HBO’s 12-Part Tom Hanks Miniseries Is As Good As Band of Brothers

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Though Band of Brothers is more well-known, Tom Hanks’ From the Earth to the Moon is arguably his best historical miniseries from the 1990s. Hanks also produced Band of Brothers, which remains highly regarded as one of the greatest TV miniseries ever made due to its captivating and realistic storytelling.

Unlike some highly-regarded shows such as The Sopranos, which often have sprawling narratives, Band of Brothers stands out for its concise storytelling. Despite being relatively short, the series deeply connects viewers to the soldiers’ experiences, making the realities of war feel authentic and immediate.

HBO’s From the Earth to the Moon Arrived Before Band of Brothers

Before starring in the 2001 series, Tom Hanks produced another HBO miniseries about a significant event in American history. Called From the Earth to the Moon, the 12-part drama aired from April to May 1998 and was primarily based on the non-fiction book A Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin.

This documentary series, From the Earth to the Moon, offers a detailed and precise account of all twelve Apollo missions. It expands on the story told in Ron Howard’s Apollo 13, covering aspects of the space race that didn’t fit into the earlier film. Astronaut David Scott, who actually flew on Apollo missions, worked as a consultant to guarantee the show’s historical accuracy.

While From the Earth to the Moon followed the Apollo missions in order, it also showed events from many different perspectives. The first few episodes focused on the Apollo 8 mission, the creation of the Lunar Module, and then the famous Apollo 11 Moon landing, which happened around the middle of the series.

Tom Hanks’ Historical HBO Miniseries Is A Perfect Companion Piece to Apollo 13

Although the film Apollo 13 thoroughly documented that mission, the HBO series From the Earth to the Moon covers different ground. This is likely because Ron Howard, who directed Apollo 13, was a producer on the series, and Tom Hanks directed the final episode, giving both of them creative influence over the project.

This show feels like a natural extension of its predecessor and a great setup for Band of Brothers. While Band of Brothers was definitely more heartbreaking, From the Earth to the Moon still shows the many difficulties faced on the journey to achieving the first successful crewed lunar missions.

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2026-02-11 00:18