The demand for new and exciting TV shows has grown in recent years.Streamingservices have risen to the challenge, producing a slew of compact and easily bingeable TV shows. These shows, known asminiseries, limited series, event series, and even anthologies, consist of a handful of episodes that allow the viewer to watch an entire season in a short timeframe. Longer than a movie, but shorter than a typical season, terms like miniseries and limited series can be used interchangeably, though technically the former is shorter.
The concept of a miniseries first hit the scene back in the 1970s and 1980s but tapered off once cable began to air its own TV shows. It wasn’t until the mid-2000s that the miniseries came back with a vengeance. In the 2010s, the Academy began to refer to a show whose length was over two hours as a limited series. This number has been extended by some networks to four hours. Though not limited to this, other rules, such as the non-continuity of characters, still apply. While by no means a precursor, these short, sweet, and eventful shows have grown in popularity over the last few years thanks in part to the rise of streaming platforms that allow users to watch these newly cultivated classics wherever, whenever they’d like. Let’s take a look at some of the best TV miniseries you may stream at any time.
Updated on March 16th, 2024, by Soniya Hinduja:This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
30War & Peace (2016)
Directed by Tom Harper (who also worked primarily onPeaky Blinders), thisepic dramatization of Leo Tolstoy’s classic novelis intertwined across thousands of storylines, all of which intersect in some way or other. We follow aristocrats Pierre, Natasha and Andrei, as they navigate high society affairs of early 19th century Saint Petersburg while dealing with their own dreams and desires. However, as larger events and greater purposes stand before them, their lives are torn apart. From geopolitical clashes to human tragedy,War & Peacecovers almost everything.
Historic Spectacle at Its Finest
It is perhaps impossible to bring justice to Tolstoy’s sprawling epic and encompass every event that took place in the Napoleonic era. But this BBC drama gets quite close to achieving it. Starring an A-list cast led by Paul Dano, Lily James and James Norton, the television miniseries features superb cinematography and glorious production values that befit its namesake. It brings the novel to new dimensions in ways that are both immense and intimate. The characters are enriched with sublime performances and the period details add intrigue.
Stream on Prime Video
29Godless (2017)
An outstanding Western miniseries created, written and directed by Scott Frank,Godlesstransports you to the lawless mining town of La Belle, New Mexico. Governed primarily by women, the town has given refuge to a man named Roy Goode, who is not only on the run from a gang led by a ruthless outlaw, Frank Griffin, but also seeking a fresh start. He lives with a hardened widower named Alice Fletcher. When word about Griffin and his gang arrives in La Belle, things barrel toward an epic showdown.
An Epic Female-Driven Western
Quite underrated considering just how remarkably gorgeous it is, this Western miniseries leaves viewers on the edge of their seats with each episode. Meticulously crafted and beautifully shot, it brings the isolated 1880s town to roaring life. The cast, which consists of Jack O’Connell, Jeff Daniels and Michelle Dockery, draws their inner vengeance and grit to bring realism to their roles. Both complex and committed,Godlessis a show that also pays a lot of focus to its heroine. The series has received a dozen Primetime Emmy nominations, of which it has won three: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, and Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music.
Stream on Netflix
28Sharp Objects (2018)
Sharp Objects
Amy Adams stars inthis psychological thrillerbased on Gillian Flynn’s 2006 debut novel of the same name. The series premiered on HBO in 2018, and it follows Camille Preaker (Adams), a traumatized journalist who returns to her hometown to investigate the murders of two young girls. In the process, she reconnects with her overbearing mother and younger sister and is forced to confront deep-seated, unresolved issues and personal memories. As more secrets are revealed, Preaker’s Missouri town becomes home to several intertwining tales.
Amy Adams Stuns as the Lead
To say that the miniseries brings justice to Flynn’s novel would be an understatement.Sharp Objectsalso allows Adams to channel her most raw and disturbing performance of all time as the troubled and alcoholic Camille Preaker. The slow-burn tension built by the protagonist’s repressed emotion drives the narrative towards a chilling conclusion but grips you tight along the way. Under the unflinching direction of Jean-Marc Vallée, the dialogue is as subtle and pointy as barbed-wire, and the intensity is excellent.
Stream on Max
27Unorthodox (2020)
Unorthodoxis an Emmy-winning miniseries based on a true story. It centers around Esty Shapiro, a 19-year-old Jewish woman who is unhappy with her arranged marriage in a strict Hasidic Jewish community in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Determined to break free, she escapes from home and travels to Berlin, where her estranged mother lives. While grappling with the loss of her old life, she learns new ways and rejects the beliefs she grew up with.
Award-Winning Autobiographical Drama
Shira Haas delivers a captivating and star-making performance as Esty, and under the bold direction of Maria Schrader, the series offers an experience that is cultural, sensitive, and urgent. Schrader makes sure to respect the source material, Deborah Feldman’s autobiography, while also shedding light on a world hidden from the rest, where women go through an emotional awakening and end up empowering many others in the process. The overall aesthetic of the miniseries is beautiful and thought-provoking.
26Scenes from a Marriage (2021)
The five-episode limited series,Scenes from a Marriage, is an emotional dissection of modern relationships. Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain star as Jonathan and Mira, a happily married couple who get praised for hanging in there for so long. However, when Mira returns from a business trip with a shocking revelation, they are forced to reassess the complicated nature of their relationship. Across five years, we see their intimate marriage turn into resentment.
