Summary

• Band of Brothers set the bar for war dramas on TV with its epic scale, intense battle sequences, and moral analysis of wartime experiences.
• Just like Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers revolutionized the genre, bringing movie-sized production values to the small screen.
• From The Pacific to Chernobyl, shows like Band of Brothers continue to explore the impact of war on soldiers and civilians with gripping storytelling.

Despite the epic scale and storytelling, there are shows like Band of Brothers that manage to touch on the qualities that made it so great. HBO's Emmy-winning miniseries Band of Brothers is an expansive and enthralling World War II drama that documents the efforts of an American regiment (nicknamed 'Easy Company') and their experiences at war. Just like how the show's producers Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks' cinematic collaboration, Saving Private Ryan, revolutionized the genre of war drama, Band of Brothers set a high benchmark for similar dramas on TV.

Band of Brothers changed television with its movie-sized production values with sweeping locations and intense battle sequences, bringing the budget and scope of a WWII movie such as Saving Private Ryan to the small screen. Boasting a vast ensemble cast and some of the best filmmaking on television at the time, the ten-episode series was followed by many similar miniseries and dramas. As such there are now multiple shows like Band of Brothers that both explore war with a budget usually reserved for feature films but also match Band of Brothers' analysis of morality in wartime and the trauma that follows.

Band of Brothers is available to stream on Netflix and Max.

10 The Liberator (2020)

A Uniquely Animated Look At A Real-Life WWII Regiment

The Liberator explored a familiar Second World War setting to Band of Brothers, but in the rotoscope animation format. It highlights the valiant efforts of the 157th Infantry Regiment. Legend has it that the infantry commander Felix Sparks (the so-called 'liberator') and the Regiment fought for 500 days to liberate Italy from the fascist Axis powers. Like Band of Brothers liberating a concentration camp in one memorable episode, this Regiment liberated the prisoners in the Dachau camp.

Though it is an ensemble piece about the unity of this group of soldiers, its leader is given the central role just as Captain Winters in Band of Brothers. The look of the series gives it a unique quality that never takes away from the authentic feel of the series. With its introspective themes and cel-based animation, this action series makes for a quick watch, with just four episodes.

Watch On Netflix

9 Generation Kill (2008)

A Look At The Modern Soldier's Experience Post-9/11

One of HBO's most acclaimed miniseries, Generation Kill delves into the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It was not just from the perspective of the American military personnel but also from journalist Evan Wright (Lee Tergesen), who accompanies a particular Marine Corps battalion. The show attempts to touch upon the personal motivations of the characters for joining the war as well the post-9/11 anxieties encompassed in America.

Similarly to Band of Brothers, HBO's Generation Kill showed the heroism that was possible in war but also showed the traumatic effects

It also explores the soldiers' mentality in-depth too, making Generation Kill comparable to films like Jarhead and The Hurt Locker. Similarly to Band of Brothers, HBO's Generation Kill showed the heroism that was possible in war but also showed the traumatic effects it had on characters, such as Buck Compton. It is also a fascinating show to watch after Band of Brothers as it showcases two wars separated by generations, with aspects that are completely different from each other as well as things that remained the same.

Watch On Max

8 World War II In Color (2009)

A Stunning Look At The Real Events Through Extraordinary Footage

Band of Brothers was hailed as a detailed and realistic journey through the European campaign of World War II, and only a documentary like World War II in Color could surpass its authentic feel. It relies on original archival footage, most of which was colorized and remastered, to cover significant events from the War, including the Pacific War, the North African Campaign, and so on.

The 13 episodes span across personal musings of the participants, as well as the political and diplomatic dynamics of each of the major players, who had a stake in the conflict. It is a stunning restoration of the old footage that places the audience in the reality of the world at this time. Ultimately, the War's history is shown as a moral reminder for humanity to not repeat its mistakes from the past.

Watch On Discovery+

7 Catch-22 (2019)

A Miniseries Adaptation Of The Iconic Satire

While reading Joseph Heller's Catch-22 is an enriching experience on its own, considering it's a classic satire, the Hulu miniseries is a tribute to the novel's dark comedy, which subverts many formulaic war drama tropes. The armed soldiers in this case aren't portrayed as perpetually fearless warriors but as actual humans. The protagonist, John Yossarian (Christopher Abbott), and his fellow airmen try their best to escape the violence and destruction of the Second World War as they realize this war isn't theirs.

Band of Brothers is certainly different in tone, but the feeling of easy camaraderie among the soldiers and the assertion that they are not superheroes, but regular people, is shared in both projects.

Movie star George Clooney returns to television in a supporting role as a commanding officer in the movie while also serving as the show's director. Other big-name stars with supporting roles include Hugh Laurie and Kyle Chandler. Band of Brothers is certainly different in tone, but the feeling of easy camaraderie among the soldiers and the assertion that they are not superheroes, but regular people, is shared in both projects.

Watch On Hulu

6 M*A*S*H (1972-1982)

The Popular Sitcom Set During The Korean War

When it comes to war satire, M*A*S*H retains its iconic status over the years. The medical drama is set in the midst of the Korean War. The staff of an American Army hospital is seen to resort to bleak humor to shift their mind away from the conflict. The show was a ground-breaking sitcom and one of the most acclaimed shows on television. However, as wacky as the antics could be, some of the best episodes of M*A*S*H were humorless and dealt with the horrors of war, giving it a surprising amount in common with Band of Brothers.

