The 100 Best Miniseries of All-Time

The 100 Best Miniseries of All-Time

March 17, 2025

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One and done, that’s how miniseries seasons work. It’s always so much more enriching to watch 4 different stories with different casts and themes than watching 4 seasons of the same show. So in this list, we count down the best mini-series of all time.

61. Informer

7.9

Genres

Mystery

Actors

Bel Powley, Nabhaan Rizwan, Paddy Considine

Moods

Mini-series

This visually stunning thriller is about a young man called Raza who is hired by a counter-terrorism officer as his informer. If you liked Netflix’s Bodyguard, you will love this, which in my opinion is has much more substance.

Originally a photographer with no link to the world of crime or terrorism, the color of Raza’s skin and his accent make the authorities believe he would be a valuable asset. And quickly, he falls into a web of crime, giving this show the appeal of the fantastic HBO series The Night Of.

62. Wayne

7.9

Genres

Action, Action & Adventure, Comedy

Actors

Ciara Bravo, Dean Winters, Francesco Antonio, Kirk Ward

Moods

Mini-series

This violent action-comedy miniseries is about a Massachusetts teenager who tries to retrieve a stolen 1979 Trans Am.

And the show is not nice to Wayne who, from the very first scene, takes a beating. Think of it as The End of the F***ing World but more violent and with Boston accents.

63. Wolf Hall

7.9

Genres

Drama

Actors

Bernard Hill, Damian Lewis, Jessica Raine, Mark Rylance

Moods

Mini-series

Claire Foy (The Crown), Damian Lewis (Homeland), and Mark Rylance (Dunkirk) star in this highly-acclaimed period drama about the rise of Thomas Cromwell as he goes from being the son of a blacksmith to becoming an important figure in British history.

The miniseries is made up of only six parts, despite being based on two famous books that span thousands of pages. The result is a dense, fast-paced and compelling historical drama, where each frame manages to look like a delicate painting. And all that is very difficult not to binge in one take.

64. Station Eleven

7.9

Genres

Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

Actors

Daniel Zovatto, David Wilmot, Himesh Patel, Lori Petty

Moods

Challenging, Discussion-sparking, Dramatic

These days, pandemic stories can go either of two ways: horribly or profoundly. The realism may be too much to bear, causing so-called pandemic fatigue, or it can compel you to move in the world in kinder, more self-aware ways.

Thankfully, HBO’s overlooked Station Eleven falls under the latter category. Epic, poignant, and lighthearted, the ten-episode miniseries (adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name) is one of the few pandemic-set, post-apocalyptic shows that takes a closer look at the kind and creative ways humans approach survival.

65. Teenage Bounty Hunters

7.9

Genres

Action & Adventure, Comedy, Drama

Actors

Anjelica Bette Fellini, Charity Cervantes, Devon Hales, Eric Graise

Moods

Action-packed, Binge-Worthy, Funny

With the deluge of hyper-stylized teen shows everywhere (but especially on Netflix), Teenage Bounty Hunters comes as a refreshing and welcome surprise. Sisters Blair and Sterling, played by Anjelica Bette Fellini and Maddie Phillips respectively, strike the perfect balance between spiky and endearing, creating a chemistry that’s rare to see among TV siblings. There’s friction but also love all around. 

Their interactions alone make the series thoroughly enjoyable, but their coming-of-age hijinks and comedic timing, especially around their reluctant mentor Bowser (Kadeem Hardison), make it an absolute must-watch. If you enjoyed Booksmart but wished it was more action-packed, you’ll surely love this show.  

66. Mrs. America

7.9

Genres

Drama

Actors

Ari Graynor, Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth Banks, Jeanne Tripplehorn

Moods

A-list actors, Character-driven, Discussion-sparking

Though it primarily revolves around the conservative, anti-feminist Phyllis Schlafly (portrayed as a fascinatingly contradictory character by Cate Blanchett), Mrs. America is a true ensemble drama. Each episode becomes a primer for a different significant figure in the movement for women’s rights in the 1970s, but it also emphasizes how difficult it was for this movement to cohere. As these wildly different perspectives clash, the need for a truly inclusive and intersectional coalition begins to arise. Blanchett is brilliant as always, but the miniseries also showcases stunning work from Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Margo Martindale, Tracey Ullman, and many more.

