Best Miniseries You’ll Binge in One Sitting
Sometimes the best stories come in compact packages that you can finish in a day. These limited runs skip filler and stick to tight plotting, memorable characters, and complete arcs that do not require a long commitment. If you have a free afternoon or a lazy weekend day, a miniseries is an easy win.
Below are twenty five complete stories you can start and finish without juggling seasons. For each one you will find the premise, the key talent behind it, and practical details like episode counts and approximate runtimes so you can plan the perfect couch session.
‘Chernobyl’ (2019)
This historical drama recounts the 1986 nuclear disaster and the investigation that followed. It was created by Craig Mazin and stars Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, and Emily Watson, with production by HBO and Sky.
It runs for 5 episodes at roughly 60 to 70 minutes each for a total of about 5 hours and 30 minutes. It originally aired on HBO and Sky Atlantic.
‘The Queen’s Gambit’ (2020)
This adaptation of Walter Tevis’s novel follows chess prodigy Beth Harmon from orphanage lessons to world tournaments. It stars Anya Taylor Joy and features Marielle Heller, Bill Camp, and Thomas Brodie Sangster.
The series has 7 episodes that average about 60 minutes, adding up to roughly 7 hours. It was released as a Netflix limited series.
‘When They See Us’ (2019)
Ava DuVernay dramatizes the Central Park Five case from arrest to exoneration, focusing on the experiences of the boys and their families. The cast includes Jharrel Jerome, Asante Blackk, and Niecy Nash.
It is told in 4 episodes at about 60 to 85 minutes each for a total near 5 hours. It premiered on Netflix.
‘Unbelievable’ (2019)
Based on true events, this series follows a teenager accused of lying about an assault and the two detectives who later uncover a pattern of related crimes. It stars Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, and Merritt Wever.
There are 8 episodes that run about 45 to 60 minutes, totaling close to 6 hours and 30 minutes. It was produced for Netflix.
‘The Night Of’ (2016)
This crime drama explores a murder case in New York and the criminal justice process that follows. It features Riz Ahmed, John Turturro, and Bill Camp and is based on the British series ‘Criminal Justice’.
It consists of 8 episodes that average around 60 minutes for a total near 8 hours. It originally aired on HBO.
‘Patrick Melrose’ (2018)
Adapted from the Edward St Aubyn novels, this series tracks an upper class British man through trauma, addiction, and recovery across different years. Benedict Cumberbatch leads the cast with Jennifer Jason Leigh and Hugo Weaving.
It spans 5 episodes at about 55 to 60 minutes each, adding up to approximately 5 hours. It was produced as a limited series for Showtime and Sky Atlantic.
‘Godless’ (2017)
Set in the American West, this story follows an outlaw hunting a former protégé who has fled to a town populated mainly by women. The cast includes Jeff Daniels, Michelle Dockery, and Jack O’Connell.
The series runs 7 episodes with lengths around 60 to 80 minutes for a total of about 8 hours and 30 minutes. It was released on Netflix as a limited series.
‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)
Based on Gillian Flynn’s novel, this thriller follows a reporter returning to her hometown to cover the deaths of two girls. It stars Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, and Eliza Scanlen.
It has 8 episodes at roughly 55 to 60 minutes each for a total of about 7 hours and 30 minutes. The series aired on HBO.
‘The Night Manager’ (2016)
An adaptation of John le Carré’s novel, this espionage story pairs a former soldier turned hotel night manager with an intelligence operation targeting an arms dealer. Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie lead the cast with Olivia Colman.
It is 6 episodes at around 55 minutes each, totaling just over 5 hours. It originally aired on BBC One and AMC.
‘Normal People’ (2020)
Adapted from Sally Rooney’s novel, the series follows Marianne and Connell through intertwined relationships from school to university. It stars Daisy Edgar Jones and Paul Mescal and was directed by Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald.
There are 12 episodes at about 30 minutes each for a total near 6 hours. It was produced by BBC Three, Hulu, and RTÉ.
‘A Very English Scandal’ (2018)
This true story dramatizes the scandal involving British politician Jeremy Thorpe in the 1970s. Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw star with direction by Stephen Frears and writing by Russell T Davies.
It contains 3 episodes at about 55 minutes each for a total under 3 hours. It aired on BBC One and Amazon Prime Video.
‘It’s a Sin’ (2021)
Set in 1980s London, this series follows a group of friends through the early years of the HIV and AIDS crisis. It was created by Russell T Davies and stars Olly Alexander, Lydia West, and Callum Scott Howells.
