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The War

The War

2007Miniseries1 season7 episodes~124 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

The story of the Second World War through the personal accounts of a handful of men and women from four American towns. The war touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in America and demonstrated that in extraordinary times, there are no ordinary lives.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch The War?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The War streaming on PBS Documentaries via Prime Video and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

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via Prime Video

Rent / Buy

Buy

Highlights

What stands out about The War?

The War earns 3 badges, led by Top 1% of shows and Universally Loved.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is The War worth watching?

The War's Midcredits score is the 99th percentile of all shows, from 6.2K ratings across 2 sources. 93% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

99th percentile

Better received than 99% of shows

98th percentile among Documentary99th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)98th
Approval (how many liked it)97th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

87 /100

98th percentile of all shows

96th percentile among Documentary98th percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

93% liked it

97th percentile of all shows

96th percentile among Documentary98th percentile among 2000s
93% rated it 7–107% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

74th percentile

6.2K ratings across platforms

94th percentile among Documentary68th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 15% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree that the series is a deeply personal, emotionally driven account of the American experience in World War II, rather than a comprehensive global history.

Fans praised

  • focus on personal stories of veterans and families from four American towns
  • emotional impact through first-hand accounts and archival footage
  • music period-appropriate and evocative of the era

Detractors panned

  • U.S.-centric perspective ignores global context and sacrifices of other allies
  • excessive focus on homefront racism and internment over military history
  • choppy editing and pacing, jumping between theaters without coherent narrative

What stands out

Emotional impactDivisive80

powerful first-hand accounts of loss and sacrifice; detractors find it manipulative

Cinematography75

rare archival footage and photos; detractors note over-reliance on familiar images

CharactersDivisive70

compelling interviews with veterans and civilians; detractors see selective representation

AtmosphereDivisive70

immersive sense of homefront and combat; detractors find it emotionally heavy-handed

Sound and musicDivisive60

Wynton Marsalis score and period swing; detractors call it distracting and incongruous

Plot and storyDivisive55

structure follows four U.S. towns; critics call it meandering and incomplete

PacingDivisive40

overlong and jumps erratically between fronts; fans say immersive despite length

OriginalityDivisive40

formulaic Burns approach; detractors call it derivative of The World at War

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men even
  • Critics vs users 2 points apart
  • US vs non-US 5 points apart

Episodes

1 season

Miniseries · 2007 · 7 episodes

  • S1E1

    A Necessary War

    Sep 23, 2007142 min
  • S1E2

    When Things Get Tough

    Sep 24, 2007115 min
  • S1E3

    A Deadly Calling

    Sep 25, 2007110 min
  • S1E4

    Pride of Our Nation / A Volunteer Basis

    Sep 26, 2007136 min
  • S1E5

    FUBAR

    Sep 30, 2007124 min
  • S1E6

    The Ghost Front

    Oct 1, 2007117 min
  • S1E7

    A World Without War

    Oct 2, 2007125 minFinale

Watch experience

What is The War like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — a slow-burn watch that leaves you haunted.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
ElegiacContemplative
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Tender · 10% of shows
Told as
Episodic · 11% of shows: Loosely connected incidents rather than one driving plot.Multiple perspectives · 2% of shows: The same events retold from different characters' points of view.Anthology episodes · 6% of showsSingle-season story
ToneThe film treats its subject with grave reverence, blending historical solemnity with intimate human tenderness.
The rideThe series sustains a grave and reflective emotional register across its run as it chronicles wartime sacrifice and loss.
StructureThe series is composed of standalone episodes each focusing on different American families and their experiences, collectively building a mosaic of the war's impact.
Episode formatEach episode is a self-contained chapter examining a different aspect of WWII's effect on American families, rather than a continuous overarching plot.
Season formatThe series aired one season as a limited documentary run, covering the entirety of its subject matter within that span.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Haunting · 9% of showsBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves a lingering sense of the immense cost of war alongside a quieter admiration for the resilience of ordinary people.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 40% of shows: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeThis is a documentary series, not a narrative film, so it does not follow a Booker plot archetype.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfWarSurvival
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9% (this title): Survival 12% · War 1% (this title) · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% (this title) · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Survival

War · 1% of showsFamily bondsGrief · 4% of shows
Mourns its theme: Grieves its theme, or what has been lost of it.Global stakes: Consequences reach the world.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe series centers on the lived experience and cost of war for American families, emphasizing how the conflict reshaped their lives and relationships.
StanceThe series mourns the human cost of war, presenting it as a profound and shared loss for American families and communities.

The world

Mid 20th centuryDomesticWildernessUrbanRealistic
Orchestral classicalJazzSupportive music · original score · Wynton Marsalis
SettingAmerican homefront and battlefronts during World War II
MusicMarsalis's score blends orchestral and jazz idioms, adding emotional depth to the historical narrative.

Content guide

Is The War okay for kids?

TV-14

The War is rated TV-14. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (83/100), sexual content at minimal (0/100) and language at mild (33/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 5 other countries
  • CanadaPG
  • Germany12
  • FranceNR
  • Spain13
  • Türkiye13+
Overall
Moderate · 3 of 5 categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Severe
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Profanity
Mild
too few votes to rank (4 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (11 votes across 3 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does The War have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The War?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Tom Hanks
as Al McIntosh
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Rebecca Holtz
as Reader
Kevin Conway
as Reader
Josh Lucas
as Reader
Samuel L. Jackson
as Reader
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Adam Arkin
as Reader
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Bobby Cannavale
as Babe Ciarlo
Robert Wahlberg
as James A. Fahey
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Eli Wallach
as Reader
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Carolyn McCormick
as Reader

Crew

More like this

What are shows like The War?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like The War include WWII in HD (2009), World War II in Colour (2009) and The World at War (1973).

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