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Is there anything that embodies “prestige viewing” more than the limited series? With a clear endpoint, writers don’t need to bloat their plots to plant seeds for future conflicts. Their characters can strive for clear, definable goals. Production budgets don’t need to keep yearly renewal in mind. A limited series makes for fantastic television because it has the luxury of hyperfocus — if we’re only telling one story, let’s tell that story really dang well.
That’s perhaps why limited series lend themselves so elegantly to book adaptations. There’s more space for details than a movie, but no need to invent storylines for additional seasons. And since we think everyone should get to enjoy this stellar class of entertainment, we’ve put together the absolute best limited series you can stream; all the top-tier dramas, histories, romances, murder mysteries and more that your prestige-loving heart desires.
SEE ALSO:
The 13 best TV shows of 2024 (so far)
Note: All anthologies and multi-season series have been disqualified from consideration. Additionally, documentaries have not been included. We’ve got separate recommendations for that.
35. One Day
Credit: Netflix
On their last day at the University of Edinburgh, aristocratic playboy Dexter Mayhew (Leo Woodall) and idealistic bookworm Emma Morley (Ambika Mod) unexpectedly spend the night together. Despite their being total opposites, the pair hit it off and eventually go their separate ways — as friends. But that’s not the end of their story.
Based on the popular David Nicholls’ novel of the same name, One Day is a lovely and emotional romance. By following one day from each year of Emma and Dexter’s relationship, we see how their age changes their approach to life, to each other, and to love. A charmer and a tearjerker. — Kristina Grosspietsch, Contributing Writer
How long: About six hours and 40 minutes, over 14 episodes
How to watch: One Day is now streaming on Netflix.
34. Baby Reindeer
Adapted from his one-man play of the same name, Richard Gadd’s Baby Reindeer is one of most complex, bruising, and captivating watches of 2024. Gadd is Donny Dunn, a bartender and floundering comedian who feels compelled to show kindness to a customer, Martha. Right away, Donny can tell Martha (Jessica Gunning) is a pathological liar, but he soon comes to find she’s also an unstable stalker. Tens of thousands of unanswered emails later, Donny asks himself, why did he reach out to her in the first place, and why hasn’t he reported her to the police?
An unflinching exploration of trauma, Baby Reindeer gives us no clean resolution. As Mashable’s Sam Haysom writes, “It’s difficult to find fault with Baby Reindeer. The acting is brilliant across the board, Gadd’s writing is excellent, and the only thing that might put some people off is the darkness of the subject matter. The show is raw and honest, and the characters don’t always make the decisions we want them to make.” It might be hard to watch, but it’s even harder to look away. — K.G.
How long: About four hours, over seven episodes
How to watch: Baby Reindeer is now streaming on Netflix.
33. Mary and George
Credit: Starz
The horniest period drama of 2024 is Starz’s Mary & George, a truly excellent, darkly comedic tale about a mother and son using every tool at their disposal (sex) to gain power. In 17th-century England, Mary Villiers has big plans for her second son, George. His good looks are undeniable, and guided by Mary’s strategizing, can be used as a weapon to raise the family’s station. But Mary’s not trying to snare a mere earl or duke! No, she’s got her sights set on the king himself, whose taste for beautiful men is an open secret.
Based on the nonfiction book The King’s Assassin by Benjamin Woolley, Mary & George is stylish, moody, and deliciously wicked. Julianne Moore is pitch-perfect as the coldly plotting mother, while Nicholas Galitzine is magnetic as her gorgeous but angsty son. A sexy and delightful watch! — K.G.
How long: Just over six hours, over seven episodes
How to watch: Mary & George is now streaming on Starz.
32. Fellow Travelers
In the Lavender Scare of the 1950s, thousands of LGBTQ government employees were deemed “security risks” and unceremoniously fired. And it’s against this backdrop of McCarthy-era paranoia and secrecy that Hawk Fuller, a World War II veteran, and Tim Laughlin, a Congressional staffer, meet and fall in love.
A decades-long romance ensues; it’s a high-stakes affair that puts their jobs and livelihoods on the line. Fellow Travelers is a moving story of love and truth featuring Matt Bomer, Jonathan Bailey, and their scintillating chemistry. — K.G.
