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The Pacific (miniseries)

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The Pacific
Company typeMiniseries
IndustryTelevision
FoundedMarch 14, 2010; 16 years ago (2010-03-14)
FounderHBO, Playtone, DreamWorks Television
Headquarters
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman (producers)
ProductsTelevision miniseries
ParentHBO, Playtone, DreamWorks Television

The Pacific is a 2010 American war drama miniseries created by HBO, Playtone, and DreamWorks Television, which debuted on March 14, 2010. It represents the second installment in a trilogy of related miniseries developed by Playtone and DreamWorks, positioned between Band of Brothers (2001) and the forthcoming Masters of the Air (2024).

This series highlights the experiences of the United States Marine Corps during World War II's Pacific Theater of Operations. In contrast to Band of Brothers, which followed Easy Company’s journey in Europe, The Pacific narrates the stories of Marines Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale), Eugene Sledge (Joseph Mazzello), and John Basilone (Jon Seda) from separate units within the 1st Marine Division. The narrative spans significant battles such as Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa through their viewpoints.

Co-executive producer and writer Bruce C. McKenna, who also contributed significantly to Band of Brothers, spearheaded the writing team. The storyline primarily draws from the memoirs With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by Sledge and Helmet for My Pillow by Leckie. Additional inspiration was taken from Sledge's China Marine and Chuck Tatum's Red Blood, Black Sand, which recounts his experiences with Basilone at Iwo Jima. Hugh Ambrose, son of Stephen Ambrose—the author behind Band of Brothers—served as a consultant for the project.

With an estimated production cost of $217 million, The Pacific is recognized for its more somber and psychologically intense tone alongside a realistic portrayal of combat in the Pacific War. While it received acclaim for its authenticity and secured the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries, some viewers noted that its storytelling lacked the narrative cohesion found in its predecessor.


Cast

The principal cast members are arranged alphabetically in the credits, except for the three lead characters who appear throughout all episodes.

Production

The Pacific was developed under the guidance of producers Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman, in collaboration with HBO Miniseries, Playtone, DreamWorks Television, Seven Network, and Sky Movies. Seven Network and Sky Movies secured broadcast rights for Australia and the United Kingdom respectively, while Nine Network, which had previously aired HBO's Band of Brothers, lost distribution rights after HBO opted for independent distribution.

Originally set with a $100 million budget, the production ultimately surpassed $200 million in expenses, establishing it as the priciest television miniseries at that time. Around A$134 million was invested in Australia, which generated an estimated A$180 million in economic impact and supported approximately 4,000 jobs.

Filming commenced in Australia on August 10, 2007, and wrapped up by late May 2008. Locations included Port Douglas in Queensland; rural areas near Lara and Geelong in Victoria; as well as urban settings around Melbourne such as Docklands studios and Flinders Street station. Additional suburban shoots took place at Mornington Railway and La Trobe University’s Bundoora campus.

Authentic period trains were utilized for scenes on the Mornington Railway, including Victorian Railways K class and S class locomotives sourced from Steamrail Victoria and the Mornington Railway Preservation Society.

The musical score for the series was composed by Hans Zimmer, Geoff Zanelli, and Blake Neely, with the soundtrack released on March 9, 2010.

Historian Hugh Ambrose authored the official companion book titled The Pacific: Hell was an Ocean Away (2011), which delves deeper into narratives featured in the miniseries as well as additional Pacific theater engagements like the Midway and Luzon campaigns. This work offers a wider strategic perspective beyond the scope of the televised story.

