The demand for new and exciting TV shows has grown in recent years. Streaming services have risen to the challenge, producing a slew of compact and easily binge-able TV shows. These shows, known as miniseries, 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 scenes 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.
Updated April 28th 2023: If binging miniseries is your thing, you'll be happy to know that this article was recently updated by Amanda Minchin.
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 can binge any time.
12 Maid — Netflix
Nominated for 15 awards, including Best Limited Series and Best Actress Emmy for Margaret Qualley, Maid is a heart-warming story about an emotionally abused mother who tries to give her daughter the best life she can. After Qualley's character, Alex, finds a job as a maid, she quickly learns just how hard it is to support a small child all on her own. In addition to trying to support herself and her daughter, Alex also tries to find peace with her erratic mom, played by Qualley's real-life mother, Andie MacDowell. The dynamic between the two is raw and moving.
Adapted from the novel Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land, Maid is an emotional miniseries whose total runtime is just over nine hours.
11 Midnight Mass — Netflix
Midnight Mass is a mystery–fantasy–drama miniseries that centers around a mysterious island, a new priest, and religion. What could go wrong? This slow burn forces the viewer on the edge of their seats, waiting for answers. Who is this mysterious young priest? What is so special about this island? Will anyone survive? And what came out of the box?
From creator Mike Flanagan, who you might know from The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass will leave you guessing throughout. With a total runtime of seven hours and 30 minutes, Midnight Mass is the perfect weekend miniseries.
10 WandaVision — Disney+
Disney+
WandaVision is one of the highest-nominated shows on this list, winning 21 awards and being nominated for an additional 84. As perhaps Marvel's most popular and first miniseries, WandaVision follows the events after the Avengers they've brought everyone back from "the snap." In a small town in New Jersey, we see the lives of Wanda and Vision unfold with each episode featuring the beloved pair in a new decade of television.
By using a miniseries format for the show, the storyline was able to grow at a slow, but captivating pace. The episode length varies, but the series' total runtime is just under six hours. Plans to continue the series in a non-traditional fashion have ensued, including upcoming spinoffs that will follow two different characters from the show (Vision and Agatha respectively).
9 Mare of Easttown — HBO
Mare of Easttown was another highly-rated show, receiving 16 wins and 68 nominations in total (including an Emmy for Best Actress in a Limited Series by Kate Winslet). This raw crime-solving show centers around a small-town cop, the eponymous Mare (Winslet), and the murder of a young girl.
Facing pressure to find the killer, Mare must solve the murder along with the disappearance of other local girls. The finale will leave you breathless with its shocking whodunit twist. Perfect for a day spent lounging on the couch, this seven-hour ride will keep you guessing up to the very end.
8 Chernobyl — HBO
Chernobyl is a dramatization of the nuclear disaster that took place in Russia during the height of the Cold War in 1986. This miniseries brought in quite the haul at the Emmys in 2019, taking home 10 awards that year, including one for Outstanding Limited Series. Creator Craig Mazin has since confirmed that a Season 2 is not in the works. “We told a story of a place in time and we did it pretty darn well, and it’s time to start thinking about other places and other times…" Still, its one lone season is considered a masterpiece to this day.
7 Behind Her Eyes — Netflix
Many TV miniseries storylines come from book adaptions, and this is no exception. Adopting a book into a miniseries allows for slow pacing that captures the full story without having to omit or change too much of the plot. They also provide a concrete beginning, middle, and, most importantly, an end. Behind Her Eyes is a perfect example of this.
The series stayed true to the original story by Sarah Pinborough. Behind Her Eyes follows four people: a seemingly shady and cheating husband, the woman he had an affair with, the wife, and the wife's best friend (whom she met at a psychiatric institute). Full of twists and turns, this five-hour thriller combines a unique storyline with some rather terrific acting.
6 The Queen’s Gambit — Netflix
The Queen's Gambit is based on a book by Walter Tevis of the same name. The story follows the fictitious Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy and orphan struggling to find her place in the world amidst growing competition from herself and others. This series has been highly praised for everything from its acting chops to its brilliant representation of the game on the screen.
Winner of 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, including one for Outstanding Limited Series, this coming-of-age period drama became the first win for a streaming service in that category. Oh, and don't worry... you don't need to understand a lick of chess to love it.
5 Stay Close — Netflix
Stay Close is another miniseries based on a book. This one was adapted from Harlan Coben's novel of the same name and is one of his six adaptations available on Netflix. Stay Close premiered in December 2021 and has quickly climbed to the top of watch lists. Stay Close builds upon secrets spanning over a 17-year period, ending when they all come crashing down. With a runtime of a little more than 6 hours, Stay Close is the perfect slow-burn crime miniseries to watch.
4 Squid Game — Netflix
When Squid Game first landed on Netflix after nearly 12 years in development, there was little to no intention of it ever being more than a limited series. The story centers around a deadly game that entices players to compete for money, with deadly stakes. Said Writer/Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, “I wanted to write a story that was an allegory or fable about modern capitalist society, something that depicts an extreme competition, somewhat like the extreme competition of life. But I wanted it to use the kind of characters we’ve all met in real life”. This series, however, won't stay limited for long.
Now that it is officially one of Netflix's most-watched shows, Season 2 is set to begin filming this year.
3 Nine Perfect Strangers — Hulu
Another book adaptation, Nine Perfect Strangers comes from the mind of Liane Moriarty, a.k.a. the author of Big Little Lies. With multiple awards nominations, Nine Perfect Strangers centers around a group of people that have been called to a resort owned by Nicole Kidman's Masha. By using a miniseries format, all nine strangers are introduced, given a brief backstory, and allowed the chance for a full character arc.
The star-studded cast includes Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, and more. This series has also been renewed for a Season 2, and how the creators frame the show will determine whether it remains a limited series in the future. In the meantime, with a runtime of six hours and 28 minutes, Nine Perfect Strangers can still fit nicely into a relaxing weekend plan.
2 Clickbait — Netflix
Clickbait is an eight-episode, six-hour miniseries that highlights a different character per episode. Using this approach, the viewer is able to get into the mind of each individual character as they try to find out what happened to Nick Brewer. By allowing each individual to act as the main character for an episode, viewers are able to fall more and more engrossed in the story. Soon you too will be wanting to figure out just why Nick Brewer was kidnaped, and if he really was killed because people watched his video.
1 The White Lotus — HBO
Rounding out the list is HBO's The White Lotus. While technically no longer a limited series due to its continuation of characters between seasons, its on-again-off-again relationship as one with the Television Academy easily cements its status. The series centers around a group of travelers and staff residing at the most luxurious resorts. Both locale and actors change between seasons. Though Jennifer Coolidge’s character was the only continuation from a previous season, this 2022 Primetime Emmy Winner has since been asked to submit to the general drama category in the future.
One interesting side effect of miniseries is the impact they've had on the creative communities. In an era where streaming options are at an all-time high, creatives working on these transformational shows are expected to deliver high-quality content. Unfortunately, decreasing episode counts also promotes a decrease in job stability for these folks as a result.
One thing we can do as viewers to offset this is to advocate for a series when it tickles our taste buds. These series might not stay limited for long, so go ahead and do your part by showing more of these miniseries some love this weekend!