How long: About six hours, over eight episodes
How to watch: Fellow Travelers is now streaming on Paramount+.
31. Maid
Credit: Ricardo Hubbs/Netflix
Created by Molly Smith Metzler and adapted from Stephanie Land’s bestselling memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive, Maid is an absolute gut punch that will likely make you cry more than once. Margaret Qualley is excellent as Alex, a young woman struggling to leave an abusive relationship while continuing to care for toddler daughter; she’s paired with her real-life mother Andie McDowell, who is fantastic as Alex’s well-meaning but unreliable mom.
We follow Alex’s agonizing journey from navigating a women’s shelter to facing the baffling catch-22’s of the American welfare system (she can’t get state-sponsored child care without a job, but she can’t get a job without child care), and more. It’s a powerful meditation on perseverance, as well as a brutal examination of how incredibly short the United States falls in supporting those struggling to survive.* — K.G.
How long: Nine hours, over 10 episodes.
How to watch: Maid is now streaming on Netflix.
30. Station Eleven
Credit: Ian Watson/HBO Max
Whether or not you have read Emily St. John Mandel’s celebrated novel of the same name, this lavish adaptation proved must-see TV. (Well, not TV — must-see HBO!) Station Eleven creator/showrunner Patrick Somerville thoughtfully reimagined the setting and some stirring specifics of Mandel’s dystopian drama, making for a story familiar yet surprising.
In a world ravaged by plague, a scrappy theater troupe — called the Traveling Symphony — tours settlements to bring the pleasures of Shakespeare to the survivors. But how did humankind come to this place of ruin and revival? Weaving past and present in a ragged but riveting tapestry, this mini-series gave an almost alarmingly optimistic look at the apocalypse. Grounding the sensational storytelling is a critically heralded cast that includes Mackenzie Davis, Matilda Lawler, Himesh Patel, Gael García Bernal, and Danielle Deadwyler. * — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor
How long: Nine hours, over 10 episodes.
How to watch: Station Eleven is now streaming on Max.
29. Under the Banner of Heaven
Credit: Michelle Faye/FX
Detective Jeb Pyre (a stirring Andrew Garfield) begins to question his faith and his church while investigating a brutal murder in his small Mormon community in Under the Banner of Heaven.
The FX series is a haunting adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s non-fiction book that investigates the very real murder of Brenda Wright and her baby in Utah in 1984.As a fictionalized retelling, Under the Banner of Heaven weaves a story of religious extremism, generational trauma, the power and limitations of faith, and above all else, of a bright, kind young woman who got caught in the middle. Creator Dustin Lance Black’s (Milk) take is complex, deeply affecting, and beautifully shot, with glimpses of Latter-day Saint historical figures flashing through Detective Pyre’s mind, as he struggles to reconcile his beliefs with his suspicions about the involvement of the church. Sam Worthington, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Gil Birmingham, Denise Gough, and Wyatt Russell each give remarkable performances, making Heaven a truly unforgettable watch. — K.G
How long: Seven and a half hours, over seven episodes.
How to watch: Under the Banner of Heaven is now streaming on Hulu.
28. Mrs. America
Credit: Sabrina Lantos / FX
This FX miniseries dramatizes the ’70s feminist attempts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and conservative spokeswoman Phyllis Schlafly’s campaign to stop the ERA in its tracks.
Cate Blanchett plays Schlafly, whose conservative values clashed with the idea that political, civil, and legal rights should be equally extended to American men and women. Rose Byrne plays legendary feminist activist Gloria Steinem, who supported the law. Mrs. America tells a heightened version of the incredible history of the ERA and the swaths of American women who fought for and opposed equal rights on the basis of sex and gender, and like many historical dramas is as entertaining as it is occasionally infuriating. * —Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter
How long: Seven and a half hours, over nine episodes.
How to watch: Mrs. America is now streaming on Hulu.
