Best Limited Series You’ve Never Heard Of (But Should Check ASAP)

There are so many short, self contained shows that quietly came and went while everyone was busy with the latest blockbuster hits. These limited series tell complete stories in just a handful of hours, with tight writing and standout performances that never overstay their welcome. From gripping true crime to heady sci fi and elegant period drama, each pick below delivers a full arc from start to finish. Consider this your shortcut to fifteen gems you can binge over a weekend and actually finish.

‘The Lost Room’ (2006)

This sci fi mystery from the Sci Fi Channel follows a detective who discovers a motel room that acts as a portal and a set of everyday objects with strange powers. Peter Krause leads the cast with Julianna Margulies and Kevin Pollak in key roles. The series unfolds across feature length installments that add up to a single narrative. Fans praise its worldbuilding and the way clues snap together by the finale.

‘Show Me a Hero’ (2015)

HBO dramatizes a city’s bitter fight over court ordered public housing with Oscar Isaac playing real life mayor Nick Wasicsko. David Simon and Paul Haggis bring a journalistic approach that tracks policy meetings, neighborhood politics, and personal fallout. The ensemble includes Catherine Keener, Winona Ryder, and Jim Belushi. Six parts tell a complete civic saga without padding.

‘The Honourable Woman’ (2014)

This BBC and SundanceTV thriller centers on an Anglo Israeli businesswoman pulled into espionage after inheriting a defense company. Maggie Gyllenhaal gives a precise turn alongside Andrew Buchan and Stephen Rea. Writer director Hugo Blick crafts a tightly plotted story of secrets, aid projects, and surveillance. Eight chapters deliver a polished geopolitical puzzle with emotional weight.

‘National Treasure’ (2016)

Channel 4 explores the fallout when a beloved comedian faces historic assault allegations that threaten his legacy. Robbie Coltrane anchors the drama with Julie Walters and Andrea Riseborough delivering layered support. The story focuses on family dynamics, the tabloid crush, and police procedure. Four episodes build to a final reckoning that feels both intimate and unsettling.

‘Patrick Melrose’ (2018)

Showtime adapts Edward St Aubyn’s novels into five episodes that chart addiction, recovery, and a privileged man’s haunted past. Benedict Cumberbatch headlines with Jennifer Jason Leigh and Hugo Weaving in pivotal parts. Each installment focuses on a different chapter of the character’s life. The production moves from high society satire to raw family drama with precision.

‘Alias Grace’ (2017)

CBC and Netflix present Margaret Atwood’s historical crime tale about a domestic servant convicted of murder in Canada. Sarah Gadon plays Grace with Anna Paquin and Paul Gross rounding out the cast. The story is framed through interviews with a doctor who tries to parse memory and motive. Six episodes weave confession, class, and unreliable narration into a single arc.

‘Godless’ (2017)

Netflix offers a western about an outlaw hunt that leads to a New Mexico town largely run by women after a mining tragedy. Jeff Daniels, Michelle Dockery, and Jack O’Connell deliver standout performances. The series blends cattle drives, train robberies, and frontier politics. Seven chapters build to a siege that resolves every major thread.

‘The Little Drummer Girl’ (2018)

AMC and the BBC adapt John le Carré’s novel into a lush spy drama directed by Park Chan wook. Florence Pugh stars as an actress recruited by Israeli intelligence with Alexander Skarsgård and Michael Shannon as handlers. The production is known for meticulous period design and patient tradecraft scenes. Six parts track a single operation from recruitment to endgame.

‘Escape at Dannemora’ (2018)

Showtime reconstructs a real prison break in upstate New York and the relationships that made it possible. Patricia Arquette, Benicio Del Toro, and Paul Dano form the tense core trio. Ben Stiller directs with a restrained style that follows routine, preparation, and consequences. Seven episodes bring the manhunt to a decisive close.

