If you are into historical drama, you are likely all over this genre of war documentaries, films and television shows. These TV series show the harsh realities of warfare and allow first hand experiences to be broadcast and shared with the wider world.
They help us to understand the past and why these conflicts occur. But with an abundance of war documentaries out there, which are the best depictions of these brutal tragedies? Here are the top 10 TV series about war as ranked on IMDb – and won as a huge 26 parts.
10. Taxi to the Dark Side
Alex Gibey exposes haunting details in this 2007 military documentary that covers the USA’s torture regimes undertaken during the war in Afghanistan. Taxi to the Dark Side focuses mainly on Afghan taxi driver Dilawar, who was brutally beaten to death by American soldiers while being held in a detention centre and interrogated. The film won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 2007.
9. The Power of Nightmares
The Power of Nightmares is a series of three documentaries that focus mainly on the use of fear for political gain. It was a BBC television documentary by Adam Curtis that consists largely of archival footage. The series draws comparisons between the origins and the rise of the neoconservative movement in the US and the radical Islamist movement. It was shown at Cannes Film Festival in 2005.
8. Fahrenheit 9/11
Fahrenheit 9/11 is a documentary centred on Michael Moore’s view of what happened to the US following the 9/11 attacks. He looks at how the Bush Administration allegedly used the tragic event for their own benefit by pushing forward its agenda for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
7. Samsara
2011’s Samsara was filmed over a five-year period through 25 different countries. It was shot on 70mm film and it transports the viewer to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and natural wonders.
6. They Shall Not Grow Old
They Shall Not Grow Old, directed by Peter Jackson, takes a look at the First World War. Released in 2018 to commemorate the centennial of the end of the war, the documentary uses archival footage to depict the war experience and capture a tragic moment in time.
5. The Fog of War
The Fog of War, released in 2005, was directed by Errol Morris and tells the story of America as seen through the eyes of the former Secretary of Defense under President John F. Kennedy and President Lyndon B. Johnson, Robert McNamara. This Academy Award-winning documentary was augmented through archival footage.
4. Surviving Black Hawk Down
TV mini series, Surviving Black Hawk Down gives details into the real 1993 Battle of Mogadishu. The documentary features firsthand accounts from U.S. soldiers and Somali civilians, explaining their experiences during the mission to capture warlord Aidid and the downing of two helicopters.
3. Apocalypse: The Second World War
This six-part series from 2009 takes a look back at WW2, from the rise of the Nazis to the surrender of the Japanese, it gives detailed analysis of key figures during this time. The documentary has been praised for changing the way people look at the Second World War with hours of video restored in high quality.
2. Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds
Most recently, this 2025 documentary focuses on providing an inside look at the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, also known as the Thunderbirds. The film, produced by former President Barack Obama and wife Michelle Obama, showcases the rigorous training undertaken by the team and their personal sacrifices.
1. The World at War
This epic 26-part documentary, The World at War, initially released in 1973, takes a deep dive into the Second World War. With narration from Laurence Olivier, the documentary gives a historical account of the events of the war from its roots in the 1920s to the aftermath and the lives it profoundly influenced.