Just as Jason Momoa heads back out to Arrakis to film Dune: Part Three, his latest action epic is attracting plenty of noise — enough to awaken any sandworm. The actor has come out fighting as the ultimate warrior in the new limited series Chief of War, which he co-created with Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, bringing a slice of Hawaiian history to the small screen. The first two episodes of the thrilling drama premiered on Apple TV+ on Aug. 1, 2025, and became an instant hit on the streaming charts, where it currently resides in the number one spot. Chief of War debuted in sixth place in the United States on its first day on Apple TV+ and it also started charting in various other countries and regions. The Hawaiian historical drama series quickly battled its way to the top of the chart, and it shows no sign of giving up its reign, four days on from its initial release (with seven episodes still to go). As of now, it is the top-ranked TV show globally on the streamer, placing ahead of Foundation, Smoke, and The Buccaneers, as well as Apple’s long-standing staple shows, Severance and Ted Lasso. Starring Momoa in the lead role, Chief of War charts the rise, conflict, and fallout surrounding Ka’iana, an outcast warrior chief who reluctantly becomes a key figure in the unification of Hawaii’s four kingdoms divided by war at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. The nine-episode series appears to scratch the same itch as Game of Thrones with its grand scale and battle-heavy storytelling, but it is much more grounded in fact than fantasy as it draws from real events and turns the spotlight on a little-known period in Hawaiian history.
‘Chief of War’ Claims an Early Victory on RT

Apple TV+

In addition to its streaming success, Chief of War has claimed an early victory on Rotten Tomatoes, with a score of 89% from critics and an approval rating of 76% from audiences. The series has garnered generally favorable reviews, with several critics praising the show for its immersive production design and visuals, historical accuracy and authentic portrayal of Hawaiian history, as well as a strong lead performance by Momoa — who is at his “ferocious best,” according to the critics’ consensus on the popular review aggregation website. Chief of War is a passion project for Momoa, who stars in all nine episodes and serves as co-creator, executive producer, and director on the series, which may be his most ambitious undertaking yet. It marks his second collaboration with Apple TV+ following the eventful conclusion of the post-apocalyptic thriller See, which is another must-watch series, though it struggled to gain the same instant mainstream recognition as Chief of War despite its three-season run. Momoa’s latest is already making headlines for its strong performance and that is likely to be bolstered even further by its glowing reviews and positive word of mouth. Source: FlixPatrol