5 War TV Shows That Should Be on Your Binge Watch List

Saving Private Ryan, one of the greatest pieces of war media ever made, pulled in nearly half a billion dollars worldwide during its theatrical run. Why? Because we can’t get enough of excellent war films, books, and TV shows.

For whatever reason, the tales of camaraderie, fellowship, and sacrifice that can only be found in war TV series continue to capture and enrapture us. But with so many out there, how on earth are you meant to choose the ones to sit down and watch?

Well, never fear, because we’re here to tell you the 5 best war TV shows that you need to add to your watchlist right now.

1. Generation Kill

From David Simon, creator of The Wire, Generation Kill tells the story of an American reporter embedded with a Marine battalion during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It’s famous for its uncompromising realism, unparalleled artistic vision, great acting, and Simon’s trademark social commentary.

2. Band of Brothers

If you ask someone what the best war TV series is, odds are they’ll mention Band of Brothers. This WW2 epic follows the true story of a single army unit from their first days as greenhorn recruits right through to the fall of Berlin, with all the heroism and tragedy that happened along the way.

3. The Vietnam War

Ken Burns’ magnum opus is probably the best Vietnam war TV series yet produced. It comprehensively tells the story of the United States’ involvement in the war between North and South Vietnam from the first days of ‘boots on the ground’ to the fall of Saigon. Burns’ inimitable skill as a documentarian makes this historical documentary into a piece of history itself.

4. War and Peace (2016)

Wars, sad to say, have been happening for a while, and so too have the stories told about them. War and Peace is the BBC’s lavish 2016 adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s peerless tale of Russian nobles caught up in the tremors of the Napoleonic wars. The acting is superb, the sets are sumptuous, and St. Petersburg has never looked more imposing.

5. M*A*S*H

You didn’t think they’d all be serious, did you? It would be a crime to talk about the best war TV shows without mentioning MASH, undoubtedly the best of the war TV shows from the 80s. The MASH cast expertly blends humor with pathos in this surprising, shocking, and hilarious meditation on the life of soldiers in the Korean War.

The Best War TV Shows of 2021, Just a Click Away

And there you have it, our 5 top picks of the absolute best war TV shows you could be watching in 2021. Whether you want drama, comedy, documentary, or anything in between, we’ve got you covered with this pick of some of the greatest war TV series ever produced.

So what are you waiting for, private? Get watching!