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Combat!

Combat!

On television, war is heck.

1962–1967Ended5 seasons152 episodes~60 min/epTV-PGMidcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

Combat! is an American television program that originally aired on ABC from 1962 until 1967. The show covered the grim lives of a squad of American soldiers fighting the Germans in France during World War II. The program starred Rick Jason as platoon leader Second Lieutenant Gil Hanley and Vic Morrow as Sergeant "Chip" Saunders.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Combat!?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Combat! streaming on Prime Video (free) and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Subscription

Free

Highlights

What stands out about Combat!?

Combat! earns 4 badges, led by Top 5% of shows and Universally Loved.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Combat! worth watching?

Combat!'s Midcredits score is the 96th percentile of all shows, from 3.8K ratings across 2 sources. 91% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

96th percentile

Better received than 96% of shows

95th percentile among Action95th percentile among 1960s
Acclaim (how much people like it)93rd
Approval (how many liked it)95th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

82 /100

93rd percentile of all shows

94th percentile among Action92nd percentile among 1960s

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

Approval

How many liked it

91% liked it

95th percentile of all shows

93rd percentile among Action96th percentile among 1960s
91% rated it 7–109% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

76th percentile

3.6K ratings across platforms

45th percentile among Action60th percentile among 1960s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 52% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A WWII series focused on a small squad's gritty, action-packed patrols through post-D-Day France, with strong central performances and an emphasis on the human cost of combat.

Fans praised

  • Vic Morrow's intense, physical performance as Sgt. Saunders
  • Authentic production design, uniforms, weapons, and location shooting
  • Focus on the psychological and emotional toll of war on individual soldiers

Detractors panned

  • Completely unrealistic tactics, especially Germans always standing up to be shot
  • Lack of continuity: heroes never die or suffer lasting consequences
  • Battle scenes formulaic and comical, with Saunders' squad always outmaneuvering bumbling Germans

What stands out

ActingDivisive85

Vic Morrow's method intensity and Rick Jason's stoic authority; supporting cast praised for naturalism

CharactersDivisive80

Saunders, Hanley, Kirby, Caje, Littlejohn, Doc as memorable archetypes; some find them one-dimensional

AtmosphereDivisive80

Grimy, weary, immersive sense of being in the field; detractors note backlot limitations

CinematographyDivisive80

Documentary-style location shooting, effective use of black-and-white, authentic sets

Emotional impactDivisive75

Episodes on fear, loss, and duty; detractors find it manipulative

OriginalityDivisive70

Pioneering realistic WWII drama on TV; detractors see standard genre tropes

Effects and spectacleDivisive65

Lots of firefights and explosions for TV; detractors call them comically unrealistic

Plot and storyDivisive55

Self-contained episodes with repetitive structure; fans enjoy variety, detractors call formulaic

Preferred by

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 13 points higher than non-US viewers.

Episodes

5 seasons

Season 5 · 1966 · 25 episodes

  • S5E1

    The Gun

    Sep 13, 196660 min
  • S5E2

    The Losers

    Sep 20, 196660 min
  • S5E3

    Ollie Joe

    Sep 27, 196660 min
  • S5E4

    The Brothers

    Oct 4, 196660 min
  • S5E5

    The Chapel at Able-Five

    Oct 11, 196660 min
  • S5E6

    A Child's Game

    Oct 18, 196660 min

Watch experience

What is Combat! like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and charged — a slow-burn watch that leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseMelancholic
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Episodic · 11% of shows: Loosely connected incidents rather than one driving plot.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe series presents its subject with a serious, unflinching yet heroic tone, emphasizing the soldiers' humanity and duty rather than glorifying or satirizing the war.
The rideThe series maintains a steady pressure of combat tension punctuated by quieter, reflective scenes; heaviest emotional weight is spread across the run as casualties accumulate.
StructureThe series follows a case-plus-arc structure where each episode typically presents a self-contained combat mission, though recurring characters and themes thread through the run.
Episode formatEach episode presents a new mission or patrol (case), but the series subtly tracks the squad's ongoing journey across the European theater, with recurring characters and cumulative losses.
Season formatEach season follows the squad as they push through different phases of the war in Europe (Normandy, Siegfried Line, etc.), with a generally self-contained arc per season and the same core cast.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Thought-provokingHaunting · 9% of shows
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves viewers with a sense of the human cost and brotherhood of war, prompting reflection on sacrifice and morality.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% (this title) · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

18% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe typical episode centers on a squad undertaking a dangerous mission against the German enemy, treated as a recurring hostile force. The drama comes from surviving combat and completing objectives against this ever-present threat.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfWarSurvival
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9% (this title): Survival 12% · War 1% (this title) · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% (this title) · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Survival

War · 1% of showsTrauma · 5% of shows
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe show explores the daily grind of frontline combat, the psychological cost of war on individual soldiers, and the bonds forged under fire.
StanceThe series presents war from the squad's perspective without glorifying or condemning it, observing the cost and camaraderie with a documentarian's eye.

The world

Mid 20th centuryRuralWildernessInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Leonard Rosenman
SettingWorld War II European front, from Normandy to the German border
MusicThe main theme is a martial, haunting march that sets the tone of grim determination.

Content guide

Is Combat! okay for kids?

TV-PG

Combat! is rated TV-PG.

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Combat! have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Combat!?

Cast

At least 5 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Vic Morrow
as Sgt. Saunders
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Rick Jason
as Lt. Hanley
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Pierre Jalbert
as Caje
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Jack Hogan
as Kirby
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Dick Peabody
as Littlejohn
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Walt Davis
as German Soldier
Conlan Carter
as Doc
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Paul Busch
as German Officer
Tom Lowell
as Billy Nelson
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Steven Rogers
as Doc Walton
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.

More like this

What are shows like Combat!?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Combat! include Foyle's War (2002), Army Wives (2007) and Land Girls (2009).

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What other shows share a tag with Combat!?

120 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: war epic. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.