Tom Hanks’ New World War II Series Officially Dominates PVOD In Just 1 Day

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Throughout his career, Tom Hanks has frequently appeared in or created films and shows about World War II. So, it’s not surprising that his newest movie also focuses on this historical period.

As someone who’s followed Tom Hanks’ career for years, it’s clear he has a real reverence for the men and women of what’s often called the ‘Greatest Generation.’ Growing up, he was surrounded by stories from people who lived through World War II, and that clearly left a lasting impression. Now, he’s lending his voice to a new History Channel documentary, and it’s really struck a chord with viewers. In fact, FlixPatrol is reporting it quickly became a digital hit right after it launched.

You can watch the series on the History Channel, but it’s not currently available on any streaming services. If you want to see this in-depth look at a pivotal moment in history, you’ll need to rent or buy it online. Released on May 25th, World War II with Tom Hanks quickly became popular on the Apple TV Store, reaching the number two spot. It stayed there for two days, remaining just behind Rick and Morty.

What Is World War II With Tom Hanks?

This war has been extensively recorded, appearing in numerous films, television shows, and documentaries. Tom Hanks has been involved in several of these projects, including his starring role as John H. Miller in , the series he helped write, create, and produce, and its follow-up, . He also worked on .

This docuseries presents a fresh look at World War II, covering everything from the beginnings of fascism in Europe and the attack on Pearl Harbor, to the fall of Berlin and the aftermath of the war, including the bombing of Hiroshima and the fragile peace that followed.

The series begins with Germany’s invasion of Poland in September 1939, marking the start of history’s most devastating war. It follows the ascent and decline of the Axis powers, covering key battles like Stalingrad and Normandy, and explores the immense human suffering caused by the conflict – including the Holocaust – as well as acts of civilian resistance and ultimately, Japan’s surrender.

Tom Hanks described his lifelong fascination with World War II, explaining that growing up, everyone around him constantly talked about “The War.” He shared that he always understood the profound and lasting impact WWII had, both on the world and his own family, which is why he’s collaborating with the History Channel on a comprehensive series about the era.

He executive produced the series alongside Pulitzer-winning historian Jon Meacham.

Tom Hanks Explained His Fascination With World War II

Tom Hanks recently shared why he’s so interested in World War II. He explained that his father served in the Navy, and while he wasn’t in direct combat, his life was disrupted for nearly five years due to the war.

I’ll never forget being ten years old and being in a Safeway with my dad. He suddenly spotted someone and called out, “Brian Gallagher?” The guy turned, and it was like time stopped – he said, “Bud Hanks?” Apparently, they hadn’t seen each other since fighting together in the South Pacific during World War II. Seeing these two men, who felt like giants to me at that age, have this incredibly coded conversation stuck with me. It reminded me of so many other veterans I’ve met over the years – they’d hint at things, say, “There’s something you need to understand,” but were always reluctant to really talk about the war. It was like they thought, ‘I was just doing what I had to do,’ and didn’t see their experiences as particularly special or worth sharing.

Hanks explained that revisiting that historical period should focus on the clear decisions we’re facing today, rather than simply recounting the hardships of the past. He believes the moral choices people made during World War II were stark and fundamental – a clear choice between freedom and oppression.

World War II With Tom Hanks is available on the History Channel.

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2026-05-29 00:41