27. A Very English Scandal
Credit: BBC
A fascinating dramatization of a trial that consumed British media cycles in the late ’60s early ’70s, when homosexuality was decriminalised in England but not legal. Russell T Davies’ A Very English Scandal tells the story of Jeremy Thorpe, a liberal member of Parliament, and his secret former lover, Norman Josiffe, who publicly accused Thorpe of attempting to murder him. It’s a compelling, surprising, and unexpectedly bubbly retelling of an abusive relationship and a government official’s spectacular fall from grace. Hugh Grant is wonderful as the slimy MP, while Ben Whishaw is positively magnetic as a complex victim with a dramatic flair.* — K.G.
How long: Three hours, over three episodes.
How to watch: A Very English Scandal is now streaming on Prime Video.
SEE ALSO:
The 15 best British TV shows of 2024 (so far) — and how to watch them
26. From Scratch
Credit: Stefano Montesi/Netflix
Zoe Saldaña has spent much of the last few years in green makeup (for Guardians of the Galaxy) or in a motion capture suit (for Avatar). But in this beautiful, heart-wrenching adaptation of Tembi Locke’s memoir, Saldaña is just a human in love — and it is captivating.
As Amy, Saldaña travels to Florence to study art against her father’s advice. There she meets Lino (Eugenio Mastrandrea in an electric and swoon-worthy performance), a passionate Sicilian chef who’s all in on Amy after his first glance. After a few false starts, a profoundly moving romance ensues, and we watch the pair’s love grow and evolve as life throws challenges their way. From Scratch is enthralling in its intensity, boasts a stellar cast (Danielle Deadwyler, Keith David, Giacomo Gianniotti, and more), and luxuriates in its gorgeous shots of food. You will fall in love with this couple and simply will not be able to stop watching or move on with your life until you find out how their story ends.* — K.G.
How long: Eight hours, over eight episodes.
How to watch: From Scratch is now streaming on Netflix.
25. Mare of Easttown
Credit: HBO
25 years ago, Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet) was a star high school athlete with a promising future ahead of her. Nowadays, she’s a bitter, divorced detective whose name is being dragged through the mud over a missing persons case she couldn’t solve. When another local girl vanishes, Mare must push aside personal dramas — and inner demons — to crack the case. This small but gruff blue-collar town outside of Philadelphia is the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, so surely someone must know something.
Creator Brad Ingelsby brings together a crackling cast that includes Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart, Angourie Rice, Guy Pearce, and Evan Peters. Together, they build an enveloping atmosphere of snark and suspicion and a darkly amusing crime drama that had tongues wagging, critics cheering, and jaws dropping. It’s no mystery how Mare of Easttown earned 16 Emmy nominations.* — K.P.
How long: Seven hours, over seven episodes.
How to watch: Mare of Easttown is now streaming on Max.
24. Transatlantic
Credit: Anika Molnar
The year is 1940. France has been invaded by Germany, and all out war is imminent. But hope remains at the Hotel Splendide in Marseille, where a scrappy, ambitious org called the Emergency Rescue Committee is corralling all its resources, legal and…not so legal, to evacuate artists, writers, and thinkers wanted by the Nazis. Led by Mary Jayne Gold (Gillian Jacobs), Varian Fry (Cory Michael Smith), and Albert Albert Hirschman (Lucas Englander), the ERC refuses to abandon their mission, even as the stakes grow ever higher for them and their charges.
Transatlantic is a stylish and captivating drama is based on a remarkable true story. The Emergency Rescue Committee helped find safe passage for Hannah Arendt, Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, Marc Chagall, and countless other dissenters targeted by the Nazis for the audacity of their ideas. Created by Anna Winger (Unorthodox) and Daniel Hendler, and adapted from Julie Orringer’s original historical fiction novel The Flight Portfolio, Transatlantic is an affecting and scenic mini-series with a sensational international cast.* — K.G.
How long: Six hours, over seven episodes.
How to watch: Transatlantic is now streaming on Netflix.