Broadcast

The miniseries debuted in the United States and Canada on HBO on March 14, 2010. HBO Asia premiered The Pacific at 9 p.m. on April 3, 2010, airing the first two episodes back-to-back. Viewers in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Indonesia had access to dual-language options, while high-definition broadcasts were available across Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, and the Philippines via HBO Asia HD. The United Kingdom and Ireland began airing the series through Sky Movies on April 5, 2010. Portugal’s AXN and AXN HD channels broadcasted it two days following the U.S. premiere. Channel 7 in Australia commenced transmission on April 14, 2010. Additional international airings included Canal+ across Denmark, Norway, Finland, France, and Sweden; CNBC-e in Turkey starting April 18; Veronica in the Netherlands on April 7; Nova Cinema in Greece on April 10; TV One in New Zealand from April 12; Sky Cinema 1 in Italy on May 9; Kabel eins in Germany beginning July 15; WOWOW in Japan starting July 18; and Mnet in South Africa from May 5. In the U.S., Ovation acquired broadcast rights and began airing the series in 2019.

Marketing

The initial official trailer for U.S. audiences premiered on HBO prior to the season two debut of True Blood on June 14, 2009. This preview highlighted principal characters and combat scenes with a projected release year of "2010." A subsequent trailer was released on HBO’s website announcing a "March 2010" launch. Comcast supplemented marketing efforts by offering exclusive on-demand materials—including scenes from the series, interviews with cast members, and character profiles—starting January 14, 2010. Another trailer featuring battle sequences aired during Super Bowl XLIV in February of that year. An extended preview is also accessible via the series’ official website.

Critical reception

The Pacific received extensive praise from critics. It boasts an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 8.5/10 based on 46 reviews. The critical consensus describes it as "a truthful, though harrowing, depiction of World War II, featuring stunning visuals and not suited for sensitive viewers." On Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 86/100 from 32 critics, reflecting "universal acclaim."

Time included it among the Top 10 TV Series of 2010. IGN's Ramsey Isler awarded the miniseries an 8.5/10, commenting that although it might not exceed Band of Brothers in technical mastery or entertainment, it effectively presents a sharp, personal narrative of war. IGN also gave Episode 9 a flawless 10/10 rating.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result
2010 Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Television Movie/Mini Series Meg Liberman, Cami Patton,
Christine King, and Jennifer Euston 		Template:Won
Hollywood Post Alliance Awards Outstanding Color Grading – Television Steve Porter (for "Peleliu Landing") Template:Won
IGN Summer Movie Awards Best TV DVD or Blu-Ray Template:Nom
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards Best DVD Template:Nom
Online Film & Television Association Awards Best Motion Picture or Miniseries Template:Won
Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries James Badge Dale Template:Nom
Joseph Mazzello Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Ashton Holmes Template:Nom
Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries Template:Won
Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries Template:Won
Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Template:Won
Best Cinematography in a Non-Series Template:Won
Best Costume Design in a Non-Series Template:Nom
Best Editing in a Non-Series Template:Won
Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Non-Series Template:Nom
Best Music in a Non-Series Template:Won
Best Production Design in a Non-Series Template:Nom
Best Sound in a Non-Series Template:Won
Best Visual Effects in a Non-Series Template:Won
Best New Titles Sequence Template:Won


Category Nominee(s) Result
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result
Year Award Category Result
2019 Online Film & Television Association Awards Hall of Fame – Television Programs Inducted


Home media

In 2011, HBO broadcasted the documentary He Has Seen War, with Tom Hanks serving as executive producer and Mark Herzog as director. This film delves into the aftermath of combat and its enduring impact, including the challenges of post-traumatic stress disorder, experienced by veterans of the 1st Marine Division and E ("Easy") Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division—familiarly known from Band of Brothers. The documentary highlights their involvement in significant World War II campaigns such as Overlord, Market Garden, Pegasus Bridge, and the Battle of the Bulge.

The film features appearances by relatives of Eugene Sledge, Robert Leckie, and Easy Company’s 1st Lieutenant Lynn "Buck" Compton, along with Staff Sergeant William "Wild Bill" Guarnere and Technical Sergeant Donald Malarkey accompanied by their families.

References

Further reading

  • Masters of the Air
  • Military History Magazine, Vol. 26, No. October 4/November 2009
  • Franklin, Nancy (March 15, 2010). "The Critics: Hell on Earth." The New Yorker, Vol. 86, Issue 4, pp. 68–70.

External links

  • The Pacific at HBO
  • The Pacific on IMDb
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