The miniseries format has become increasingly popular in recent years, with HBO productions like True Detective and Chernobyl drawing the same kind of acclaim that used to be reserved for Oscar-winning movies or multi-season serial dramas (as reported by The Guardian). Critically, the miniseries occupies a sort of middle ground between lengthy episodic TV shows and 90-to-160 minute feature films. Neither too short nor too long, the miniseries can be thought of as the “Goldilocks” format - just right. It’s also proven to be an excellent method of telling war stories. Indeed, some of the greatest war media of all time has followed from the development of the miniseries format.

From the release of HBO’s Band of Brothers in 2001 on, we’ve had a whole slew of excellent war miniseries to dig into. On this list, we will be looking at those that have truly excelled in their portrayal of armed conflict, whether it be through their attention to historical detail, their compelling characters, or their emotionally impactful storytelling. Here are the best war miniseries of all time, ranked.

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7 Five Came Back (2017)

     Netflix

Here’s one for all the cinephiles out there. Five Came Back is a documentary miniseries chronicling the efforts of five legendary Hollywood directors who produced propaganda films with the U.S. government during the Second World War. Whether you’re a fan of classical Hollywood cinema, or of today’s best living directors, you won’t want to miss it, as it includes extensive interviews with Steven Spielberg, Guillermo del Toro, and Francis Ford Coppola, to name a few. These modern-day giants wax poetic about the war films of the ‘40s, and it’s a real treasure to watch.

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6 Catch-22 (2019)

     Hulu

Based on Joseph Heller’s classic novel of the same name, Hulu’s six-part Catch-22 miniseries brings some much-needed levity to a genre that is often self-serious, grim, and violent in the extreme. Showrunners George Clooney (who also stars), Luke Davies, and David Michôd do justice to Heller’s dark comic masterpiece by adhering closely (where possible) to the source material. Though Catch-22 was previously adapted by New Hollywood auteur Mike Nichols in 1970, the miniseries format allows for far more breathing room than a two-hour feature.

5 Generation War (2013)

     Beta Film

Not to be confused with HBO’s Generation Kill, Generation War is a German-language World War II miniseries. For audiences used to seeing the American perspective in war media, this one may surprise you. It stirred up a great deal of controversy for depicting life within the borders of Nazi Germany. Thankfully, however, the series never glorifies fascism, and instead shows its corrupting influence on five characters trying to survive the war. And, unlike many other war miniseries, it follows the stories of non-soldiers and women characters - a refreshing move, to be sure.

4 The Vietnam War (2017)

     PBS

Ken Burns may be the greatest living documentary filmmaker, and his 2017 project The Vietnam War is evidence that he deserves that title. A 10-part documentary miniseries, The Vietnam War offers a comprehensive look at a particularly charged period in American and world history. While other works on this list are based on true stories, this one hews much closer to the truth, thanks especially to its use of eyewitness testimony and war footage. It’s not always an easy watch, but it’s certainly an important one. In classic Ken Burns fashion, it brings entertainment and education together seamlessly.

3 The Pacific (2010)

     HBO

HBO’s The Pacific is most frequently compared to Band of Brothers, and the two series are actually said to be companion pieces. As its name suggests, this miniseries centers on the Pacific front of World War II. Depicting such deadly battles as Okinawa and Guadalcanal, The Pacific deals more closely with the horrors of war, and the suffering of the soldiers involved. If you’re looking for a darker, more episodic version of Band of Brothers, you’ll adore this.

2 Generation Kill (2008)

When its seven episodes aired in 2008, Generation Kill set a new standard for media about modern warfare. The focus here is on the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and a battalion of marines who are directly and dangerously involved. Based on the true account of a reporter’s experience with this battalion (published by Rolling Stone and later developed into a book), Generation Kill is a masterclass in character development. Each of its 28 starring cast members puts on a believable and memorable performance, and by the end you’ll feel like you’ve been more than just a spectator.

1 Band of Brothers (2001)

     HBO Enterprises

Band of Brothers is perhaps the greatest miniseries of all time. It tops our list of war miniseries for its stellar depiction of camaraderie and bravery in the face of insurmountable odds. The star of the show here is the brotherhood of World War II soldiers known as “Easy Company,” whom we follow through Normandy, the Battle of Carentan, Operation Market Garden, and other noteworthy conflicts of the Eastern Front. While each episode focuses on a single member of Easy Company, the overall effect of the series is to show how intimately connected men’s lives become in wartime.