23. The Patient
Credit: Suzanne Tenner / FX
Disturbing and fascinating, The Patient is one of those thrillers you can’t drag your eyes away from. Steve Carrell is Dr. Alan Strauss, a psychotherapist who wakes up one morning chained in a basement by a patient, serial killer Sam Fortner (Domhnall Gleeson), and forced to provide therapy or else Sam will give into his violent and homicidal urges. The stakes are high, but the therapy is captivating. There’s no way out for Alan other than through, and he genuinely tries to tend to his patient while dealing with his own grief and attempting to escape. From The Americans‘ Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, The Patient will hook you in its first enigmatic minutes, and the tight, superbly-acted half hour installments will keep you pressing “next episode” before you can even think to stop yourself. And why would you?! — K.G.
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How long: Five hours, over ten episodes.
How to watch: The Patient is now streaming on Hulu.
22. I May Destroy You
Credit: HBO
English writer/actor/producer Michaela Coel first broke through with her cheeky, sex-centric comedy series Chewing Gum. With this addictive follow-up, her provocative humor turns to darker corners, exploring the issues of social media influence, anti-Black racism, consent, and rape culture.
In I May Destroy You, Coel stars as Arabella Essiedu, a twenty-something writer who relishes a wild night out on the town. But when one such night ends with a blackout, bloody forehead, and troubling flashbacks, Arabella pieces together her experience of sexual assault, turning to her friends, new lovers, and dubious distractions to cope. Coel writes with poignant realism, as the series followed her own sexual assault, which happened while filming Chewing Gum. Surrounded by a suitably superb cast, which includes Weruche Opia and Paapa Essiedu, Coel delivers an electrifying portrayal of a woman on the verge. Her critically heralded 12-part creation has won two BAFTAs, one for her lead performance, the other for Best Mini-Series, as well as a slew of Emmy nominations. * —K.P.
How long: Six hours, over 12 episodes.
How to watch: I May Destroy You is now streaming on Max.
21. The Haunting of Hill House
Credit: Steve Dietl/Netflix
If you don’t mind yelping in fright every so often, open the front door on Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House. A genuinely frightening drama from creator Mike Flanagan, based on Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel, the series centres around the concept of family trauma and grief. But there are plenty of scares too, and a mystery that will genuinely chill you, about five siblings and their parents who live in a truly haunted house. Hill House will keep you on the edge of your couch until the last showdown.* — Shannon Connellan, Editor Mashable UK
How long: 10 hours, over 10 episodes.
How to watch: The Haunting of Hill House is now streaming on Netflix.
20. The English
Credit: Diego Lopez Calvin/Drama Republic/Amazon Studios/BBC
When we first meet Emily Blunt’s Lady Cornelia Locke, she’s wearing a bright pink, frilly 1890s frock, a stark contrast to the searing blue sky and arid yellow earth of the remote American West outpost where her story begins. She does not belong in this ruthless, lawless place. But she traveled all the way from England for revenge on the man responsible for her son’s death — and she will stop at nothing to get it. Luckily, she meets Eli Whipp (Chaske Spencer), a Pawnee man and former cavalry scout for the Union army who has his own score to settle. Together, the unlikely pair travel through hostile territory, unraveling their painful pasts and finding solace in each other’s strength.
From director Hugo Blick, The English is a stunning, emotional, and brutal Western that defies expectations. You will not be able to guess where it’s going, or where it came from — but you will be utterly hypnotized by the power of Blunt and Spencer’s performances. — K.G.
How long: About five hours, over six episodes.
How to watch: The English is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
19. The Dropout
Credit: Beth Dubber/Hulu
By now you’ve certainly heard about Elizabeth Holmes, disgraced, turtleneck-wearing founder of the scam medtech company Theranos who was convicted of fraud in 2022, sentenced to 11.25 years in prison. And just two months after her guilty verdict landed, a strange and excellent miniseries chronicling her rise and fall dropped on Hulu. Whoever scheduled The Dropout’s premiere date deserves a raise.
Amanda Seyfried earned an Emmy for her deep-voiced, disquieting, and magnetic portrayal of Holmes. This mini-series is a wild ride that keeps your jaw firmly dropped to the ground the whole way through — but we can’t stress this enough, this is all based on a true (and truly bonkers) story. * — K.G.
How long: Six hours, over eight episodes.
How to watch: The Dropout is now streaming on Hulu.
