Episode 1
Comrades (1917-1945)
46m3.5 / 10
Despite their ideological differences, the United States and the Soviet Union become allies in the wars against Germany.
Episode credits
Guest stars Wojciech Jaruzelski
TV series
Cold War
19981 season7.1 / 10
A 24-part series which deals with the relations between the United States, the Soviet Union and their respective allies between the end of World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Availability
Not streaming in United States
Checked Sep 2, 2026
Cold War premiered September 19, 1998. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Synopsis
A 24-part series which deals with the relations between the United States, the Soviet Union and their respective allies between the end of World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Season 1 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch Cold War
Episode 2
Iron Curtain (1945–1947)
46m3.5 / 10
Stalin begins to spread communism across Europe after the war ends, and tension grows between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode 3
Marshall Plan (1947–1952)
46m3.5 / 10
The United States offers assistance to countries that reject communism after Great Britain halts aid to Turkey and Greece.
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode 4
Berlin (1948–1949)
46m3.5 / 10
Berlin is divided into two separate cities, and Europe itself splits as the countries align themselves with the opposing major powers.
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode 5
Korea (1949–1953)
46m3.5 / 10
A Chinese civil war between the factions of Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-Shek brings the armed forces of the United States onto the battlefield to oppose communism.
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode 6
Reds (1948–1953)
46m3.5 / 10
A look at the period in which Stalin securely dominated eastern Europe, China embraced communism, and anti-communist hysteria spread in the United States.
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode 7
After Stalin (1953–1956)
46m3.5 / 10
Stalin's death brings hope that tensions will ease between the Soviet Union and the United States, and Nikita Khrushchev becomes the new Soviet Leader.
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode 8
Sputnik (1949–1961)
46m3.5 / 10
The Soviet Union launches its first satellite into orbit while the United States' own space program lags behind.
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode 9
The Wall (1958–1963)
46m3.5 / 10
The Soviet Union solves the problem of people leaving East Germany to the free West by stopping open transit and building a secured ring around West Berlin.
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode 10
Cuba (1959–1962)
46m3.5 / 10
President Kennedy confronts Kruschev when the Soviet Union begins to deploy nuclear missiles in Cuba
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode 11
Vietnam (1954–1968)
46m3.5 / 10
The United States continues its containment of communism by becoming involved in Vietnam's ongoing struggle, leading to enormous public disapproval of the policy.
Episode credits
Guest stars Ngô Đình Diệm
Episode 12
MAD (1960–1972)
46m3.5 / 10
A look at how technology shaped the politics of the Cold War era, including the United States' Mutual Assured Destruction strategy and the introduction of missiles with multiple payloads.
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode 13
Make Love Not War (The 60s)
46m3.5 / 10
An examination of the effects of the Cold War upon the populace, including civil rights movements and protests that led to policy changes.
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode 14
Red Spring (The 60s)
46m3.5 / 10
The Soviet Union continues its aggressive European policy by invading Czechoslovakia and crushing the Prague Spring Revolution.
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode 15
China (1949–1972)
46m3.5 / 10
The history of communism in China, from Mao Tse-tung's victory to President Nixon's trip to China in 1972.
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode 16
Detente (1969–1975)
46m3.5 / 10
A look at the era of detente that resulted in cooperation and exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Episode credits
Guest stars Scoop Jackson
Episode 17
Good Guys, Bad Guys (1967–1978)
46m3.5 / 10
An examination of how the major powers fought by proxy in different areas of the world throughout the era.
Episode credits
Guest stars Gamal Abdel Nasser
Episode 18
Backyard (1954–1990)
46m3.5 / 10
The United States utilizes different ways to fight the spread of communism in its own hemisphere, from Guatamala to Grenada.
Episode credits
Guest stars Anastasio Somoza Debayle
Episode 19
Freeze (1977–1981)
46m3.5 / 10
Unrest in Eastern Europe and the Oil Crisis threatens to undermine the progress made by detente.
Episode credits
Guest stars Wojciech Jaruzelski
Episode 20
Soldiers of God (1975–1988)
46m3.5 / 10
An examination of the effects of religious fundamentalism upon the United States and the Soviet Union's foreign policies.
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode 21
Spies (1944–1994)
46m3.5 / 10
A look at the hidden front of the Cold War involving subterfuge and secret intelligence gathering.
Episode credits
Directed by Tessa CoombsGuest stars George Blake, Joe Bulik, Melvin Goodman, Oleg Gordievsky
Episode 22
Star Wars (1981–1988)
46m3.5 / 10
The Soviet Union's economy falters as it struggles to keep up in the arms and technology race.
Episode credits
Guest stars Donald Regan
Episode 23
The Wall Comes Down (1989)
46m4.0 / 10
The Soviet Union loses its grip on Eastern Europe as the Berlin Wall comes down and the Cold War comes to an end.
Episode credits
Guest stars Wojciech Jaruzelski
Episode 24
Conclusions (1989–1991)
46m3.5 / 10finale
The Cold War era comes to an end as the Soviet Union's empire falls and new policies are implemented by Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin.
Where to watch Cold WarEpisode information updated Sep 17, 2026
Available now in United States
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More about Cold War
Cast
Kenneth BranaghGeorge BlakeSelf
Joe BulikSelf
Melvin GoodmanSelf
Oleg GordievskySelf
Anastasio Somoza DebayleSelf (archive footage)
Ngô Đình DiệmSelf (archive footage)
Wojciech JaruzelskiSelfProduction details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Documentary
- Episodes
- 24
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
CNNUnited States
Themes
cold war