A Masterclass In Acting
HBO’s adaptation of Ingmar Bergma 1973 Swedish miniseriesbrought back the same intensity and power of the original. As it examines love, desire, gender roles in a relationship, and simmering unhappiness, the series veers into sincere and relevant terrain. Under the skilled direction of Hagai Levi, Isaac and Chastain create some of the small screen’s most psychologically potent and physically volatile chemistry. They left audiences out of breath and deeply unsettled them in just five hours.
25Irma Vep (2022)
InIrma Vep, Alicia Vikander stars as Mira, a Hollywood movie star who arrives in France to rehearse and star as the main character Irma Vep in the remake of the French silent film serialLes Vampires. Under the direction of René (played by Vincent Macaigne), Mira completely immerses herself into the role, delving deeper into her character’s psyche on and off set. And soon, the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur in disturbing ways.
Sophisticated Play On Cinema
Critics praised the miniseries for its deconstruction of cinema and for offering a twisted (albeit real) look behind-the-scenes by making us witness the mesmerizing process of transformation that actors undergo to leave the audiences stunned.Irma Vepis an eight-episode-long, relentless masterpiece that comments on themes of identity and disillusionment. Moreover, Olivier Assayas has a way to flesh out dreamy magic out of its clever premise. And it goes without saying that Vikander was a sight to behold as Mira.
24Olive Kitteridge (2014)
Olive Kitteridge
A delicate but brilliant psychological drama,Olive Kitteridgeis based on Elizabeth Strout’s 2008 novel of the same name. It stars Frances McDormand in the titular role of a retired schoolteacher living her unassuming life with her kindhearted husband, Henry, and troubled son, Christopher. Segmented into episodes centered around Olive’s life and those around her, the series chronicles 25 years of her dealing with depression and jealousy as she tries to hold her marriage together.
Some of McDormand’s Best Work
Lauded for its phenomenal direction and writing,Olive Kitteridgeis an emotive tale about an individual’s quiet strength and the guts it takes to keep going.The slow-burn energyand intimate characterization, paired with the wintry setting of New England make all four short stories piece together into a soft and powerful work of art. McDormand strips bare in her towering performance, which is filled with nuance. Although grim, the miniseries leaves you overwhelmed and hopeful.
Great TV Miniseries with Less Than Five Episodes for Rewarding, Quick Bingeing
It’s possible to tell a perfect story in less than five episodes and the following shows are proof of that.
23Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022)
Fairly likable for its premise and characters,Fleishman Is in Troubleis a limited series that faithfully adapts Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s 2019 novel of the same name. In the series, Jesse Eisenberg plays Dr. Toby Fleishman, a recently divorced man who is navigatingthe modern world of dating. With his ex-wife having disappeared without a trace, he is not only left with caring for his two kids, but also time to reflect on their marriage.
An Intriguing Premise and Likable Characters
To have Brodesser-Akner as the creator of the show really helps it become empathetic and thought-provoking. She taps into gender dynamics in relationships (which are fortunately evolving) with humor and novelty. Apart from Eisenberg, the limited series also stars Claire Danes, Josh Rodner, Adam Brody, and Lizzy Caplan. The series also examines marriage in an interesting light. Relatable to some, and shocking to others,Fleishman Is in Troubleis ultimately well worth watching.
Stream on Hulu
22Tiny Beautiful Things (2023)
Tiny Beautiful Things
Adapted from a collection of essays written anonymously (at the time) by Cheryl Strayed in her advice column titled “Dear Sugar,” this limited series follows Clare Pierce, a young woman whose life is falling apart. With her writing career in ruins, she has no choice but to accept an unpaid job as a columnist. Reluctant at first, she doles out empathy and tough wisdom to strangers while reminiscing about some pivotal moments of her own life — like the passing of her mother.
Heartbreaking and Heartwarming at the Same Time
Tiny Beautiful Thingsis a poignant miniseries about healing from loss and finding beauty and peace in ordinary struggles. Kathryn Hahn portrays Clare with the kind of warmth and weariness one gains when you’re older, having listened to enough life stories to be able to learn and grow through them. Consisting of eight episodes and a stellar ensemble of secondary characters, the series is almost like a mosaic of life’s messiest moments and how they become reminders of hope and strength.
21Roots (1977)
Having received a whopping 37 Primetime Emmy nominations and winning nine out of them,Rootsis among the fewlandmark successes of the ‘70s. The epic miniseries is based on Alex Haley’s novel. It follows Kunte Kinte, a Mandinka warrior who grew up in the small village of Gambia, was abducted and sold into slavery, and eventually fought for freedom in America. Pieced together quite expertly, it unravels the history of the slave trade and the families that were torn apart during the time.
Pitch Perfect From Performances to Production Design
Despite dating back 45 years,Rootspacks an emotional wallop and strong reflection like no other. Seeing newcomer LeVar Burton as the African youngster is nothing short of a revelation; his character overcoming cruelties with a dignity that stirs your soul. Moreover, the production and the cinematography that brings 18th-century Africa and America alive is absolutely brilliant. That said,Rootsnot only showcases the horrors of slavery to a generation that never lived it but also changes how that history is seen.
Buy on Apple TV
