Best Miniseries

Lonesome Dove is a 1989 U.S. CBS miniseries adapted from Larry McMurtry's novel, widely noted for reviving the television Western.

The People v. O. J. Simpson is a 2016 FX true-crime miniseries about the Simpson murder trial, winner of the Emmy for limited series.

Small Axe is a 2020 BBC anthology miniseries by Steve McQueen, telling five stories about London's West Indian community.

The television miniseries Omar recounts the life of the influential Islamic scholar and warrior, Omar ibn al-Khattab. It details his journey from age eighteen through his death, offering a historical portrayal of his leadership within early Morocco and the burgeoning Islamic empire. The series, prod...

War and Remembrance is a television adaptation of Herman Wouk’s novel, detailing events from December 1941 through the bombing of Hiroshima. The eight-part miniseries chronicles the American experience during World War II following Pearl Harbor and continues the narrative established in *The Winds o...

When They See Us is a 2019 Netflix miniseries by Ava DuVernay, dramatizing the wrongful convictions of the five teenagers in the Central Park jogger case.

John Adams is a 2008 HBO historical miniseries about the U.S. founding father and second president, notable for Paul Giamatti's Emmy-winning lead performance.

Unbelievable is a 2019 Netflix miniseries based on real reporting, following a dismissed rape report and the detectives who connect related assaults.

Mrs. America is a television miniseries depicting the 1970s campaign surrounding the Equal Rights Amendment. The series examines the efforts of conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly and a large cast including Cate Blanchett and Rose Byrne to oppose the amendment’s passage. It was produced by FX and...

The Hollow Crown is a 2012 BBC Shakespeare miniseries adapting Richard II, Henry IV, and Henry V with major British stage actors.

The Sixth Commandment is a 2023 British true-crime drama by Sarah Phelps, notable for its account of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin.

Maid is a 2021 Netflix miniseries inspired by Stephanie Land's memoir, following a young mother who leaves abuse and works as a cleaner.

Angels in America is a 2003 HBO miniseries adapted from Tony Kushner's play, notable for linking AIDS, politics, and faith in 1980s America.

The Honourable Woman is a British miniseries centered around Cecilia Pausier, a woman inheriting her family’s shipping empire in post-war London. The series explores decades of political maneuvering and espionage through her perspective. Maggie Gyllenhaal delivers a compelling performance navigating...

Black Bird is a 2022 U.S. Apple TV+ miniseries based on James Keene's memoir about eliciting a confession from a suspected serial killer.

Years and Years is a 2019 BBC and HBO miniseries by Russell T Davies, following a British family through near-future political upheaval.

Olive Kitteridge is a 2014 HBO miniseries based on Elizabeth Strout's novel, notable for Frances McDormand's Emmy-winning role as a Maine teacher.

The Assassination of Gianni Versace is a 2018 FX miniseries about Andrew Cunanan's murders, winner of the Emmy for limited series.

Baby Reindeer is a 2024 British Netflix miniseries by Richard Gadd, based on his stage work and centered on stalking, trauma, and self-examination.

The Virtues is a 2019 Channel 4 drama by Shane Meadows and Jack Thorne, notable for Stephen Graham's performance in a story of trauma and recovery.

Genius: Einstein is the 2017 first season of National Geographic's anthology, dramatizing Albert Einstein's life with Geoffrey Rush.

North and South is a 1985 U.S. ABC miniseries adapted from John Jakes's novel, following two families divided by the American Civil War.

Patrick Melrose is a 2018 British-American miniseries based on Edward St Aubyn's novels, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as an addicted aristocrat.

Sherwood is a British crime drama created by James Graham, notable for linking 2004 Nottinghamshire murders to the legacy of the miners' strike.

Feud: Bette and Joan is a 2017 FX miniseries created by Ryan Murphy, dramatizing the rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

The Winds of War is a 1983 U.S. ABC miniseries adapted from Herman Wouk's novel, tracing an American naval family before World War II.

Rich Man, Poor Man examines the devastating consequences of economic disparity through the interwoven lives of a wealthy businessman and a struggling dockworker in 1970s America. The miniseries, based on Irwin Shaw’s novel, explores themes of social injustice and family dynamics with performances by...

The Thorn Birds is an American television miniseries adapted from Colleen McCullough’s 1977 novel. Broadcast in 1983, the series featured a large ensemble cast including Richard Chamberlain and Barbara Stanwyck. It was directed by Daryl Duke and presented a romantic drama spanning multiple generatio...

Escape at Dannemora is a 2018 Showtime miniseries directed by Ben Stiller, dramatizing the 2015 prison escape from Clinton Correctional Facility.