From Saving Private Ryan to Band of Brothers, Tom Hanks has long defined World War II cinema through both acting and producing historically accurate movies and TV shows. His contributions have brought to life many of the realities of war through emotional performances and a thorough examination of the period. In his newest production, Tom Hanks has again brought history to life with a comprehensive examination of WWII.
WWII with Tom Hanks is a 20-part docuseries that covers the Second World War from Germany’s invasion of Poland in September 1939 to the war’s aftermath, which concluded on Sept. 2, 1945. The series premiered with three episodes on Memorial Day, a symbolic choice to underscore the vast human cost of the conflict. Since then, two episodes of WWII with Tom Hanks have been periodically released every Monday at 8 PM ET.
Since its release, the docuseries has been wildly successful. The impressive scope and detail of the series have stunned the global streaming community and have been lauded as one of the most comprehensive television series on the war. The docuseries looks at all the theaters of the war with a truly global lens.
Tom Hanks, who narrates the series, is a standout in the production. Having studied World War II for years as a lifelong passion, his narration provides an in-depth examination of the war with a tone that signifies the conflict’s significance.
The docuseries was produced in collaboration with the HISTORY Channel and the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, adding credibility to the movie’s production process.
Throughout the series, different acclaimed historians offer insight into the war and the thought processes of those fighting in it. Some standout historians who worked on the series include Jon Meacham, who, alongside Hanks, was an executive producer, and Robert Citino, a senior historian at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
Additionally, the series makes particular use of archival footage and veteran interviews to further its examination. The series features no actors or historical reenactments, adding to its overall historical value, instead making use of videos taken at the time, primary source documents, and audio to convey its message.
As a whole, this series is definitely worth watching. For history enthusiasts, the film offers a truly extensive look at the Second World War with scope and details unprecedented in WWII documentaries. For the average person, the docuseries is one worth watching for the valuable insights it offers on WWII and war in general.