67. Swarm

7.9

Genres

Comedy, Crime, Drama

Actors

Dominique Fishback

Moods

Action-packed, Dark, Dramatic

Created by Janine Nabers and Donald Glover (Atlanta), Swarm is a dark and bloody deep dive into fan culture. It follows Dre (Dominique Fishback), a young woman whose obsession with a Beyoncé stand-in takes a dark turn after the unexpected death of a loved one.

Artful, daring, and legitimately scary, Swarm is one of the bolder shows to come to streaming in a while. It doesn’t hold back, not with the commentary nor with the blood, which can be too much for some viewers, but if you were thrilled by films like Misery and The King of Comedy, then this mind-blowing take on celebrity mania will certainly have you hooked.

68. A Spy Among Friends

7.9

Genres

Drama, War & Politics

Actors

Adrian Edmondson, Anastasia Hille, Anna Maxwell Martin, Damian Lewis

Moods

Character-driven, Dramatic, Gripping

Based on true events, A Spy Among Friends tells the story of Kim Philby (Guy Pearce) and Nicholas Elliot (Damian Lewis), best friends who worked for MI6, that is until Philby defected to the Soviet Union. Subject to inquisition and intense scrutiny, Philby and Elliot test the strength of their friendship against growing political turmoil.

The series starts slow and the dialogue, while smart, can get heavy-handed. But if you give it some time, the payoffs are rewarding. The sets are immersive as it spans different eras and countries; the actors are charismatic as they present enigmatic layers for us to unfold; and the particulars of espionage manage to feel freshly shocking in a story told many times before. 

Artful, well-performed, and gripping, A Spy Among Friends is a great watch for fans of voluble but intelligent thrillers.

69. The Kingdom

7.9

Genres

Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

Actors

Baard Owe, Benny Hansen, Benny Poulsen, Bente Eskesen

Moods

Challenging, Dark, Dramatic

While best known for his provocative, existential dramas, Lars von Trier also made a provocative mini-series with surprising supernatural horror. Set at Denmark’s leading public hospital, The Kingdom takes familiar medical drama conflicts in handheld camera and sepia tone, but infused with an unsettling understanding of how the finest minds can fail, and how small science can feel in the face of the unexplained. That being said, the horror is much more wacky than spine-tingling or terrifying, but it’s played off through von Trier’s signature absurdism, taking a more humorous and sardonic approach. Riget may be an unexpected entry for those who have heard of von Trier, but it’s a must-watch for the auteur’s fans, showing a different side to the notorious director.

70. Fosse/Verdon

7.8

Genres

Drama

Moods

Binge-Worthy, Mini-series

Perhaps the most complete biographical drama of its year, Fosse/Verdon is a vast and brilliantly made artistic glimpse into the mind of a highly troubled genius. Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams both deliver the performances of their lifetimes, and Thomas Kail (jumping from stage to screen for the first time) shows much potential as an exciting fresh voice in the genre. Successfully straying away from biographical cliches, its length is felt every once in a while during segments that come to a standstill, but overall, it aids in crafting an all-encompassing and risk-heavy piece of media that is worth a watch for those who are fans of film and theater, and are looking for greater offerings in the biographical genre.

Comments

N
Nancy

How is Haunting of Hill House not on this list. Its what started and rocketed Mike Flanagan to a top spot in the horror mini series genre. Some of the monologues are impeccable and the Twist at the end…one of THE best. And its one of those works of art that if you re-watch you see things in the background that you never noticed before and adds more to the story and your own understanding of the characters stories.

M
Michael

Jack O’Connell is Roy Goode, not Jeff Daniels.

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