The World Wars
History | The History Channel | History Channel | Release Date: May 26, 2014
CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
62
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews
Positive:
3
Mixed:
4
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
The New York TimesAlessandra StanleyMay 27, 2014
Season 1 Review: It’s a smart, imaginatively made and unusually sweeping look at what happened to the world from Sarajevo in 1914 to Hiroshima in 1945, or as Churchill put it, “one story of a 30 years’ war.” Read full review
75
Entertainment WeeklyRay RahmanMay 23, 2014
Season 1 Review: The lush narrative style is alluring, but when Adolf Hitler starts to feel like a pulpy Batman villain, you'll suspect this isn't the most insightful ­account available. [30 May/6 Jun 2014, p.111] Read full review
70
Wall Street JournalNancy DeWolf SmithMay 23, 2014
Season 1 Review: The World Wars has a few annoying habits, including pared-down descriptions that can be depressingly inane. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesMary McNamaraMay 27, 2014
Season 1 Review: There is much to like and learn from the miniseries. Alas, executive producer Stephen David and his creative team seem intent on getting in their own way, cluttering up the inevitably fascinating narrative (offered here by Jeremy Renner) with all manner of clunky historical reenactments, hyperbolic characterizations and a soundtrack that should be shot for treason. Read full review
60
Denver PostJoanne OstrowMay 23, 2014
Season 1 Review: Nobody will accuse it of being ponderous or academic. It's expensive-looking and shallow but long. Read full review
50
VarietyBrian LowryMay 23, 2014
Season 1 Review: A three-part, six-hour undertaking that proves fitfully interesting despite its offputting narrative approach. Read full review
42
The A.V. ClubAlasdair WilkinsMay 27, 2014
Season 1 Review: This impulse for larger-than-life storytelling does mean that The World Wars is terminally superficial. Read full review
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