It runs 5 episodes at roughly 45 minutes each for a total of around 4 hours. It originally aired on Channel 4 and later streamed internationally.
‘Midnight Mass’ (2021)
This limited series centers on a remote island community experiencing unexplained events after the arrival of a new priest. It was created by Mike Flanagan and stars Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel, and Hamish Linklater.
It has 7 episodes with runtimes around 60 to 70 minutes, totaling about 7 hours and 30 minutes. It premiered on Netflix.
‘Station Eleven’ (2021–2022)
Adapted from Emily St John Mandel’s novel, this post pandemic drama follows a troupe of actors and several survivors whose paths intersect across timelines. It stars Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, and Danielle Deadwyler.
There are 10 episodes that run about 45 to 60 minutes each for a total close to 9 hours. It was released as a limited series on HBO Max.
‘Black Bird’ (2022)
Based on true events, this crime drama follows a man who trades his sentence for a mission to elicit a confession from a suspected serial killer. Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser star with Ray Liotta in one of his final roles.
It consists of 6 episodes that average about 50 to 60 minutes for a total near 5 hours. The series debuted on Apple TV Plus.
‘Alias Grace’ (2017)
From Margaret Atwood’s novel, this period drama examines the life of Grace Marks, a young Irish immigrant and domestic servant convicted of murder in Canada. It stars Sarah Gadon with support from Edward Holcroft and Anna Paquin.
It is 6 episodes long with runtimes near 45 minutes each for a total around 4 hours and 30 minutes. It was produced for CBC and Netflix.
‘The Little Drummer Girl’ (2018)
This adaptation of John le Carré’s novel follows an actress recruited by intelligence agents for a complex undercover operation. Florence Pugh stars with Alexander Skarsgård and Michael Shannon.
It runs 6 episodes at about 55 minutes each for a total of a little over 5 hours. It aired on BBC One and AMC.
‘Unorthodox’ (2020)
Inspired by Deborah Feldman’s memoir, this series follows a young woman who leaves her ultra Orthodox community in Brooklyn and starts a new life in Berlin. It stars Shira Haas and was directed by Maria Schrader.
It has 4 episodes at roughly 50 minutes each for a total around 3 hours and 20 minutes. It was released on Netflix.
‘We Own This City’ (2022)
From creators of ‘The Wire’, this miniseries chronicles corruption within the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force. It stars Jon Bernthal, Wunmi Mosaku, and Jamie Hector.
It spans 6 episodes that run about 55 to 65 minutes, totaling close to 6 hours. The series aired on HBO.
‘The Spy’ (2019)
This series portrays the life of Israeli intelligence officer Eli Cohen as he infiltrates Syrian high society in the 1960s. Sacha Baron Cohen stars with Noah Emmerich and Hadar Ratzon Rotem.
It is 6 episodes long with runtimes around 50 to 60 minutes for a total near 5 hours and 30 minutes. It premiered on Netflix.
‘Bodies’ (2023)
This crime mystery follows four detectives in different time periods who investigate the same body and uncover a connected conspiracy. It stars Jacob Fortune Lloyd, Shira Haas, and Stephen Graham.
There are 8 episodes at about 45 to 60 minutes each for a total around 7 hours. It was produced for Netflix.
‘The Virtues’ (2019)
Created by Shane Meadows and Jack Thorne, this drama follows a man who confronts past trauma after returning to Ireland. Stephen Graham leads the cast with Niamh Algar and Helen Behan.
It runs 4 episodes at roughly 45 to 50 minutes each for a total under 4 hours. It originally aired on Channel 4.
‘Mare of Easttown’ (2021)
Set in Pennsylvania, this crime drama follows a detective investigating a local murder while managing family challenges. It stars Kate Winslet with Jean Smart and Evan Peters.
It has 7 episodes that average about 55 to 60 minutes for a total close to 7 hours. It premiered on HBO.
‘Olive Kitteridge’ (2014)
Adapted from Elizabeth Strout’s Pulitzer Prize winning book, this series traces the life of a retired schoolteacher and her family over decades. Frances McDormand and Richard Jenkins star with direction by Lisa Cholodenko.
It is presented in 4 episodes at around 60 minutes each for a total of about 4 hours. It aired on HBO.
‘The English’ (2022)
Set in the 1890s American West, this limited series follows an Englishwoman and a Pawnee ex cavalry scout on a journey tied to a wrongful death. It stars Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer and was created by Hugo Blick.
It runs 6 episodes at approximately 50 minutes each for a total of about 5 hours. It was produced by the BBC and Amazon Studios.
Tell us which miniseries you would start with and what you would add to the list in the comments.
