Many of the most acclaimed shows in TV history have been miniseries, and that’s become an increasingly strong trend in recent years thanks to hit streaming shows like Adolescence and Baby Reindeer. Bringing the high production values of movies to the long-form episodic storytelling of television, there have been a significant number of miniseries and limited shows sweeping awards lately. It’s certainly a format that lends itself to perfection, but that doesn’t mean every miniseries is automatically great.
Creating a truly perfect show takes a lot of skill and attention to detail on the part of everyone involved, which isn’t easy, but it’s also not impossible, as evidenced by the series in this article. Each of these shows has delivered genuine excellence through its masterfully crafted narratives, characters, performances, and production, earning an appropriately high rating on the popular review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes. So, without further ado, here’s our selection of near-perfect miniseries with a 90% or higher rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
8
‘The Night Of’ (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
John Turturro speaking with Riz Ahmed in a jail cell in ‘The Night Of’.Image via HBO
Created by Richard Price and Steven Zaillian, The Night Of follows a mysterious murder case involving Nasir “Naz” Khan (Riz Ahmed), a Pakistani-American college student in New York who wakes up beside a murdered woman he had only met the night before. With no memory of what happened and all the evidence stacked against him, Naz’s only saving grace comes in the form of a relentless lawyer, John Stone (John Turturro). The series also stars Bill Camp, Michael Kenneth Williams, Glenne Headly, and Poorna Jagannathan in key roles.
A remake of the first season of Peter Moffat’s Criminal Justice, The Night Of is a brilliantly written, directed, and performed crime thriller that far surpasses the original material. The miniseries puts an intelligent spin on the classic trope of waking up next to a dead stranger, turning it into a well-crafted, timely crime thriller where the complex, layered characters and the storytelling style outshine the story itself. The Night Of is a masterpiece miniseries with great production values and terrific performances by Turturro and Ahmed, which earned it glowing critical reviews.
7
‘Mare of Easttown’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
Kate Winslet stands outside the police station in Mare of Easttown.Image via HBO
Starring Kate Winslet as the titular protagonist, Mare of Easttown is a crime drama thriller created by Brad Ingelsby that centers on Marianne “Mare” Sheehan (Winslet), a local police detective in a small Pennsylvania town who is investigating the murder of a teenager. With a history of being unsuccessful with a similar case a year before, and the town losing its faith in her, Mare battles work pressure and her crumbling personal life while seeking truth and justice. The show also features Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart, Angourie Rice, Guy Pearce, and Evan Peters in important roles.
Since its premiere, Mare of Easttown has been universally praised for its gritty narrative, suspenseful story, well-written characters, and impeccable performances. Kate Winslet’s grounded performance as an emotionally torn, divorced single mother and a resolute detective is unarguably one of her career bests, and the role won her a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award. During its run, Mare of Easttown boasted record-breaking ratings and rankings, with sweeping praise from critics for its atmospheric production and use of the Philadelphia accent, winning the show several accolades.
6
‘Chernobyl’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
Jared Harris as Valery Legasov leaning against a wall in Chernobyl (2019).Image via HBO
A historical drama created by Craig Mazin, Chernobyl recounts the horrific real-life events surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986 that caused massive casualties and devastated the entire region for decades to come. The HBO miniseries focuses on the events leading up to the explosion, the people who were involved, the first responders, and how they tackled the disaster while putting their own lives on the line. Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, Paul Ritter, Jessie Buckley, Adrian Rawlins, and Barry Keoghan portray real-life employees at the plant, their family members, and others affected by the disaster.
Chernobyl successfully captures the magnitude and gravity of one of the worst accidents in human history in only five episodes, making it a highly impactful historical drama. While the events are depicted almost exactly as and when they took place, the dramatic narrative and foreboding atmosphere help emphasize their criticality and dreadfulness. Chernobyl is easily one of TV’s greatest masterpieces, with immaculate cinematography, justice to facts, direction, screenplay, narrative style, and performances, and it has appropriately won several awards.
5
‘The Queen’s Gambit’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
Anya Taylor Joy in the final scene in ‘The Queen’s Gambit’Image via Netflix
Created by Scott Frank and Allan Scott, The Queen’s Gambit is an adaptation of the 1983 novel by Walter Tevis, chronicling the story of chess prodigy Beth Harmon and her rise to fame as the world’s most elite female chess player. Beginning in 1950s Kentucky, the miniseries follows Beth’s journey as an orphaned, eight-year-old prodigy who navigates ambition, childhood trauma, substance abuse, and mental issues to evolve into a shining star in the world of chess. Anya Taylor-Joy portrays Beth, with Bill Camp, Moses Ingram, Chloe Pirrie, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster in other main roles.
