The 25 best limited series of all time, and where to watch them

01 of 25 Angels in America (2003) Angels in America isn't just a great limited series, it's a monumental piece of television history. Adapted from Tony Kushner 's Pulitzer-winning play, it delves into the AIDS crisis, Reagan-era attitudes, and the struggles of the queer community in 1980s America. Meryl Streep showcases her range by playing multiple roles, including a rabbi and a ghostly ancestor, alongside Al Pacino as the infamous Roy Cohn. Politically charged and emotionally devastating, it's a landmark in LGBTQ+ storytelling that still resonates today.

Where to watch Angels in America: Max

of 25 The Assassination of Gianni Versace (2018) The Assassination of Gianni Versace is as stylish as the designer himself, with lush cinematography, lavish fashion, and opulent sets that immerse viewers in the world of luxury and fame. But it's a key Ryan Murphy storytelling choice that makes the series tick: telling serial killer Andrew Cunanan's ( Darren Criss ) story in reverse chronological order, each episode peeling back another layer of his path. Anchored by Criss' chilling performance, Gianni Versace uses Cunanan's arc to examine how often marginalized communities are ignored, even in the face of deadly violence.

Where to watch The Assassination of Gianni Versace: Hulu

of 25 Baby Reindeer (2023) Baby Reindeer starts as a darkly amusing, brutally honest account of Richard Gadd's unexpected encounter with a stranger — an unsettling yet seemingly minor incident. But by the fourth episode, the story takes a sharp, disturbing turn. Adapted from the comedian's one-man show, this limited series is a fictionalized incarnation of the obsessive stalking he experienced.

Gadd stars as a struggling artist (and full-time bartender) based on his younger self, while Jessica Gunning commands our attention as his all-too-friendly regular customer Martha. Baby Reindeer is dark and raw, yet wryly funny even as it offers an unflinching look at psychological abuse.

Where to watch Baby Reindeer: Netflix

of 25 Band of Brothers (2001) Band of Brothers premiered just days before 9/11, dulling its initial impact; audiences weren't quite in the frame of mind for a harrowing war story so soon after the national tragedy. But those who saw it at the time knew it was special, and its reputation has only grown over time. It's now widely regarded as one of the greatest limited series ever made.

Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks following their collaboration on Saving Private Ryan , Band of Brothers follows Easy Company's journey from the beaches of Normandy to the heart of Europe. The series boasts an unflinching realism and attention to detail, and interviews with real-life veterans lend personal weight to each episode.

Where to watch Band of Brothers: Netflix

of 25 Chernobyl (2019) Chernobyl turned one of the most notorious disasters of the 20th century into one of the most nerve-wracking TV shows in recent memory. The limited series meticulously unpacks the events surrounding the 1986 nuclear meltdown, from the moment it begins to the government cover-ups and the heroic yet doomed effort to contain it.

The show's chilling depiction of bureaucratic failure — paired with beautiful cinematography and haunting performances — cemented it as a cultural phenomenon, earning critical acclaim and sparking renewed interest in the real-life tragedy.

Where to watch Chernobyl: Max

of 25 The Haunting of Hill House (2018) The Haunting of Hill House changed the game for television horror, with Mike Flanagan using ghosts as metaphors for trauma and unresolved grief. Adapted from Shirley Jackson's seminal novel, the limited series gave us instant-classic episodes like the self-contained fairy tale "The Bent-Neck Lady" and the technically brilliant "Two Storms," shot to look like a succession of long takes . Hill House struck a chord with audiences who connected with its mix of genuine scares and emotional depth, setting a new standard for what horror on the small screen can be.

Where to watch The Haunting of Hill House: Netflix

of 25 The Honourable Woman (2014) The Honourable Woman is a gripping political thriller that feels both sensitive and timely, tackling the complexities of the Middle East conflict with remarkable nuance. Maggie Gyllenhaal delivers a standout performance as Nessa Stein, an Anglo-Israeli businesswoman trying to broker peace by awarding contracts to Palestinian companies — until her efforts become entangled with espionage. It's an important and difficult subject, and the series admirably walks a tightrope without oversimplifying or flattening the story.

Where to watch The Honourable Woman: Amazon Prime (to buy)

of 25 I May Destroy You (2020) Created by and starring Michaela Coel , this groundbreaking limited series follows Arabella, a writer grappling with the aftermath of sexual assault. The show brilliantly plays with structure, blending reality, memory, and fantasy to mirror the fractured experience of trauma.

Culturally, I May Destroy You became a touchstone, sparking conversations about sexual violence and consent. Coel's raw performance and fearless storytelling earned widespread acclaim for good reason; personal and idiosyncratic, it's one of those rare works that's genuinely impossible to replicate.

Where to watch I May Destroy You: Max

of 25 Lonesome Dove (1989) More than three decades later, Lonesome Dove remains a defining work of the Western genre. Based on Larry McMurtry 's sprawling, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, this epic follows two retired Texas Rangers ( Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones ) on a perilous cattle drive across the American frontier.

