Five Came Back: Miniseries | Rotten Tomatoes

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Critics Consensus

Five Came Back tells an inspiring story to captivating effect, offering viewing that should appeal to historians and film buffs in equal measure.

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Eleonoor

It feels unbelievably ironic to watch a exceptionally well made show about Hollywood being heroic and working to save Western Civilisation. Where did all those heroes go?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Masterful, elegant and truly compelling. I watched the reference series of the same name - made up of all the films used that informed this mini-series, beforehand. This is a considered and informed examination of the men and teams behind the films, as well as a look at the movies these Directors made before and after. It also gives a lot of information about each of their life stories. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though I shall have to watch it again, as there is so much content to process!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/09/23

Full Review

Isaiah Y

As a film buff and fan of history, I found this miniseries amazing.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/23/20

Full Review

Audience Member

Superb documentary series. During World War 2 several movie directors joined the US armed forces, making documentary films of the war. These included five of the greatest directors, not just of that era, but of all time: Frank Capra, John Ford, John Huston, William Wyler and George Stevens. They had a great impact on the war, and the war had an impact on them, not only during the conflict but in their subsequent cinematic careers. Superb documentary series. The five directors covered in the series are legends of cinema. By the ends of their careers they would, between them, win 14 Oscars and be nominated 50 times (Capra 2 wins, 6 nominations, Ford 4/6, Huston 2/15, Wyler 3/14, Stevens 3/9). Between then they would ultimately direct six Best Picture Oscar winners (It Happened One Night, You Cant Take It With You, How Green Was My Valley, Mrs. Miniver, The Best Years Of Our Lives, Ben Hur). However, from 1942 to 1945 most of their time was spent helping the war effort, directing some brilliant, relevant and inspiring documentaries. These were not shot from behind a desk but out in the thick of it Ford was wounded at the Battle of Midway, a cameraman of Wylers was killed in aerial combat while filming The Memphis Belle and Wyler himself lost his hearing while filming the film Thunderbolt. This documentary series shows well how the five of them contributed, often having to fight and manipulate their own War Department to have their films released, or, at least, not tampered with. The personal sacrifices, mentioned previously are also well documented. Most emotionally, the effects of the war on the five of them are examined. They all came back changed men, including in their movie-making styles and careers. The interviews with five present-day directors Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Paul Greengrass, Guillermo Del Toro and Laurence Kasdan help frame the contributions of the five and translate their work for us to understand. Good narration by Meryl Streep, adding the right amount of gravitas to proceedings. Great documentary on five extraordinary film-makers. Makes for emotional watching for any lover of the silver screen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I haven't ever cried like I did at the end of this. Excellent.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Uma aula de história e de cinema. O terceiro episódio traz lágrimas aos olhos de qualquer pessoa apaixonada pela sétima arte. O que esses 5 homens fizeram foi incrível! Obrigado #Netflix

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/09/23

Full Review

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Meryl Streep

Narrator

Laurent Bouzereau

Director

Mark Harris

Writer

Steven Spielberg

Executive Producer

Scott Rudin

Executive Producer

Barry Diller

Executive Producer

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Episode 1

Aired Mar 31, 2017

The Mission Begins

When World War II begins, five Hollywood directors leave success behind to join the armed forces and make films for the war effort.

Details

Episode 2

Aired Mar 31, 2017

Combat Zones

In active service, the directors pursue their cinematic vision while dealing with government bureaucracy.

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Episode 3

Aired Mar 31, 2017

The Price of Victory

After the war, the directors return to their lives in Hollywood, forever changed by what they have seen.

Details

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2017 Spring/Summer TV Premiere Dates

Five Came Back: Miniseries Trailer

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Lauren Carroll Harris

Guardian

A film buff's film, a grand creation of American mythology and a slick, entertaining, informative work.

Jul 31, 2019

Full Review

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

It's not merely about World War II; it's also about service, racism, stereotyping, war reporting, and truth. And ultimately, it's about the power of popular art to take a nation's temperature - and perhaps to shift it a few degrees.

Sep 21, 2017

Full Review

Judy Berman

Uproxx

... the miniseries excels at demonstrating how the war altered its subjects, and how their work overseas continued to change the world for decades after the fighting had ceased.

Sep 21, 2017

Full Review

Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

The final part, "The Price of Victory," the most intriguing, deals with the impact of the conflict on the five directors' postwar lives and filmmaking.

Feb 16, 2021

Full Review

Sean Mulvihill

FanboyNation.com

Making a documentary informative is tricky on its own, but making it as informative as well as thrilling as Five Came Back is truly an incredible feat.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 31, 2018

Full Review

Chris Evangelista

CutPrintFilm

As informative and captivating as all the material on display here is, it rushes by far too quickly. This could be seen as a positive: so engrossing is Five Came Back that you won't believe how quickly it's over.

Rated: A-

Dec 29, 2017

Full Review

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Director: Laurent Bouzereau
Executive Producer: Steven Spielberg, Scott Rudin, Barry Diller, Angus Wall, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Eli Bush, Linda Carlson, Jason Sterman, Ben Cotner, Adam Del Deo, Lisa Nishimura, Jason Sack
Screenwriter: Mark Harris
Network: Netflix
Rating: TV-MA
Genre: Documentary, War
Original Language: English
Release Date: Mar 31, 2017

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