers who served in World War II. George Stevens, John Ford, John Huston, Frank Capra, and William Wyler served in WWII in various capacities. These filmmakers expose the truth behind WWII in this riveting documentary. The documentary is narrated by award-winning actress Meryl Streep and is told by five contemporary filmmakers including Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, and Guillermo del Toro, among others.
4. The Pacific (2010)
Both Band of Brothers and The Pacific HBO are productions that have been constantly compared with each other. While many argue that Band of Brothers is a better war drama series, The Pacific’s tone gives it somewhat an upper hand over the former. The Pacific follows the lives of three Marines who partake in the Pacific Theater of Operations in the Pacific War. It tells the story of the lesser-known yet equally interesting tale of the Pacific Islands. It focuses the story around the men who actually fought in the Pacific War, unlike Band of Brothers which focuses on major battles. However, both share stunning visuals and are meant to be watched together.
3. The Vietnam War (2017)
Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s The Vietnam War documentary offers a historical overview of the Vietnam War from many perspectives. While the Band of Brothers and The Vietnam War both talk about two different wars, they both have a lot in common. We see the similarities between the soldiers who fought in these wars. The human aspect of these wars and how they impact the lives of those involved in the war zone are very much alike in both these shows.
2. World on Fire (2019-)
In Band of Brothers, we see the impact of war on the lives of soldiers, while in World on Fire, we’re taken through the lives of civilians. The British war drama series shows us civilians from various countries such as the US, UK, Germany, Poland, and France. We see the story of the unsung heroes in World on Fire. While the series takes us through the destruction of war and the people living with it, we also see the relationship between British interpreter, Harry Chase, and his Polish girlfriend, Kasla Tomaszeski.
1. Chernobyl (2019)
The historical mini-drama series has been regarded as one of the best miniseries by fans and critics alike. The five-part miniseries depicts a riveting tale of one of the worst man-made disasters in history and the aftermath that followed. It portrays the unfortunate disaster that took place in 1986 in the Soviet Union where a massive explosion takes place in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The series keeps you in a tight grip through its powerful storytelling and audio-visual effects.
