As I’ve noted before – most recently in a January piece heralding the first episode, “Currahee,” as a masterclass in storytelling – I rewatch Band of Brothers every 18-24 months like clockwork.
Well, to be fair, sometimes I watch it even more frequently than that.
Over the years, I’ve marveled at how the 10-part epic HBO miniseries of extraordinary bravery, resilience, and sacrifice feels timeless in the way that great art sometimes can, and most of all that I’m absolutely riveted by the experience every single time.
And as all of us know as we age up a little bit, it’s always bizarre to think about things like wait what Band of Brothers came out 25 years ago now?
Indeed it has, and to help celebrate the milestone, HBO Max is releasing a documentary called Band of Brothers: Legacy on September 9th, 2026 (notably, Band of Brothers premiered just two days before the 9/11 terrorist attacks back in 2001).
Band of Brothers: Legacy aims to provide “an intimate look at the series’ production and enduring impact,” per HBO Max, serving as “a tribute to the groundbreaking series that helped preserve the story of Easy Company and deepened public appreciation for the sacrifices of the Greatest Generation.”
Through a variety of ways, I’ve noticed that Band of Brothers has had an unusual and enduring presence in popular culture.
Anecdotally, just last month I was on a work trip and wound up having an animated and lengthy conversation with a colleague who just discovered Band of Brothers for the first time. Not only did we touch on the incredible storytelling and scope of the series and the fact that it’s simply one of the best looking television shows of all time from a production perspective, but we also got into some of the fun arcana.
There’s so much to get into from the casting perspective alone. The massive cast is jam packed with top tier character actors and a number of future superstars (example: Tom Hardy). And then there’s iconic (infamous?) cameo from a young comedic actor and future talk show host named Jimmy Fallon.
One of the very best pieces of media related to Band of Brothers is the Dead Eyes podcast, wherein Connor Ratliff tracks down, true crime style, what happened with the tiny speaking role he almost had on the show. Trust me, it’s fascinating and often hilarious.
And then of course, if you’re interested in the source material itself, check out the outstanding account by Stephen E. Ambrose: Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne, from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest.
This is all to say that I still can’t get enough of Band of Brothers the show and anything else I can get my eyes on related to it. So for that reason alone, I’m all in on Band of Brothers: Legacy.