‘Unorthodox’ (2020)

Netflix tells the story of a young woman who leaves an ultra Orthodox community in Brooklyn and seeks a new life in Berlin. Shira Haas leads a cast that uses Yiddish dialogue for authenticity. The series balances escape, music studies, and the pursuit sent to retrieve her. Four concise episodes deliver a personal journey that ends with hard won clarity.

‘Devs’ (2020)

FX on Hulu presents a tech thriller from Alex Garland about a secret quantum project inside a powerful company. Sonoya Mizuno and Nick Offerman play employees caught in a mystery about prediction and free will. The show features striking production design and hypnotic music. Eight episodes move from workplace intrigue to philosophical payoff.

‘It’s a Sin’ (2021)

Channel 4 and HBO Max follow a group of friends in London as the AIDS crisis reshapes their lives. Russell T Davies writes a warm and devastating ensemble piece led by Olly Alexander and Lydia West. The series uses needle drops and house share energy to ground the story. Five episodes trace friendship, stigma, and care work with tenderness.

‘Midnight Mass’ (2021)

Netflix delivers a character driven horror tale set on a remote island that receives a new priest and a rash of miracles. Creator Mike Flanagan focuses on faith, addiction, and community secrets. Hamish Linklater and Kate Siegel headline a cast that leans into long conversations and eerie reveals. Seven chapters rise toward a haunting final night.

‘The English’ (2022)

Prime Video crafts a revisionist western pairing Emily Blunt’s aristocrat with Chaske Spencer’s Pawnee scout. The journey structure brings them across territories, outposts, and old scores. Elegant visuals and spare dialogue define the tone. Six episodes close every character loop without hinting at a sequel.

‘Black Bird’ (2022)

Apple TV Plus adapts a true story about a convicted dealer offered a chance at freedom if he elicits a confession from a suspected serial killer. Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser anchor intense prison scenes with Ray Liotta in a memorable supporting role. The plot follows trust games, recorded calls, and the push for corroborating evidence. Six episodes bring the operation to a clear and chilling resolution.

‘Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell’ (2015)

The BBC adapts Susanna Clarke’s novel about two rival magicians shaping Britain during the Napoleonic Wars. Bertie Carvel and Eddie Marsan lead a cast that moves from drawing rooms to war fronts. The production uses practical locations across Yorkshire and Croatia. Seven episodes cover the book’s main plot with a closed ending.

‘Southcliffe’ (2013)

Channel 4 presents a four part drama about a spree of shootings in a small town and the aftermath for residents. Sean Durkin directs a nonlinear structure that follows victims, a returning journalist, and community grief. The cast includes Rory Kinnear and Sean Harris. The story examines memory, blame, and the slow return to routine.

‘London Spy’ (2015)

BBC Two follows a young man who discovers his secretive boyfriend’s death and digs into a web of intelligence work. Ben Whishaw stars with support from Jim Broadbent and Charlotte Rampling. The plot tracks data caches, coded clues, and official pressure. Five episodes build a personal investigation that reaches a final reveal.

‘The Virtues’ (2019)

Channel 4 and Warp Films tell the story of a man who returns to Ireland to confront childhood trauma. Stephen Graham headlines with Niamh Algar and Helen Behan in key roles. Shane Meadows directs with a focus on family ties and recovery. Four episodes complete a contained arc.

‘Quiz’ (2020)

ITV dramatizes the real case of the attempted cheating on the UK version of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’. Matthew Macfadyen and Sian Clifford portray Charles and Diana Ingram. The series covers the game show’s format, the alleged coughing signals, and the trial. Three episodes track events from audition to verdict.

‘The North Water’ (2021)

The BBC adapts Ian McGuire’s novel about a whaling expedition that turns deadly in the Arctic. Jack O’Connell plays a disgraced surgeon alongside Colin Farrell as a harpooner. Filming took place in Arctic waters for authenticity. Five episodes cover the voyage, a conspiracy, and the struggle for survival.

