Summary

• Miniseries on Netflix offer gripping and binge-worthy stories that viewers can finish in one afternoon.
• Shorter seasons allow for refined storytelling, making miniseries a defining part of the streaming era.
• Netflix delivers high amounts of quality short content, with critical acclaim for both originals and worldwide series.

The best miniseries on Netflix offer viewers something unique — gripping and bingeworthy stories subscribers can finish in one afternoon. One of the most interesting developments of the streaming era is the rise in prominence of miniseries, especially on Netflix. In the days of cable and network TV, shows would last the better part of the year, with 24 episodes standard. With streaming, audiences have less patience. Releasing the entire series in one go is a result of this; when a show was week-to-week, the drawn-out plot threads were less notable.

The shorter seasons allow for more refined storytelling, with creators telling a story well rather than making it last as long as possible. The miniseries is fast becoming a defining part of the era, especially with Netflix delivering higher amounts of short but quality content. Over the past few years, there have been more limited series on Netflix than ever before. Not only does the streaming service have quality miniseries from around the world, but it also produces originals met with critical acclaim.

25 Safe (2018)

8 Episodes

Michael C. Hall made his way to Netflix for the miniseries Safe. Based on the novel by Harlan Coben, Hall stars as Tom Delaney, a widower who is raising two girls after his wife's death. However, when his 16-year-old daughter Jenny disappears, Tom sets ou to find out what happened to her and bring her back home. The series has plenty of twists and turns and ended up impressing critics, leading to a positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes for everything from the shocking twists to the quality performances.

24 The Midnight Club (2022)

10 Episodes

The Midnight Club was released by Mike Flanagan on Netflix. He had already made his name with shows like The Haunting of Hill House, but here he aimed toward a younger audience. Based on the stories by Christopher Pike, The Midnight Club takes place in a hospice where eight terminally ill young people share horror stories each night, the episodes playing out the stories they told.

The overarching storyline of The Midnight Club saw the terminally ill storytellers believing they could communicate from beyond the grave after dying. The Netflix miniseries received positive reviews and ended with 10 episodes.

23 Treason (2022)

5 Episodes

Charlie Cox returns to Netflix, where he previously played Daredevil, for the miniseries Treason. When the MI6 chief is poisoned, Cox's Adam Lawrence is put in charge. When he learns an ex-lover and former SVR operative is responsible, he is put in a situation where he can help her or risk losing his position and reputation if anyone learns the truth. In only five episodes, it races along at a breakneck speed, but it received positive reviews from critics, although the audience score was not as good.

22 Anatomy Of A Scandal (2022)

6 Episodes

David E. Kelly has a pedigree on TV, creating shows like Ally McBeal. In 2022, he created one of the best miniseries on Netflix — Anatomy of a Scandal. In the series, Sienna Miller stars as Sophie Whitehouse, the wife of the British Tory MP. When the news that he has been cheating on her with his aide, Sophie is forced to deal with the fallout and the consequences of her husband's actions. The movie received average ratings, with critics praising Kelly's story and the great cast involved.

21 Inside Man (2022)

4 Episodes

Inside Man stars David Tennant and Stanley Tucci in a series created by Steven Moffat. Inside Man tells the story of Jefferson Grieff (Tucci), an ex-criminology professor on death row, who is asked to help when a woman disappears. The crime is when a vicar (Tennant) locks the woman in his basement to protect a young man who has come into possession of child pornography. The entire story has twists and turns, and what results is a crime thriller with two fantastic leads and an ending that offers no easy answers.

20 Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023)

6 Episodes

If there was any doubt the Bridgerton franchise was one of the best on Netflix, the fact Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story ended up as one of the most-watched miniseries on Netflix answers that question. This miniseries focuses on Queen Charlotte in 1817 when she seeks a new heir and 1761 when she marries King George. The series was one of the 10th most-watched English-language TV shows in the first seven days of its release. It was also universally acclaimed, with a high Rotten Tomatoes score.

19 Alias Grace (1996)

6 Episodes

Alias Grace is based on the novel by Handmaid's Tale author Margaret Atwood. While The Handmaid's Tale went on to become a critically acclaimed Hulu series, Alias Grace is one of the best miniseries in Netflix history, especially based on critical reviews. Directed by Mary Harron (American Psycho), the miniseries stars Sarah Gordon as Grace Marks, a woman accused of murdering her employer and his mistress. The show has an almost perfect 99 percent critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a great audience score.

18 True Story (2021)

7 Episodes

One of the best Netflix miniseries is True Story, which is led by the talented duo of Kevin Hart and Wesley Snipes. Hart plays a famous comedian who runs into an unexpected life-or-death situation while in Philadelphia. Interestingly, some reviews from critics were mixed as the chemistry between Snipes and Hart was praised, but the plot was considered a bit lackluster. However, audiences seemed to appreciate it more, helping it receive good viewing numbers despite some disappointing reviews.

17 Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life (2016)

4 Episodes

One of the most beloved shows of the 2000s is Gilmore Girls, with fans going back and watching it from start to finish. This led to Netflix bringing it back for a four-episode miniseries titled Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Each episode takes place during a season of the year and acts as a sequel to the original show, explaining what the characters are up to now. Each episode runs about 90 minutes. Loyal fans seemed to love the Gilmore Girls revival, critics appreciated it, and it left longtime fans wanting more.

