Entertainment
10 Greatest American War Shows of All Time
Almost everyone can agree that war is a bad thing, but at the same time, it is such an interesting subject despite the despair surrounding it. This intrigue shows its form in many ways, mainly through the media, like movies, where some of the most popular war stories take place, such as Apocalypse Now and Saving Private Ryan. However, there are just as many incredible war shows, ready to watch whenever.
While there are hundreds of war TV shows, most of the greatest and most influential come from the United States of America, which should be no surprise. That is why this list will rank the greatest American-produced war shows of all time based on writing, directing, acting, originality, influence, importance, depiction of war, and overall quality. This list will only feature American-produced shows, meaning titles like Vikings and Rome will not be present.
10
‘Turn: Washington’s Spies’ (2014–2017)
There have been a lot of wars throughout history, and while most of this list features battles from the First World War onward, there are a couple of more historic battles. Set during the Revolutionary War under the command of George Washington, Turn: Washington’s Spies chronicles the real-life events of the Culper Ring, detailing America’s first spy network.
Turn: Washington’s Spies is one of the most unique shows on this list, not only because it follows the Revolutionary War, but also because it highlights a fascinating and underutilized point in the history of America’s first spy network. There may not be a lot of action, but the intrigue comes through the tension of intelligence gathering, betrayal, and sociological maneuvering.
9
‘Catch-22’ (2019)
A lot of war stories and TV shows are based on books, such as Catch-22, inspired by the 1961 novel of the same name by Joseph Heller. Captain John Yossarian (Christopher Abbott) is a U.S. Air Force bombardier in the Second World War who wants to be grounded due to insanity. However, a rule states that any soldier wanting to avoid combat is sane, meaning he is forced to fly.
There have been a couple of adaptations of the novel before, but the show can build on the suspense with each episode, making it one of the best versions. With Kafkaesque storytelling, Catch-22 is a remarkable war TV show that highlights the maddening state of military bureaucracy and war logic. Through satire and sharp dialogue, Catch-22 becomes one of the best modern war series.
8
‘Masters of the Air’ (2024)
Everyone loves a dogfight here and there, but unfortunately, air force shows are rare to come by, which is why fans should appreciate Masters of the Air. The 100th bomb group is an American Air Force unit that continues their daily raids on the Nazis.
The reason there aren’t many Air Force TV shows is that it is incredibly difficult for them to translate to screen without spending a lot of money on visual or practical effects. However, Masters of the Air pushes aerial combat to its limits, creating a gorgeous TV series that also captures the claustrophobia, freezing temperatures, and attrition of sky warfare. In the end, Masters of the Air is more about a psychological battle than a physical one.
7
‘China Beach’ (1988–1991)
War isn’t just about guns, explosions, and what happens on the front lines, even if that is mainly what TV series depict. Taking place during the Vietnam War in Da Nang, China Beach follows the female nurses and staff who make up an evacuation hospital and USO entertainment center.
China Beach takes the focus away from the infantry and delivers an emotionally complex tale about second-hand grief and trauma, depicting the lives of the women during the Vietnam War. This critically acclaimed war show was praised for its distinct take on the war and the underrepresented women who played a major part in it, truly being a unique war drama more people should watch.
6
‘The Pacific’ (2010)
The Pacific is the spiritual successor of a renowned war show that will appear later on this list. Based on the real-life struggles of three U.S. soldiers, this series documents their struggle to survive. The trio of Marines endures an island-hopping campaign in the Pacific theater during the Second World War, only trying to make it out alive.
As opposed to a triumphant march towards victory, The Pacific is a grueling journey for survival. Boasting deep psychological trauma and bleak storytelling, every episode is hard to watch, yet viewers can’t take their eyes away. The battle isn’t just on the battlefield, but The Pacific also explores the dehumanization of the soldiers and the difficulty of reintegrating into normal life again, proving to be one of the best World War II shows.
5
‘Combat!’ (1962–1967)
This list features a handful of shows from a bunch of different time periods, but the oldest is Combat! This procedural war drama is about infantrymen on the European front after D-Day during the Second World War. Even after the major attacks, these soldiers travel across France for survival, battling it out until the hopeful end of the war.
As the oldest show on this list, Combat has done a fantastic job of remaining influential and engaging, proving it is a timeless war TV show. For its time, Combat was groundbreaking, being one of the first shows to cover the Second World War, and it does it with extreme authenticity. It is more of a character-driven series about survival and the psychological toll, which isn’t novel now, but it was for the time.
4
‘Generation Kill’ (2008)
The Wire is one of the greatest TV shows of all time, and its creators returned to deliver a standout war show based on a book by a Rolling Stones reporter, Generation Kill. Written through the eyes of the reporter, it chronicles the first 40 days of the Iraq War in 2003. Following the US Marine Corps 1st Battalion, it details their invasion and the war culture among the soldiers.
Sometimes, war shows glorify the tragedy; others make a point to actively protest it, and Generation Kill does neither, instead focusing on making it realistic, leaving the audience to take away their own thoughts. Without making a stance, it simply lets viewers experience the profane culture of soldiers. Generation Kill is authentic and immersive, trusting viewers’ intelligence by making everything as realistic as possible, even the disconnect between elite soldiers and the incompetence of their officers.
3
‘Shōgun’ (2024–Present)
As mentioned earlier, war comes in many shapes and sizes, and even though this list features American-produced shows, that doesn’t mean all of them are about the country. Shōgun is a recent war show set during 17th-century Japan when an English sailor reaches the country. He rises from a prisoner to an ally to aid in the political warfare between warring clans, leading to the iconic Battle of Sekigahara.
While not about the American military, Shōgun is an American-produced war drama that instantly became a modern classic. The heart of this story is its characters, each with their own goals, motivations, and dynamics, all of which are used in the grand political chess match between factions. Shōgun is a stunning war series that delivers its intrigue through character development, mystery, and political mind games instead of massive battles.
2
‘M*A*S*H’ (1972–1983)
War isn’t funny, but there are plenty of satirical comedies that cover the topic, including one of the best war TV shows of all time, M*A*S*H. Set during the Korean War, this series is about the medical staff and doctors of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, following them as they journey across the country, saving patients while having fun as they do it.
M*A*S*H is a rare type of show that is both dramatically tragic and hilarious, proving war can be used for comedy if handled with nuance. The M*A*S*H finale is still the most-watched episode in American TV history, proving its legacy goes beyond simply being a war show. Not only is it a great American war series, but M*A*S*H is also one of the greatest American sitcoms of all time.
1
‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)
This list features a lot of excellent war series, proving America is home to the best of the genre, but when it comes to the greatest, the answer is obvious: Band of Brothers. This prestigious miniseries follows Easy Company during the Second World War, chronicling their history from their very first training session all the way to the end of the war.
No war series gives fans a better look at the battle and the personal state of the soldiers like Band of Brothers, which gives an intimate view of the life of a soldier during the war. The ground-level cinematography makes things even more immersive, yet harder to watch. Band of Brothers is a technical and narrative achievement that brutally and accurately depicts the war in all respects, and with some of the best episodes in TV history, it proves to be a landmark of American television.
Band of Brothers
- Release Date
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2001 – 2001
- Network
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HBO
- Directors
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David Frankel, David Nutter, Mikael Salomon, Phil Alden Robinson, Richard Loncraine, Tom Hanks
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Donnie Wahlberg
C. Carwood Lipton
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