‘Parade’s End’ (2012)

BBC and HBO bring Ford Madox Ford’s tetralogy to television with Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall. The story follows a principled civil servant trapped between duty and a complex marriage during the Great War. Tom Stoppard writes the adaptation. Five episodes carry the characters from prewar society into battlefield upheaval.

‘War and Peace’ (2016)

The BBC adapts Leo Tolstoy’s epic with Paul Dano, Lily James, and James Norton. The production stages major battles and ballroom scenes across locations in Lithuania and Latvia. The script condenses multiple volumes while keeping key character arcs. Six episodes complete the narrative from peace to invasion and back.

‘A Confession’ (2019)

ITV recounts the investigation by Detective Steve Fulcher into the disappearance of Sian O’Callaghan. Martin Freeman plays Fulcher with Imelda Staunton as the mother of another missing woman. The series shows interview procedures, legal constraints, and the consequences for the detective’s career. Six episodes document the case from first call to outcome.

‘The Looming Tower’ (2018)

Hulu adapts Lawrence Wright’s book about the path to the September 11 attacks and the rivalry between the FBI and CIA. Jeff Daniels portrays John O’Neill with Tahar Rahim and Peter Sarsgaard in central roles. The production moves between New York, Nairobi, and Yemen. Ten episodes detail investigations, missed signals, and agency protocols.

‘11.22.63’ (2016)

Hulu turns Stephen King’s time travel novel into an eight part series. James Franco plays a teacher who enters a portal to the past to prevent a presidential assassination. The plot covers surveillance, historical research, and the complexity of cause and effect. Filming recreated period Texas settings and cultural details.

‘Giri/Haji’ (2019)

BBC and Netflix follow a Tokyo detective who travels to London to find his missing brother tied to a yakuza conflict. Takehiro Hira and Will Sharpe lead an ensemble that bridges two cities. The show mixes multiple languages and styles including brief animated sequences. Eight episodes deliver a cross border crime story with closure.

‘Black Earth Rising’ (2018)

BBC Two and Netflix present a legal and political thriller about prosecutions tied to the Rwandan genocide. Michaela Coel stars as an investigator adopted by a British barrister played by John Goodman. The narrative spans London, The Hague, and Central Africa. Eight episodes track cases, witness accounts, and the personal cost of justice work.

‘Brand New Cherry Flavor’ (2021)

Netflix adapts Todd Grimson’s novel about a filmmaker in early 90s Los Angeles who enters a pact that spirals into body horror. Rosa Salazar and Catherine Keener headline the cast. The production uses practical effects and period detail. Eight episodes form a complete supernatural revenge story.

‘The Serpent’ (2021)

BBC and Netflix dramatize the crimes of Charles Sobhraj across the Southeast Asia backpacker trail. Tahar Rahim and Jenna Coleman portray Sobhraj and his partner Marie Andrée Leclerc. The series follows investigators from the Dutch embassy who connect cases across borders. Eight episodes trace arrests, escapes, and the final legal outcome.

‘Olive Kitteridge’ (2014)

HBO adapts Elizabeth Strout’s linked stories into a four part portrait of a small New England town. Frances McDormand and Richard Jenkins lead a cast that spans marriages, teaching, and late life reckonings. Each chapter jumps forward to a new moment while tracking the same family. The production filmed across Massachusetts for an authentic coastal setting.

‘The Plot Against America’ (2020)

HBO reimagines an alternate United States where an isolationist hero wins the presidency. The story follows a Jewish family in Newark as national policy shifts affect work, school, and safety. David Simon and Ed Burns write the adaptation from Philip Roth’s novel. Winona Ryder, John Turturro, and Zoe Kazan anchor the ensemble.

‘Generation Kill’ (2008)

HBO and creator David Simon chronicle a Marine reconnaissance unit during the invasion of Iraq. The series is based on Evan Wright’s reporting and uses military advisors from the depicted unit. Handheld camerawork and convoy sequences track daily operations and logistics. Seven episodes cover the road from Kuwait to Baghdad.

