Five Came Back

Five acclaimed contemporary directors tell the story of five legendary Hollywood filmmakers who enlisted in the armed forces to document World War II.

Five Came Back (2017) is an American documentary miniseries created for Netflix, a three-episode limited series of roughly 67 minutes each. Narrated by Meryl Streep, it follows five legendary Hollywood filmmakers, John Ford, William Wyler, Frank Capra, John Huston and George Stevens, who enlisted in the armed forces to document World War II on film. Contemporary directors Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Paul Greengrass, Lawrence Kasdan and Guillermo del Toro reflect on their work, weaving archival footage with interviews and commentary. The engine of the story is how these men trade studio comfort for combat cameras, shooting the front lines, the Pacific, the liberation of concentration camps and the aftermath of battle, then carrying those images home. Each episode is built from real footage and the personal reckoning that followed. The tone is sober, reflective and occasionally moving, a historical record shaped by a love of cinema. Fans of The World at War, The War and documentary portraits of artists under fire will find resonance here, as will viewers drawn to war history told through the lens of filmmaking.

Critics and audiences broadly admire the miniseries for its archival richness and its moving account of Hollywood directors who went to war to document it.

• The War (2007)shared documentary form on wartime history with archival footage and reflective commentary
• The World at Warshared historical docuseries format built on archive footage and personal testimony about wartime experience
• The Trials of Muhammad Alishared focus on filmmakers and the intersection of cinema and historical trauma

Release Date

2017-03-31

Episode runtime

67 min

Rating

8.2 / 10 (75)

What is Five Came Back about?

Five contemporary directors revisit how Hollywood's legendary filmmakers left studios to document World War II on camera.

What is Five Came Back like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Five Came Back as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Five Came Back violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Five Came Back as mild.

What did critics think of Five Came Back?

Critics and audiences broadly admire the miniseries for its archival richness and its moving account of Hollywood directors who went to war to document it.

Which shows are like Five Came Back?

Shows with a similar feel include The War (2007), The World at War, and The Trials of Muhammad Ali.

How long is Five Came Back?

Five Came Back: 1 season, 3 episodes.

Is Five Came Back still running?

No, Five Came Back has ended.

Where can I watch Five Came Back?

In United States, Five Came Back streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.