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Summary In the late 1700s, Hawaiian warrior Ka'iana (Jason Momoa) seeks to unite the islands against encroaching Western forces in the drama series co-created by Momoa and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett.
Created By: Jason Momoa, Thomas Pa'a Sibbett
Chief of War
Season 1 Premiere: Aug 1, 2025
71
7.2
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Summary In the late 1700s, Hawaiian warrior Ka'iana (Jason Momoa) seeks to unite the islands against encroaching Western forces in the drama series co-created by Momoa and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett.
Created By: Jason Momoa, Thomas Pa'a Sibbett
Where to Watch
Coming Soon
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
All Seasons
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 26 Critic Reviews
71
69% Positive
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
31% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 26 Critic Reviews
71
69% Positive
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
31% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Aug 1, 2025
Unwilling to abandon its meditative story for loud action sequences or gaudy performances, the series takes time in a landscape that feels the need to rush through these tales. “Chief of War” forces its audience to reckon with its languid storytelling process and the histories it teaches, demanding to be seen in a genre that outsiders often dominate.
Jul 31, 2025
They remain laser-focused on the big, burgeoning war. A similarly single-minded approach could weigh down a show with less momentum, but “Chief of War” has such a strong engine — in Momoa, his character, and their shared daring — it rarely feels slow or stagnant.
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 51 User Ratings
7.2
80% Positive
41 Ratings
41 Ratings
12% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
8% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 51 User Ratings
7.2
80% Positive
41 Ratings
41 Ratings
12% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
8% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
Sep 21, 2025
This was just everything I wanted from this and more. Sure, it had its good and not so good episodes. But overall it was just so cool. I wish I knew more about the symbolisme of outfits and tattoos. It made me want to learn more about the history and I can't remember the last time a show did that. Epic finale too.
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Aug 28, 2025
Brilliant writing, actors are representing so amazing in this movie and encapsulate the true spirit of the roles they lead. Such a powerful and beautiful and heartbreaking story. Great action, great to learn the beautiful language of the Hawaiian people. I am PRAYING there's a season 2 in the works Bravo!!
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Jul 31, 2025
The series’ impressively brutal action sequences are the fun stuff, but questions about the validity of a monarchy and the intrusions of the outside world on an insular culture are what stick with you. Some people may be annoyed by this. But for those who want a little bit of rumination with their raucousness, Chief of War provides a nice balance.
Aug 29, 2025
While some of the war and adventure scenes are genuinely among the most enthralling on TV in 2025, they sometimes overshadow some of the quieter scenes, rendering them mundane.
Aug 7, 2025
The script has its simplistic touches and obvious contrivances. Romance is minimized. .... But Momoa, a hulking specimen even in his dad-bod years (he turned 46 this month), is the riveting, scowling prescence who holds our interest and this sprawling and historically respectful narrative together.
Jul 31, 2025
It is a worthy endeavour, and if it occasionally feels too much like that, it does relax and gain confidence as it proceeds.
Jul 31, 2025
As much as I enjoyed learning about Hawaii's past, the dragging, uneventful, and repetitive conflicts in "Chief of War" surely undercut the experience. That's despite the generally stellar performances — particularly by Jason Momoa, Temuera Morrison, and Luciane Buchanan, who might be the revelation of the series (she's fierce, dazzling, and fiery at 5'2") — and a lived-in atmosphere (the island's beauty is breathtaking) that sadly falters by an uninspired execution.
Aug 5, 2025
Absolutely amazing! Chief of War had me hooked from start to finish – I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I’m already counting down the days until the next episode is released. The storytelling is captivating, and the way it highlights the culture is both powerful and deeply engaging.Every episode so far has kept me completely invested, and the cast does an outstanding job bringing the story to life. Incredible performances all around. I highly recommend watching – you won’t be disappointed!
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Sep 29, 2025
Jason Momoa co-created and stars in this epic tale of the unification of the Hawaiian Islands. He plays that titular character, as he works his way thru some violent encounters and too many long scenes of political maneuvering. It reminded me of the Hulu series “Shogun,” in that the visuals are beautiful and the action is impressive, but the long sequences of tribal meetings kept dragging things down. The scenery is gorgeous (ironically, shot 80% in New Zealand due to tax credits) and there’s a rich tapestry of the indigenous culture. The performances are earnest, even in the native languages. It’s the battles that stand out, esp. the final encounter, which was directed by Momoa. It’s grand, eloquent and the kills are fast, furious and plentiful. As with so many series, this could have benefited from editing, including less chatter and more action. It ended with an obvious setup for a 2nd season, which hasn’t been officially announced.
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Aug 3, 2025
Watched the free S1E1 episode. Just as expected tribal blood lust with almost no blood, same goes for the story.
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Aug 26, 2025
“To hear and to know someone’s language is to know the people and the way they think. It was integral.” QUOTE by JASON MOMOA and Co-creator Sibbett . DIRECT PROOF THEY'RE BOTH IDIOTS. That is the DUMBEST thing anybody's ever said!!! What good is a language that none of the viewers understand? PEOPLE GIVING IT A 10 Before the show aired shows BSBUT APPLE SURE BACK THEM SAYING PEOPLE ARE GETTING MORE COMFORTABLE READING SUBTITLES. GETTING MORE COMFORTABLE READING SOME SUBTITLES.
First off 99.99999817% of people in the World Can NOT understand this language. So, to hear a language that you can't understand is not to know. Many critics and Native Hawaiians have praised the decision to use this language??? That is such a small minute percentage of viewers so 20,000 Hawaiians were happy and critics cannot go against it that would be like stating gays should be gay in a film The critic would be done for by saying they don't support it. We the people are the real critics we watch it we like it we don't these critics who are obviously influenced by payments and gifts as you can tell with superhero movies that totally **** but the critics have it at a 9.5 out of 10 because they won't get a new Rolls-Royce from the movie studio. Just like can tell that IMBD is clearly manipulated And until the viewers rate the movie super low that 9 star rating until a certain number of viewers rate the movie under five stars which then causes theirs to drop down in the mid-sevens when viewer rating is 4.2 stars
They could have all in the first episode have them learn English and at least have made 60% of language English NOT 98% a language no one understands. The role of thumb is if you can make your movie idea into a book And it reads as well as the video then it will be a good show. Well in this case you could not make this into a book because no one could understand to read the language.
First off The reasons there isn't a picture behind all the texts in every page of books is that you can't read well viewing a picture let alone a moving picture. To attempt to watch a video that you're hearing another language well attempting to read a different language well trying to watch what's going on in the video is impossible. Furthermore Why they wanted to put this in a language that nobody speaks so you have to read the subtitles makes it impossible to pay attention to the pictures in the background This being almost solely in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi language means Only only a estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people in the world can speak this language. What genius makes a movie for English speaking people in a language that 99.99999817 of the world can't understand it serves no purpose and this is what happens when you have actors attempting to produce.
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Production Company:
- Chernin Entertainment
- Fifth Season
- Hard J Productions
- Pride of Gypsies
- about:blank
Initial Release Date: Aug 1, 2025
Number of seasons: 1 Season
Rating: TV-MA
Awards
Critics Choice Awards Celebration of Cinema & Television
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Film Independent Spirit Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