‘When They See Us’ (2019)

Netflix dramatizes the arrests, trials, and exoneration of the five teenagers in the Central Park case. Ava DuVernay directs a cast that includes Jharrel Jerome and Michael K Williams. The narrative spans interrogations, courtroom strategy, and later life appeals. Four parts conclude with the civil settlement and public apologies.

‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)

HBO adapts Gillian Flynn’s novel about a reporter who returns to her hometown to cover a series of crimes. Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson lead the cast. The investigation structure weaves in therapy sessions, police interviews, and family history. Eight episodes resolve the mystery with a final reveal.

‘The Spy’ (2019)

Netflix tells the story of Israeli agent Eli Cohen as he infiltrates Syrian high society. Sacha Baron Cohen plays the lead with Noah Emmerich and Hadar Ratzon Rotem in key roles. The series uses period locations in Morocco to stand in for Damascus. Six episodes chart recruitment, cover building, and the final mission.

‘ZeroZeroZero’ (2020)

Prime Video follows a single cocaine shipment from producer to buyer and the brokers in between. The narrative rotates between a Mexican cartel, an Italian crime family, and a New Orleans shipping firm. Scenes move across multiple continents with Spanish, Italian, and English dialogue. Eight episodes complete the transaction arc from order to delivery.

‘The Night Of’ (2016)

HBO examines a murder case from arrest to trial through police work, defense strategy, and jail politics. Riz Ahmed and John Turturro play the defendant and his attorney. Forensic details and surveillance footage drive the investigation forward. Eight episodes present a full case timeline and verdict.

‘A Very English Scandal’ (2018)

BBC and Amazon dramatize the scandal surrounding British politician Jeremy Thorpe. Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw headline the three part story. The series reconstructs party meetings, court appearances, and media coverage. Locations across England stand in for Westminster offices and seaside towns.

‘Gunpowder’ (2017)

BBC One recounts the Gunpowder Plot through Robert Catesby’s planning and government response. Kit Harington stars with Liv Tyler and Mark Gatiss in supporting roles. The production stages raids, coded letters, and surveillance of safe houses. Three episodes lead up to the night of the attempted bombing.

‘Five Days’ (2007)

BBC and HBO present a disappearance case told through five days that alter the investigation. Each episode jumps to a later point as new witnesses and evidence appear. The structure follows police briefings, press conferences, and family meetings. The story wraps within a single contained season.

‘The State’ (2017)

Channel 4 and National Geographic follow four British recruits as they travel to join a militant group in Syria. The series tracks induction, propaganda work, medical assignments, and the risks of escape. Filming took place in Spain and Morocco for geographic stand ins. Four episodes present a closed narrative with no continuation.

‘Wormwood’ (2017)

Netflix blends documentary interviews with scripted sequences to examine a scientist’s death during a Cold War program. Errol Morris directs with Peter Sarsgaard appearing in the dramatized sections. The episodes sift through declassified files, family recollections, and shifting official accounts. The limited run ends with the final legal outcome for the family.

‘Mosaic’ (2018)

HBO and Steven Soderbergh build a murder mystery that was first released through an interactive app and then as a miniseries. Sharon Stone, Garrett Hedlund, and Devin Ratray appear across multiple timelines. The televised version organizes the branching material into linear chapters. Six episodes tell the complete story without requiring the original app.

‘Station Eleven’ (2021)

HBO Max adapts Emily St John Mandel’s novel into a limited run about survivors forming new communities after a pandemic. The show follows a traveling theater troupe, a stranded actor, and a child who grows up with a graphic novel. Nonlinear chapters connect airports, suburbs, and lakeside settlements. Ten episodes close the loop between the past and the rebuilt present.

Tell us which limited series you’re adding to your queue in the comments.