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.