16 Beef (2023)

10 Episodes

Beef hit Netflix in 2023 and gave viewers something that was both fun and intense at the same time. Steven Yeun and Ali Wong star in the show as two people who end up in a bit of road rage and then set out to make each other's lives hell. Their anger and relentlessness don't let up until things grow deadly, and their lives end up on the line. Critics loved the series, giving it a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it even premiered at South By Southwest before hitting Netflix. Produced by A24, there is even a chance for a Beef season 2.

15 Midnight Mass (2021)

7 Episodes

When it comes to genre, horror shows often rank among the best Netflix miniseries. From creator Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass is another big hit, centering on an isolated community that experiences miracles and dangerous omens after a charismatic and mysterious priest arrives in town. Flanagan makes sure to reference his past work, there were top-notch performances, and the show was the talk of the internet for a while after it premiered. It ended up earning five Saturn Award nominations, winning one.

14 Maniac (2018)

10 Episodes

True Detective's Cary Joji Fukunaga directs every episode of this surreal but fascinating sci-fi drama. In an alternate reality without the internet, Jonah Hill and Emma Stone play two misfits who agree to a drug trial for a new medicine that can, supposedly, cure their emotional pain. Not only is the story of Maniac well-told, but the nature of the show allows the creators to jump genres in almost every episode. Plus, the performances of Hill and Stone are great, with the latter receiving nominations at the SAG and Satellite Awards.

13 The Haunting Of Bly Manor (2020)

9 Episodes

Following the success of the first miniseries from horror master Mike Flanagan, audiences were treated to a new tale in The Haunting of Bly Manor. An adaptation of several Henry James horror stories, it follows an American woman who is hired to look after children at a house that she discovers is haunted. The Haunting of Bly Manor starts out scary and never quits, so subscribers won't have to worry about sitting through an overly long exposition before the thrills begin. While it wasn't considered as frightening or high quality as its predecessor, it still picked up an Emmy nomination.

12 From Scratch (2022)

8 Episodes

From Scratch hit Netflix in 2022, and it tells a romantic drama story with Zoe Saldaña starring as an American student who falls in love with an Italian chef. Things get bad when health issues affect the chef and the two have to deal with the pain and uncertainty. There were eight episodes, and the critical praise was overwhelming, with the miniseries sitting at 94% positive on Rotten Tomatoes. Zoe Saldaña's performance was also praised, with the actor picking up an NAACP nomination for her performance.

11 The Haunting Of Hill House (2018)

10 Episodes

Mike Flanagan has been putting out quality horror projects for years, like Hush and Gerald's Game, and one of his biggest hits was the Netflix miniseries The Haunting of Hill House. An adaptation of Shirley Jackson's novel of the same name, The Haunting of Hill House ended up as one of the best Netflix miniseries in the horror genre. After being captivated by the show the first time around, audiences keep coming back for all the hidden Easter eggs.

There are legitimately ghosts randomly in the background of Haunting of Hill House scenes, making it worth watching over and over. It won a Saturn Award after picking up five nominations.

10 Maid (2021)

10 Episodes

Every once in a while, the best Netflix miniseries debuts and takes the world by storm. One that pulled off that feat in 2021 was Maid, which focuses on a young mother who flees from an abusive relationship with her daughter and works as a cleaning lady to support the two. Margaret Qualley delivered a remarkable performance as the lead character, which earned her several major award nominations, including at the Golden Globes. It's yet another role for Qualley that proves her status as a rising star in Hollywood.

9 Unbelievable (2019)

8 Episodes

Rightly showered in Emmy nominations, Unbelievable is a Netflix crime drama's full of excellent writing and incredible performances. Based on a true story, Kaitlyn Dever plays Marie Adler, a young woman who was sexually assaulted and then accused of lying by the police. The series jumps between Marie in the aftermath and two female detectives conducting a separate investigation. Despite the upsetting subject, the show moves at the pace of a thriller, making it one of the best Netflix miniseries, even if it can be tough to get through.

8 Inventing Anna (2022)

9 Episodes

Dropping on Netflix in 2022, Inventing Anna is a drama miniseries that arrived as part of Shonda Rhimes deal with the streaming giant. Based on a true story, Julie Garner stars as Anna Sorokin, a Russian-born woman who was able to con New York City's upper class into believing she was a wealthy German heiress. She uses this con to get hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash, goods, and services. Over 511 million people watched it in its first 28 days of release (via What's On Netflix). It also picked up six Emmy nominations.

7 Halston (2021)

5 Episodes

Ewan McGregor has proven himself to be an exceptional and versatile actor over his career. That was arguably never more evident than in his leading performance in Netflix's Halston, where he played the titular character. Adapted from a novel by Steven Gaines, the series tells the story of the life of Halston, one of the world's most iconic designers. At five episodes, it's one of the shortest miniseries on Netflix, but it delivers in spades. McGregor took home an Emmy for his tremendous performance in one of the best Netflix miniseries.

6 Bodyguard (2018)

6 Episodes

The Netflix miniseries Bodyguard started as a BBC original (that Netflix later picked up to distribute internationally) and sees a war veteran uncover a dangerous plot as he works to protect an important politician. Even more than Game of Thrones and Eternals, this series truly showcases Richard Madden's acting talent in the lead role. The series was met with rave reviews and ended up being nominated for Oustanding Drama Series and Outstanding Writing at the Emmy Awards.