18. Unorthodox
Credit: Anika Molnar/Netflix
The first Netflix series whose primary language was Yiddish, Unorthodox is an empathetic, moving story of a 19-year-old woman fleeing the oppression of her Hasidic Jewish ultra-Orthodox community in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She travels all the way to Berlin to find safe haven, but when her former husband learns she is pregnant, he journeys to Germany to bring her back. Based loosely on Deborah Feldman’s memoir, Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots, this ground-breaking limited series treats its subject matter with respect and intimacy. There is no villain here, only people shaped by the worlds they grew up in.— K.G.
How long: Four hours, over four episodes.
How to watch: Unorthodox is now streaming on Netflix.
17. The Night Of
Credit: HBO
The buzziest watch of 2016, The Night Of is a hall-of-famer when it comes to prestige limited series. Based on the first season of an award-winning British show, Criminal Justice, The Night Of follows Nasir “Naz” Khan (Riz Ahmed), a Pakistani-American student who spends a wild night with an enigmatic woman and awakes the next morning to find her stabbed to death. With no recollection of events, Naz panics, runs, and is quickly picked up by police. There’s not much hope for his puzzling case, until a seasoned public defender (John Tuturro) agrees to take Naz’s cause.
SEE ALSO:
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Gripping, patient, and devastating, The Night Of is an irresistible mystery that takes the crime drama formula and digs deeper, mining more emotion, more complexity than the standard detective fare. It’s no wonder that it was an awards season darling, taking home five Emmys, including outstanding lead actor in a limited series for Ahmed. — K.G.
How long: Nine hours, over eight episodes.
How to watch: The Night Of is now streaming on Max.
16. 1883
Credit: Courtesy of Emerson Miller/Paramount+
Though it’s technically a prequel, there’s no need to watch Yellowstone to appreciate this sweeping Paramount+ original. 1883 is a massive undertaking, making headlines for its unprecedented budget ($10 million an episode!) and scale of production. Luckily, Paramount’s big investment has paid off. 1883 is a scenic, moody drama about the Dutton family’s journey west from Fort Worth to Oregon. Elsa Dutton (Isabel May) is our protagonist, narrating over ruminative sunset shots over endless plains, vibrating with hope for a trek the show ultimately warns us will only bring doom. Rattlesnakes, bandits, covered wagon accidents — 1883 depicts the brutal, stark reality of the real Oregon Trail.
Sam Elliott is perfectly cast as the hardened covered wagon boss — his mustache has never been more fitting — and LaMonica Garrett is magnetic in an exciting role that promises to undo decades of Black cowboy erasure. As Elsa’s parents, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s comfort on horseback and in Stetsons help them fit right in alongside the veteran cast. Making adequate space to address the complex nuances of the often-violent conflicts between settlers and Native Americans, 1883 is a modern, ruminative Western whose gorgeous landscape is just as important as its affecting human drama. * — K.G.
How long: Nine hours, over 10 episodes.
How to watch: 1883 is now streaming on Paramount+.
15. The Queen’s Gambit
Credit: Charlie Gray/Netflix
Anya Taylor-Joy became a household name from this popular, award-winning limited drama series based on a Walter Tevis novel from the ’80s. Taylor-Joy is Beth Harmon, a cold, withdrawn orphan who strives to become a world chess champion and struggles with addiction. We’re on Beth’s journey from the beginning, starting with her time in a 1950s orphanage that freely gives tranquilizers to kids to dull their behavior, then following her into her adoptive family, all while she builds her skill and thirst for the game of chess. Though The Queen’s Gambit miraculously manages to make slow, cerebral chess matches absolutely thrilling, the hook here is the humanity of the characters and the captivating story of a girl demanding more from life than she was handed. Moses Ingram, Bill Camp, Marielle Heller, Harry Melling, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and more fill out the talented cast from this top-notch watch that single-handedly caused chess set sales to skyrocket 1000 percent when it debuted. — K.G.
How long: Six and a half hours, over seven episodes.
How to watch: The Queen’s Gambit is now streaming on Netflix.
