10 Movies & TV Shows Like Masters Of The Air To Watch Next

Apple TV+ has finished releasing episodes of its war drama, Masters of the Air, leaving audiences with a new itch for World War II dramas, and luckily, there are plenty of great movies and television series that fit the bill. Notably, Masters of the Air is a miniseries that is part of a larger franchise of war dramas created by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman. This means that Masters of the Air fans will not only be able to find similar content to watch, but television shows that are directly related in quality, appearance, and story.

When searching for a follow-up to Masters of the Air, it’s vital to look at the show’s key aspects. The most obvious is its setting, however, there are countless World War II movies and series, so how does one narrow it down? Notably, Masters of the Air is set in the European Theater of World War II, it follows members of the U.S. Army Air Forces, and it delves into specific historical moments such as the Tuskegee Airmen, D-Day, and prisoners of war. By examining these details, it is easy to find Masters of the Air’s ideal follow-up.

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World On Fire

2 seasons, 2019

One World War II series that has garnered a lot of appreciation in recent years is the BBC’s World on Fire. This British series dives deep into World War II, with each season portraying pivotal moments during the war, but more importantly, the civilians who experienced it. While Masters of the Air gives a few peeks into the effects the war had on civilians, World on Fire offers the full experience. To focus on civilians rather than the military is a very unique choice among World War II series, and therefore, it makes World on Fire definitely worth watching.

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Land Girls

3 seasons, 2009

In Masters of the Air, audiences get glimpses of women’s role in World War II, but in the BBC’s Land Girls, women are the absolute main focus. The series follows four young women doing their part in the Women’s Land Army during World War II. Though the women of Land Girls may not be flying dangerous missions over Germany, the series definitely provides a similar feeling to Masters of the Air of individuals being out of their depth and trying to survive a horrible situation. Furthermore, its different perspective could add a lot to what Masters of the Air depicts.

9
Dunkirk

1 hour 46 minutes, 2017

When it comes to World War II movies, the best to watch after Masters of the Air are those with similar themes and situations, and Dunkirk is a perfect example. The 2017 Christopher Nolan film follows the tense evacuation of thousands of Allied troops from Dunkirk beach in 1940. Like Masters of the Air, much of this film leans into the dread and fear of soldiers being in a lethal situation, but ultimately, prevailing at the end. The inclusion of fighter pilots also lends itself to Masters of the Air. Ultimately, Dunkirk provides similar visuals and ambiance.

8
Unbroken

2 hours 17 minutes, 2014

Notably, Masters of the Air and the 2014 war film Unbroken have a major storyline in common: American soldiers becoming prisoners of war. Unbroken tells the true story of American Olympian and bombardier Louis Zamperini whose plane is shot down over the Pacific and, after surviving countless days at sea, is held as a POW in Japan. Zamperini’s story is an inspirational one, and it perfectly parallels that of Buck Cleven in Masters of the Air. Not only do both stories share key details, but they also share the key theme of survival.

7
Top Gun & Top Gun:Maverick

1 hour 50 minutes, 1986 & 2 hour 11 minutes, 2022

The only entry on this list not set during World War II, and yet, is still a strong contender as a Masters of the Air follow-up is the Top Gun franchise.

Both have incredible flying visuals, and although they don’t share the same time period, there is still a shared sense of appreciation for flying and succeeding at your mission. Top Gun offers some of the positives of Masters of the Air without the more difficult war atmosphere.

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Catch-22

1 season, 2019

One series that comes very close to Masters of the Air, but has an entirely different ambiance is Catch-22. Based on the novel by Joseph Heller, Catch-22 follows a bombardier who is sick of flying life-threatening missions during World War II, but finds that the only way for him to stop flying is to continue flying. While Catch-22 has a much more surrealist and absurd feeling to it, it certainly shares some important aspects of Masters of the Air, including scenes of flight during World War II and the overwhelming sense of danger felt by airmen.

5
The Tuskegee Airmen

1 hour 46 minutes, 1995

A piece of Masters of the Air that didn’t get enough screentime was the Tuskegee Airmen, and as a result, a perfect follow-up to the war drama is HBO’s 1995 television movie, The Tuskegee Airmen. While Masters of the Air offered glimpses at the real men who made up the all-Black squadron, the 1995 movie digs deep into their story, which is just as miraculous and impressive as the 100th’s. The Tuskegee Airmen will fill in the blanks left by Masters of the Air, while also maintaining a similar story of airmen during World War II.

4
Saving Private Ryan

2 hours 49 minutes, 1998

For those who liked Masters of the Air, it is imperative to watch Spielberg and Hanks’ previous works, starting with Saving Private Ryan. This 1998 war epic follows Captain John Miller as he and his men search for Private Ryan, an elusive young soldier who is being sent home from the war. This movie is a staple of the war genre, and because it shares producers with Masters of the Air, the two definitely overlap in terms of quality and story.

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The Pacific

1 season, 2010

The next Hanks, Spielberg, and Goetzman series to watch is The Pacific. Like Saving Private Ryan, this miniseries was created by the same team as Masters of the Air, and it continues to be lauded as one of the best World War II series of all time. It tells the stories of three U.S. Marines fighting in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Overall, the series is a dark, honest, and gripping portrayal of the true stories of American soldiers. Though it has a different perspective than Masters of the Air, the two share important themes and feelings.

1
Band Of Brothers

1 season, 2001

In the end, the best television series to watch after Masters of the Air is Band of Brothers. This miniseries is the one that started it all, as it was the first collaboration between Spielberg, Hanks, and Goetzman. To this day, Band of Brothers is still considered the greatest war series of all time, and for good reason. It is an ensemble series following the service of the U.S. Army’s Easy Company. Band of Brothers, like Masters of the Air, is about bravery in the face of adversity, but more importantly, its themes of brotherhood make it unforgettable.