World War II with Tom Hanks

Explores WWII from Germany's invasion of Poland through the atomic age, examining pivotal battles, wartime leaders like Churchill and Roosevelt, and the human cost of total war.

World War II with Tom Hanks (2026) is a US-produced history documentary series created for Sky History, presented on screen by Tom Hanks across twenty episodes of roughly forty-four minutes each. Hanks guides viewers through the full sweep of the conflict, beginning with Germany's invasion of Poland and carrying the story forward to the atomic age. Rather than following a single fictional protagonist, the series builds each episode around pivotal battles and the decisions of wartime leaders such as Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, weaving archival material and expert perspective into a clear chronological account. Its engine is the question of how a global conflict unfolded and why its choices mattered, and each episode moves through campaigns, strategy, and political decisions. The series is a single season, a completed run of twenty episodes that treats the war as a panorama of coalitions and clashing powers. Its register is sober and reflective, attentive to the human cost of total war as much as to the maps and military movements. Viewers searching for an accessible wwii documentary, a celebrity-hosted history show, or a broad overview of the Second World War will find this series a grounded, serious companion, in the vein of The World at War and Apocalypse: The Second World War.

• The World at Warshared docuseries format, war history narration, human cost focus
• Blue Planetshared presenter-led history documentary tone and wartime leaders focus
• Apocalypse: The Second World Warshared large-scale historical documentary scope on world war era

Release Date

2026-05-25

Episode runtime

44 min

Rating

8.3 / 10 (37)

What is World War II with Tom Hanks about?

Tom Hanks presents a sweeping documentary tracing World War II from Germany's invasion of Poland through the atomic age.

What is World War II with Tom Hanks like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of World War II with Tom Hanks as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is World War II with Tom Hanks violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in World War II with Tom Hanks as moderate.

Which shows are like World War II with Tom Hanks?

Shows with a similar feel include The World at War, Blue Planet, and Apocalypse: The Second World War.

How long is World War II with Tom Hanks?

World War II with Tom Hanks: 1 season, 20 episodes.

Is World War II with Tom Hanks still running?

No, World War II with Tom Hanks has ended.

Where can I watch World War II with Tom Hanks?

In United States, World War II with Tom Hanks streams on Philo, HISTORY Vault Apple TV channel, HISTORY Vault Amazon Channel, History.