14. Midnight Mass
Credit: Eike Schroter/Netflix
Writer/director Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) is known for creating spine-tingling, bone-rattling horror without many jump scares, and Midnight Mass is no exception. Friday Night Lights’ Zach Gilford is Riley Flynn, a former investment banker returning to his hometown who now feels slightly out of place in the religious Catholic community. Around the same time, a young, charming priest (Hamish Linklater) arrives to bring energy and life to the Crockett Island congregation, and strange occurrences are spotted all over town. Mysterious sightings and unexpectedly dead animals spread fear while religious “miracles” spread fervor. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt. Philosophical, sophisticated, and terrifying, Midnight Mass is both a slow-burn horror series and a moving meditation on grief. — K.G.
How long: Seven and a half hours, over seven episodes.
How to watch: Midnight Mass is now streaming on Netflix.
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13. Godless
Credit: Ursula Coyote/Netflix
Gilded with violence, glory, and cowgirls, Godless puts a feminist spin on the western. Divided into seven parts, the story of Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels) pursuing his rival Roy Goode (Jack O’Connell) into the all-female town of La Belle, New Mexico brings inventive framing to the storytelling staples we love. Not to mention, the performance by Merritt Wever is to die for. —Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter
How long: Around nine hours, over seven episodes.
How to watch: Godless is now streaming on Netflix.
12. Tiny Beautiful Things
Credit: Elizabeth Morris / Hulu
Award-winning writer Cheryl Strayed is best known for her brazenly honest and poignant memoir, Wild, about hiking the Pacific Coast Trail while processing the tragedies of her past. But fans know some of her most moving work was done as Dear Sugar, an anonymous advice columnist whose empathetic, personal, and raw responses redefined the advice genre. The most beloved of her Dear Sugar answers were compiled into an excellent book, Tiny Beautiful Things, which was adapted into an excellent miniseries in 2023.
Pitched as the story of an alternate Cheryl Strayed who never hiked the PCT, the Hulu show centers on a lapsed writer, Clare (played by a superb Katherine Hahn), whose life is a complete mess. Her husband has kicked her out, her daughter barely tolerates her, and her past trauma is threatening to drown her completely. But when Clare accepts an offer to be an anonymous advice columnist, she finds unexpected hope and a reminder that she might still have something to offer the world. Produced by Wild collaborators Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern, and created by Liz Tigelaar, Tiny Beautiful Things is an emotional hurricane, bringing you to laughter and tears within each tight, wonderfully crafted episode. — K.G.
How long: Four hours, over eight episodes.
How to watch: Tiny Beautiful Things is now streaming on Hulu.
11. Maniac
Credit: Netflix
Somewhere between a Black Mirror episode and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Netflix’s Maniac combines psychological thrills with a stunning tale of connection. Emma Stone and Jonah Hill appear as participants in a drug trial operated by scientists with questionable methods and one testy computer. Stunning sequences and savvy performances make this an impactful yet fun binge. — A.F.
How long: Six and a half hours, over 10 episodes.
How to watch: Maniac is now streaming on Netflix.
10. Catch-22
Credit: Philipe Antonello / Hulu
Joseph Heller readers will delight in Hulu’s faithful adaptation of his beloved novel. And those new to the dark world of Catch-22? Well, they’ll soon be scrambling for the online book store. In this six-part World War II epic, bomb plane pilot John Yossarian (Christopher Abbott) struggles to survive an escalating conflict managed by those with less at risk. At once stupidly funny and painfully frightening, this is a good pick for anyone interested in feeling [gestures wildly] too much. — A.F.
How long: Four and a half hours, over six episodes.
How to watch: Catch-22 is now streaming on Hulu.
9. Fosse/Verdon
Credit: FX
Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams lead as Broadway legends Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon in this reflection on a legacy. Told in a non-linear structure, Fosse/Verdon considers both the professional and personal sides of the esteemed entertainment power couple — examining how we attribute credit to men and women differently as well as what it means to separate the artist from their work. Perfection for Broadway fans. Pretty great for everyone else.* — A.F.
How long: Six and a half hours, over eight episodes.
How to watch: Fosse/Verdon is now streaming on Hulu.
8. Sharp Objects
Credit: HBO
Created from Gillian Flynn’s novel of the same name, Sharp Objects is the psychological thriller/family drama still haunting us nearly two years later. Heart-stopping performances Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, and Eliza Scanlen slowly but surely morph this murder mystery into a grim journey through unbearable trauma. And that ending? I can’t even begin. — A.F.
