Every Tom Hanks World War II Movie and TV Show, Ranked

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Tom Hanks has built an incredibly successful career by starring in a wide variety of highly-regarded films. But a recurring theme in his work is World War II. He’s been involved in many films and TV shows about the war – as an actor, writer, and producer – and these projects have often become benchmarks for the genre. For a lot of people, his work has actually shaped how they imagine World War II, whether it’s through intense action, emotional dramas, or broad historical overviews. Each production has been memorable and impactful.

Naturally, some Tom Hanks World War II projects are more memorable than others. Here’s a ranking of all his movies and TV shows about the war, from least to most impressive. We’ll see which one remains the best even now.

5) Masters of the Air

Masters of the Air tells the story of the 100th Bomb Group, a courageous American Air Force unit that flew some of the riskiest missions of World War II over Europe. From the start, the series faced tough comparisons to other acclaimed World War II projects by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. While it’s difficult to find fault with the show – particularly the breathtaking aerial combat scenes, which realistically portray the danger faced by pilots – those comparisons were unavoidable. The series excels at showing how vulnerable those pilots were amidst the intense chaos of battle.

Though Major John Egan (Callum Turner) and Major Gale Cleven (Austin Butler) are interesting leads, the supporting cast doesn’t quite grab you as much as in other similar shows. The series has its powerful moments, but it often feels like you’re observing the story from afar instead of truly connecting with the characters. Masters of the Air is a solid war drama, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the best in its class.

4) Greyhound

Despite being overlooked, Greyhound is a strong film in Tom Hanks’ career. Unlike other WWII movies that explore broad themes, Greyhound focuses on a single, intense event: Commander Ernest Krause (Hanks) leading an Allied convoy across the Atlantic while facing attacks from German U-boats. This focused approach is both the film’s biggest strength and its main limitation.

While Greyhound expertly streamlines the story, eliminating any unnecessary details or subplots to keep viewers immersed in the intense action alongside Captain Krause, this laser focus also prevents the film from achieving the same emotional depth as other World War II movies starring Tom Hanks. The movie is well-made and technically impressive, but it doesn’t leave a lasting impression regarding the characters themselves.

3) The Pacific

If you were hoping The Pacific would be similar to Band of Brothers, you might have been surprised. While Band of Brothers focused on heroic stories, The Pacific offers a much grimmer and more realistic depiction of World War II, following U.S. Marines in the Pacific Theater. The show doesn’t aim to create idealized heroes; instead, it focuses on the brutal physical and emotional impact of war on the soldiers who fought in it. Few television series have portrayed the psychological consequences of war with such raw honesty and power.

The show has a serious and complex tone, with characters that aren’t simple, making it a surprisingly heavy watch. This actually strengthens it, establishing it as one of the most impactful TV depictions of World War II. It doesn’t place higher on the list not because of its quality, but because of its focus. While The Pacific powerfully shows the brutality of war, other series manage to balance that realism with more developed characters and emotional depth.

2) Band of Brothers

Even after over twenty years, no other war series has reached the same level of excellence as Band of Brothers – it remains the standard by which all others are judged. The show chronicles the journey of Easy Company’s soldiers, from their initial training to the end of World War II in Europe. But what truly sets it apart isn’t its grand scope, but its ability to make you feel deeply connected to the individual soldiers, almost as if they were lifelong friends. This careful character development means that when something terrible happens, the impact is much more profound, because you’ve truly come to care about each and every one of them.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Band of Brothers is how it manages to do all of this while still feeling real. The battle scenes are incredibly impactful, the historical details are spot-on, and many of the episodes remain some of the best television ever made. It’s a strong contender for the best project on this list. However, when considering Tom Hanks’ work with World War II stories, one project stands out as not only defining his contribution to the genre, but also reshaping it entirely.

1) Saving Private Ryan

Some war movies are good, but Saving Private Ryan stands out. The film centers on a team of American soldiers sent to find a paratrooper and bring him home after he loses his brothers in battle. What makes it truly special is how Spielberg and Hanks use this mission to show how valuable a single life is, even amidst the massive scale of war. It remains powerful today because, no matter how epic the battles, the film always keeps its focus on the people involved – a technique that would later be perfected in Band of Brothers.

Look, everyone talks about the D-Day landing in Saving Private Ryan, and it is incredible, but to say that’s all the movie is about really misses the point. What makes it a classic, and why it still holds up, is how perfectly it blends groundbreaking filmmaking with a genuinely moving story. It completely changed how war was shown on screen, you can see its influence in so many films that came after, and honestly, it’s one of Tom Hanks’ best performances, period. It’s still the gold standard for war movies, in my opinion.

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2026-06-04 17:18