With a sweeping narrative approach that embraces the iconography of the Old West, Lonesome Dove revitalized Westerns and limited series at a time when both were on the decline. The novel's epic scope — geographical, temporal, and emotional — could hardly be contained in a two-hour movie, but the four-part miniseries does the story justice.

Where to watch Lonesome Dove: Peacock

of 25 Midnight Mass (2021) Midnight Mass takes place in a religious, remote island community, which experiences strange and miraculous events after the arrival of a mysterious new priest ( Hamish Linklater ). The series is based on Mike Flanagan's experiences with recovery and his religious upbringing. The slow-burn storytelling is pitch-perfect, with an abrupt, shattering midpoint reversal that transforms the story from eerie drama to something truly, terrifyingly cosmic. Blending horror and philosophical reflection, Midnight Mass offers a haunting exploration of faith and redemption.

Where to watch Midnight Mass: Netflix

of 25 Mrs. Davis (2023) Mrs. Davis has one of the wildest premises in recent memory: A nun ( Betty Gilpin ) goes on a globetrotting quest to destroy an all-powerful AI called Mrs. Davis. Along the way, there are secret societies, magic tricks, and even a quest for the Holy Grail. Somehow, this oddball mashup of sci-fi, adventure, and comedy from Damon Lindelof holds together with a quirky, self-aware tone that keeps it all from spinning off the rails. Beneath the absurdity, though, lies a sharp exploration of the dangers of seemingly benevolent technology.

Where to watch Mrs. Davis: Peacock

of 25 The Night Of (2016) The Night Of begins with college kid Naz ( Riz Ahmed ) waking up after a wild night to find himself accused of murder. From there, The Night Of holds up a mirror to the justice system, forcing viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about race, class, and the ease with which lives can be destroyed.

Though the limited series takes place within an unavoidably modern, post-9/11 milieu, it's also wonderfully old-fashioned as a legal drama. From John Turturro 's performance as Naz's pound-the-pavement defense lawyer to Bill Camp 's career-defining role as the lead detective, The Night Of delivers the goods of a classic murder mystery and courtroom thriller.

Where to watch The Night Of: Max

of 25 North and South (1985) This sweeping Civil War miniseries chronicles the friendship between Orry Main ( Patrick Swayze ) and George Hazard (James Read), who meet at West Point. Main is from a slave-owning South Carolina family while Hazard's family is in iron manufacturing in Pennsylvania, mirroring the divisions and conflicts of the pending war.

Spanning two decades, North and South was groundbreaking for its time, pushing the boundaries of network television with its high production value and extensive battle sequences. It also spawned two sequel series that earned further acclaim.

Where to watch North and South: Amazon Prime (to buy)

of 25 The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (2016) The People v. O.J. Simpson marked Ryan Murphy's bold foray into serious drama, delivering a master class in true-crime storytelling that went far beyond the sensationalism of the real-life "Trial of the Century." The series explores the intersection of race, celebrity, and media, depicting with lurid accuracy how the case became a cultural flashpoint in 1990s America. Sarah Paulson picked up a well-earned Emmy for her portrayal of prosecuting attorney Marcia Clark, bringing humanity to one of the many players who were ridiculed by the media.

Where to watch The People v. O.J. Simpson: Hulu

of 25 Pride and Prejudice (1995) While the 2005 movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is popular (thanks in part to that iconic hand flex ), this 1995 BBC miniseries is the OG — and many still consider it the definitive version. Colin Firth 's brooding performance remains the gold standard, cementing him as the Darcy in the hearts of fans everywhere. Not to be outdone, Jennifer Ehle holds her ground as our heroine, delivering the wit and warmth any good Elizabeth Bennet requires. Whether you're a die-hard Jane Austen fan or a newcomer, this series is a must-watch. (Oh, and Firth emerging from that lake may be the most swoon-worthy scene in TV history.)

Where to watch Pride and Prejudice: Hulu

of 25 Roots (1977) Based on Alex Haley's novel, Roots follows multiple generations of an African American family, starting with Kunta Kinte, a young man captured in West Africa and sold into slavery, through the struggle of his descendants toward freedom.

Debuting in the 1970s, Roots was watched in more than half of American households. Its impact was huge, shedding light on the brutal realities of slavery while permeating mainstream culture in a way few shows — especially ones with such thorny subject matter — ever have. With its nuanced exploration of resilience and survival and the rare ambition of its storytelling, Roots has stood the test of time.

Where to watch Roots: Amazon Prime Video (to buy)

of 25 Scenes from a Marriage (1973) Ingmar Bergman 's feature film Scenes from a Marriage originally aired in an extended, six-part television version. Both iterations masterfully examine the lives of Johan (Erland Josephson) and Marianne ( Liv Ullmann ), a couple whose relationship slowly unravels over the years.

The limited series is driven by conversation and lifted by two great performances, with the Swedish auteur's long takes and close-ups capturing every flicker of emotion between the characters. Premiering at a time when divorce was still taboo in many parts of the world, the series was so impactful that it was blamed for a subsequent rise in divorce rates in Sweden .

