Tom Hanks' New WW2 Series Quietly Becomes Worldwide Streaming Success

Published Jun 2, 2026, 5:42 PM EDT

Adam Bentz is a senior news writer at ScreenRant, where he has authored nearly 5,000 articles, including features and lists. He studied creative writing and English with a concentration in screenwriting at Southern New Hampshire University and interned as a writer/journalist for The Borgen Project, an influential organization that fights global poverty.

However, one of his proudest achievements is editing a Leonardo DiCaprio freakout compilation that has over 150K views on YouTube. Adam also fancies himself an amateur film critic on his personal website.

Shortly after its premiere on Memorial Day, World War II with Tom Hanks has quietly become a worldwide streaming success. The History Channel's landmark 20-episode documentary series is narrated and executive-produced by the actor and explores the conflict 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.

Now, following its premiere on May 25, World War II with Tom Hanks is No. 2 on the Top 10 TV shows on the Apple TV Store and No. 5 on Amazon, worldwide for today, June 2. On the Apple TV store, it ranks below Euphoria in first and above Rick and Morty, Deadwood, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Outlander, Mr Inbetween, Secret Service, Miami Vice, and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.

On Amazon, it ranks below Dutton Ranch in first, Rick and Morty, The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch, Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch, and above Yellowstone, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, The Way Home, Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, and Seeking Persephone in 10th place.

In addition to streaming success, World War II with Tom Hanks has received positive reactions from critics. Though it only has four reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, all of them are positive, with John Anderson of the Wall Street Journal writing, "This highly ambitious, informative and entertaining series takes the most analyzed, scrutinized, dramatized and idealized event of the 20th century and makes it feel like something you never learned about in school."

Joel Keller of Decider was similarly upbeat, stating, "As comprehensive as World War II With Tom Hanks seems it will be, even people who consider themselves experts in World War II might learn some new information about the massive conflagaration during the show’s 20 episode."

Jack Seale from The Guardian offered a more mixed take, writing, "If your knowledge is sketchy, a 20-hour investment in this programme will provide you with the basics. It does feel basic, though: the war is too big for it." Danielle Solzman of Solzy at the Movies was highly favorable, writing, "Based on the first three episodes, World War II With Tom Hanks is shaping up to be one of the more ambitious and accessible World War II documentary series produced for television in recent years."

World War II with Tom Hanks airs on Monday nights at 8:00 p.m. ET on the History Channel. The network premieres two new episodes weekly, which are then made available the following day for streaming.

Birthdate July 9, 1956

Birthplace Concord, California, USA