The Queen’s Gambit is a well-crafted coming-of-age drama with an emotionally intelligent narrative about trauma and addiction. Anya Taylor-Joy delivers a magnetic central performance, owning the screen in every scene and earning widespread critical acclaim for her performance. Thanks to the delightful period aesthetics, art, and music, and the elevated storytelling and acting, The Queen’s Gambit became Netflix’s most-watched miniseries during its run. It earned 11 Primetime Emmy Awards and has remained one of the streamer’s most popular miniseries ever since.
4
‘When They See Us’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
Yusef holding his mother, Sharonne, in ‘When They See Us’Image via Netflix
An Emmy-winning true-crime drama miniseries created by Ava DuVernay, When They See Us is a dramatized retelling of the real-life 1989 Central Park jogger case, where five teenagers were falsely accused of a brutal assault. The Netflix series focuses on how the lives of the five boys and their families became a nightmare from the time of the crime’s discovery, all through their extensive fight for justice. Asante Blackk, Caleel Harris, Jharrel Jerome, Ethan Herisse, and Marquis Rodriguez portray the accused (and acquitted) teenagers, with Jovan Adepo, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Aunjanue Ellis, Vera Farmiga, John Leguizamo, and Niecy Nash in other key roles.
A hard-hitting show about a dysfunctional justice system and a fractured social structure, When They See Us has been critically acclaimed for its writing, direction, and the moving performances by its ensemble cast. Even though the miniseries dramatizes actual events, it surpasses many fictional works in terms of how impactful it is, delivering a searing picture of the horror and pain caused by these real events. Realistic and heartbreaking, When They See Us earned several accolades, including a Peabody Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, and is a must-see true crime drama.
3
‘Adolescence’ (2025)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Owen Cooper stares ahead with no expression in Adolescence.Image via Netflix
A psychological crime drama created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, Adolescence follows the events in the life of 13-year-old Jamie Miller, who is arrested on suspicion of the murder of a girl in his school. As the investigation proceeds, new discoveries and evidence reveal a devastating backstory that upends his family’s lives. Owen Cooper stars as Jamie, with Graham as his father, Eddie. The show also features Erin Doherty, Christine Tremarco, Ashley Walters, Faye Marsay, Mark Stanley, and Hannah Walters in key roles.
An incisive look at every parent’s worst nightmare, Adolescence is a gut-punching show about child trauma and crime that pushes the boundaries, with a tragic story that leaves the audience with lasting thoughts and questions. Apart from its narrative brilliance, the Netflix miniseries also boasts remarkable cinematography, with each episode shot in one continuous take, which enhances the show’s slow, deliberate tone. Since its premiere, the series has earned rave reviews, with particular acclaim for Cooper and Graham’s stellar performances. The former even became the youngest male actor ever to win a Primetime Emmy Award.
2
‘Dying for Sex’ (2025)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
Michelle Williams’ Molly staring at the phone with concern in Dying for SexImage via FX
A comedy drama created by Kim Rosenstock and Elizabeth Meriwether, Dying For Sex is a dramatized take on the real-life experiences of podcaster Molly Kochan, who leaves her husband after being diagnosed with terminal cancer and lives her last days with ultimate sexual freedom. The series focuses on Molly’s journey of sexual awakening and how she embarks on a path she never imagined with the help and support of her friend, Nikki. Michelle Williams portrays Molly, with Jenny Slate as Nikki, and the show features Rob Delaney, David Rasche, Jay Duplass, Kelvin Yu, and Sissy Spacek in recurring roles.
Dying for Sex is a bittersweet story of femininity, mortality, friendship, and physical desires, all tied up with a wholesome narrative. Despite exploring a sensitive topic like cancer, the comedy drama never dims down on its high-spiritedness, but rather becomes an inspiring juxtaposition of life and death. On its release, Dying for Sex became one of the most acclaimed miniseries of 2025, earning critical praise for the compelling chemistry and performances by Williams and Slate.
1
‘Baby Reindeer’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
A still from Netflix’s Baby Reindeer. Image via Netflix
Created by and starring Scottish actor-comedian Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer is a British black comedy drama thriller adapted from Gadd’s autobiographical one-man show. The series follows a fictionalized version of Gadd, named Donny, a struggling comedian working as a bartender in a London pub. When Donny tries to cheer up a distressed customer, Martha, his simple act of kindness sets off an unhealthy obsession, pushing Donny to face his past trauma. Jessica Gunning co-stars as Martha with Nava Mau and Tom Goodman-Hill in other lead roles.
Intense, emotionally charged, and raw, Baby Reindeer is one of those rare comedies that challenges the audience and stimulates their sense of humor at the same time. While there are several disturbing moments, the series is intelligent, funny, and thrilling, with compelling performances by the cast, especially Gunning. The show made the actor a breakout star, winning her a Primetime Emmy Award. Since its premiere, Baby Reindeer has been widely acclaimed, and it’s easily one of the best miniseries of the 2020s.
Release Date
2024 – 2024-00-00
Directors
Weronika Tofilska, Josephine Bornebusch
Writers
Richard Gadd
Jessica Gunning
Martha Scott