Where to watch Scenes from a Marriage: Max

of 25 Sharp Objects (2018) Sharp Objects is a simmering slow-burn of intergenerational female rage. Based on Gillian Flynn 's novel, the series follows journalist Camille Preaker ( Amy Adams ) as she reluctantly returns to her hometown to cover the murder of two young girls, all while navigating fraught relationships with her manipulative mother ( Patricia Clarkson ) and wild half-sister (Eliza Scanlen).

Director Jean-Marc Vallée brings the same dreamy, fragmented style that defined Big Little Lies . Sharp Objects is a triumph of atmosphere; we can practically feel the sticky sweat of this Missouri summer, lending a tangible physicality to a Southern gothic tale steeped in psychological and emotional dread.

Where to watch Sharp Objects: Max

of 25 The Thing About Pam (2022) Based on the notorious 2011 murder of Betsy Faria, this limited series stars Renee Zellweger as the seemingly unassuming but deeply manipulative Pam Hupp, who frames Betsy's husband for the crime. The show leans into the true story's weirdness with dark humor, playful narration, and larger-than-life characters, giving it a unique style that sets it apart from more traditional crime dramas. While it plays like a true-crime parody at times, The Thing About Pam doesn't forget the real victims, balancing its offbeat tone with emotional weight.

Where to watch The Thing About Pam: Peacock

of 25 Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) David Lynch returned to Twin Peaks over 25 years after the initial TV show ended, but instead of leaning on nostalgia, he delivered something wholly unique. Both a continuation and meditation on the original, the 18-part series plunges viewers into surreal cosmic horror that plumbs the depths of evil itself. It's also a bonkers absurdist comedy, particularly in Kyle MacLachlan 's embodiment of "Dougie Jones," who is actually Agent Dale Cooper trapped in a borderline catatonic, newborn baby lamb-like state. Lynch's signatures — haunting soundscapes, unsettling visuals, cryptic dialogue — make every episode feel like a cinematic experience.

Where to watch Twin Peaks: The Return: Paramount+

of 25 Unbelievable (2019) Based on ProPublica's devastating, Pulitzer Prize-winning " An Unbelievable Story of Rape ," Unbelievable is a hard-hitting, unusually compassionate procedural about two detectives ( Toni Collette and Merritt Wever ) investigating a series of sexual assaults.

The performances are exceptional across the board, especially Kaitlyn Dever as Marie, a survivor who is dismissed and charged with lying about her attack. The series explores the failures of the justice system, offering a sobering critique of how rape survivors are often treated — and how investigative work should be done with care.

Where to watch Unbelievable: Netflix

of 25 WandaVision (2021) WandaVision broke new ground for Marvel with its inventive format; each episode is styled after a different decade of television, from the black-and-white charm of the 1950s to the mockumentary aesthetic of the 2000s. What begins as a quirky homage to sitcoms evolves into a layered exploration of Wanda's ( Elizabeth Olsen ) buried grief, as her carefully constructed fantasy starts to crumble. WandaVision is a terrific experiment that carves out a unique place within the MCU catalog, giving us a more personal angle than most, if not all, of the franchise's big-screen entries.

Where to watch WandaVision: Disney+

of 25 Watchmen (2019) Watchmen was so much bolder than just another adaptation. Instead, it's a sequel that builds on Alan Moore's ideas while weaving new threads into canonical events; an audacious blend of real-world history and remixed mythology. It begins with a chilling depiction of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre before jumping forward to an alternate present, decades after the comic's events.

The characters — Angela Abar ( Regina King ), a.k.a. the masked detective Sister Night; her husband Cal ( Yahya Abdul-Mateen II ); ex-superhero Laurie Blake ( Jean Smart ); the unnamed, pompous aristocrat played by Jeremy Irons — are beautifully drawn in their own right. But what takes them to another level is the connection Watchmen forges with their comic-book predecessors. This is a series built on the idea that the past never goes away, and won't be forgotten.

Where to watch Watchmen: Max

of 25 We Own This City (2022) From the creators of The Wire , We Own This City serves as that series' spiritual sequel, diving back into the broken streets of Baltimore. While it's not technically a continuation, it carries the same DNA, offering a sobering look at systemic corruption and policing.

The six-part miniseries focuses on the real-life Gun Trace Task Force scandal, in which members of an elite Baltimore police unit engaged in shocking levels of corruption, theft, and brutality. We Own This City doesn't offer easy answers or heroes, instead forcing viewers to confront the systemic rot that undermines justice at every level.

Where to watch We Own This City: Max

of 25 When They See Us (2019) From director Ava DuVernay , When They See Us tells the wrenching true story of the Central Park Five — Black and Latino teenagers who were wrongfully convicted of a violent assault in 1989. The limited series follows their arrest, trial, imprisonment, and eventual exoneration, exposing how systemic racism and media hysteria condemned them before they ever had a chance. When They See Us sheds light on a dark chapter in recent American history and traces a line to how these same failures persist today.

Where to watch When They See Us: Netflix