How long: Seven and a half hours, over eight episodes.
How to watch: Sharp Objects is now streaming on Max.
7. Feud: Bette and Joan
Credit: Suzanne Tenner/FX
It’s Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon, so you shouldn’t need much more convincing — but we’ll do it anyway! For fun! Playing Hollywood icons Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, Lange and Sarandon recreate the cutthroat drama that went on behind the scenes of Robert Aldrich’s Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? It’s a devilishly good time full of camp and cunning that still makes room for poignant reflections on the series’ namesakes. (For what it’s worth, Feud is supposed to be an anthology, but we haven’t heard much on that front as of late.) — A.F.
How long: Seven hours, over eight episodes.
How to watch: Feud: Bette and Joan is now streaming on Hulu.
6. Unbelievable
Credit: Beth Dubber/Netflix
Based on An Unbelievable Story of Rape, factual reporting published by ProPublica and The Marshall Project in 2015, Unbelievable examines a disastrous investigation into one young woman’s (Kaitlyn Dever) allegation of rape. Toni Collette and Merritt Wever star as the detectives hunting down a serial predator potentially related to case. Suspenseful and substantive, this eight-part series is essential knowledge for social justice seekers. — A.F.
How long: Six and a half hours, over eight episodes.
How to watch: Unbelievable is now streaming on Netflix.
5. Alias Grace
Credit: Sabrina Lantos/Netflix
If you’re counting down the days until Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale returns, then consider doubling back for Netflix’s Alias Grace. Based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name, this work of historical fiction reimagines the 1843 murders of a man and his housekeeper. With sensational social commentary and magnificent lead performances, this is a show worth making time for. And at just four and a half hours, it’s not even asking that much. — A.F.
How long: Four and a half hours, over six episodes.
How to watch: Alias Grace is now streaming on Netflix.
4. Escape at Dannemora
Credit: Showtime
Acting powerhouses Benicio del Toro, Paul Dano, and Patricia Arquette team up to tell the true story of the 2015 Clinton Correctional Facility escape. Beginning with a slippery love triangle and ending with a multi-week manhunt, Escape at Dannemora is a gripping personal drama with terrifying implications. Oh, and Michael Imperioli playing Governor Andrew Cuomo is just [chef’s kiss]. — A.F.
How long: Seven hours, over seven episodes.
How to watch: Escape at Dannemora is now streaming on Paramount+.
3. When They See Us
Credit: Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix
Created and directed by Ava DuVernay, When They See Us casts light on the tragic case of the so-called Central Park Five. Outstanding performances by numerous cast members, but especially Asante Blackk and Caleel Harris as the wrongfully convicted Kevin Richardson and Antron McCray, make this a masterclass in setting the record straight with both fact and feeling. — A.F.
How long: Five hours, over four episodes.
How to watch: When They See Us is now streaming on Netflix.
2. Chernobyl
Credit: HBO
Many know the conceptual horror of the USSR’s 1986 nuclear accident, but HBO’s Chernobyl gives it a face you can’t unsee. In this devastating five-part historical drama, an exquisite ensemble — including Jared Harris, Emily Watson, Paul Ritter, Jessie Buckley, and Stellan Skarsgård — reenact the incident and its catastrophic fallout in horrific detail. — A.F.
How long: Five and a half hours, over five episodes.
How to watch: Chernobyl is now streaming on Max.
1. Watchmen
Credit: Mark Hill/HBO
We’re still hoping Damon Lindelof will change his mind and turn Watchmen into an anthology series. But until then, we’ll just have to settle for the mind-bending beauty that are the show’s nine existing episodes. Regina King stars as Angela Abar (aka “Sister Night”) in this extension of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ iconic comic book series. A meditation on trauma, Watchmen isn’t for the faint of heart. — A.F.
How long: Nine hours, over nine episodes.
How to watch: Watchmen is now streaming on Max.
UPDATE: Aug. 15, 2024, 2:04 p.m. EDT This list was first published on March 28, 2020. It has since been updated to reflect streaming options.