Like Catch-22, there are distinct differences in tone, as any moments of levity in Band of Brothers are outweighed by the intensity of the carnage. Yet the show maintains the humanity of its characters in Easy Company by showing that they can joke around even with their lives on the line.

Watch On Hulu

5 Five Came Back (2017)

A Documentary About Hollywood's Role In WWII

John Ford, Frank Capra, John Huston, George Stevens, and William Wyler are all renowned filmmakers who served in the Second World War in different capacities. During the peak of the War, these directors helmed the creation of several propaganda films that are now preserved in archives. Narrated by Meryl Streep, Five Came Back finds contemporary directors, like Steven Spielberg and Guillermo del Toro, to analyze these yesteryear war films from a filmmaking lens as well as a socio-political perspective.

Just as Spielberg and the team behind Band of Brothers seek to show the truth of the soldiers who fought, it's fascinating to see these directors mix their filmmaking talents and their depiction of WW2 in such a powerful way.

Just as Spielberg and the team behind Band of Brothers seek to show the truth of the soldiers who fought, it's fascinating to see these directors mix their filmmaking talents and their depiction of WW2 in such a powerful way. The docuseries is an interesting mix of Hollywood and the realities of war with amazing footage captured by the legendary filmmakers.

Watch On Netflix

4 The Pacific (2010)

A Spiritual Sequel To Band Of Brothers

Treated as a companion piece to Band of Brothers, The Pacific is yet another Second World War-themed miniseries, produced and distributed by HBO. As is evident from the title, the setting is changed from D-Day landings to the Pacific War, or more specifically, what is known as the Asia-Pacific theater operations. The narratives of three Marines, each from a different regiment, are relied upon to show the horrors and intensity of the War.

Visually stunning like Band of Brothers, The Pacific doesn't hold back in terms of its realistic violence and gore. It is interesting to see the differences in the European battles of Band of Brothers and the fighting in the Pacific shown here with The Pacific being the much darker series of the two. Hence, viewers who can't stomach much graphic content can still take their time in viewing this modern classic.

Watch On Netflix

3 The Vietnam War (2017)

An In-Depth Documentary About Various Aspects Of The Unpopular War

The director duo Ken Burns and Lynn Novick have overseen several acclaimed documentary series covering American history, but the 10-part The Vietnam War might just be their magnum opus. Running over 16 hours, the series analyzes the multiple aspects of the polarizing war. The amazing footage captured and edited together in the documentary gives one of the best looks at the war ever seen on film.

It is fascinating to see how its depiction of the war compares to Band of Brothers and the theme of "why we fight"

While there are numerous films that critique the Vietnam War, Burns and Novick's documentary offers a historical overview from all perspectives. In that way, it is fascinating to see how its depiction of the war compares to Band of Brothers and the theme of "why we fight" explored from different perspectives. While dealing with different wars, with very different legacies, there is a notion of the similarities shared by those who fought.

The Vietnam War is available to purchase on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

2 Chernobyl (2019)

A Heroic And Devastating Look At The Nuclear Disaster

Regarded as one of the best miniseries of all time by many fans and critics, Chernobyl is an ambitious retelling of the titular nuclear disaster in the Soviet Union and how scientists, civilians, and politicians react to same the situation. With a general atmosphere of grimness, the series captures chaos in a real-time situation with all concerned parties racing against time to mitigate the impact of an explosion at a nuclear power plant.

Like Band of Brothers, Chernobyl takes a well-known historical event and creates a brilliant human drama that doesn't shy away from the brutality of reality. It deals with the costly mistakes and failures of the government, but there is also heroism to be found with characters played by Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgard faced with their certain deaths yet attempting to mitigate the disaster as best they can.

Watch On Max

1 World On Fire (2019-2023)

A Rare Look At The Impact Of War On Citizens

While the focus of Band of Brothers is always on the soldiers, it does something few war stories do and examines the citizens living through their countries being invaded on both sides of the conflict, The British series World On Fire shifts the focus of World War II, from soldiers to ordinary civilians. In World On Fire, the narrative covers Germany, Britain, Poland, France, and Britain as people from all walks of life attempt to survive in the midst of constant destruction.

A reminder to viewers that some of the most harrowing aspects of the war involved people who were not involved in the fighting.

It is an interesting perspective to take as a reminder to viewers that some of the most harrowing aspects of the war involved people who were not involved in the fighting. Even though it might not be the most historically accurate show for its period, it still pulls off a decent job in honoring the unsung heroes of the era — definitely one among shows like Band of Brothers that can't be missed.

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  Band of Brothers

  Cast:

  Kirk Acevedo, Eion Bailey, Michael Cudlitz, Dale Dye, Scott Grimes, Frank John Hughes, Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, James Madio, Neal McDonough, David Schwimmer, Richard Speight Jr., Donnie Wahlberg, Matthew Settle, Rick Warden, Marc Warren, Dexter Fletcher, Colin Hanks, Ross McCall

  Release Date:

  2001-09-09

  Seasons:

  1

  Genres:

  Drama, History

  Summary:

  Band of Brothers tells the dramatized story of World War II's "Easy" company, as they go through training together, participate in major wartime events in Europe, all the way until the end of the war.

  Writers:

  Erik Jendresen, Tom Hanks, John Orloff, E. Max Frye, Graham Yost, Bruce C. McKenna

  Network:

  HBO Max

  Directors:

  Richard Loncraine, David Nutter, Tom Hanks, David Frankel, Phil Alden Robinson, Mikael Salomon

  Streaming Service(s):

  Hulu, HBO Max

  Showrunner:

  Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks