Many thrilling miniseries have been released throughout the years, meaning a handful of truly great shows have inevitably been lost in the mix. Regardless of how well a series compacts a gripping story into a limited number of episodes, it can’t be guaranteed that it’ll earn the attention it deserves. Shows likeBlack Birdhave earned critical acclaim and aren’t entirely unheard of, but are still deserving of more attention for their compelling narratives and their leading actors' performances.
The best thrilling miniseries range from intense tales of crime to those of psychological horror, showcasing the varying potential of the limited format.With just one season, these underrated miniseries contain powerful performances, fascinating characters, and thought-provoking stories that have the ability to stick with viewers for quite some time.
10The Stranger (2020)
A Man’s Life Is Changed By A Mysterious Stranger
Many ofHarlan Coben’s mystery novels have been adapted into Netflix series.The fascinating characters and unresolved events in Coben’s work make for an ideal miniseries, with one of the more underrated of the bunch beingThe Stranger. Throughout eight episodes, audiences witness the life of a man, Adam Price (Richard Armitage), being forever changed by the titular mysterious figure revealing devastating secrets.
The Stranger
Cast
The Stranger is a British mystery thriller series based on Harlan Coben’s novel. It revolves around the impact of a stranger who reveals secrets to others, causing turmoil in their lives. Richard Armitage stars as Adam Price, a man whose life unravels after a stranger discloses a shocking secret about his wife. The series explores themes of deception and the consequences of hidden truths.
Like Coben’s original novel,The Strangeris delightfully eerie and produces a strong sense of paranoia and deception, largely thanks to the cast’s performances. As is the case with almost any adaptation,The Strangerhas its weak spots that aren’t as effective as Coben’s writing. Still, the miniseries' evolving mystery is one that’ll keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
9Disclaimer (2024)
A Slow Burn Miniseries That Keeps Audiences Guessing
Written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón,Disclaimeron Apple TV+ tells a gripping non-linear story about a documentarian (Cate Blanchett) and the secret she’s tried to keep hidden for years.ThoughDisclaimeris still relatively new, it has unfairly gone by without making much noise. Despite this, there’s a lot to love about the show.
Disclaimer
Told in seven chapters, “Disclaimer” is based on the novel of the same name by Renée Knight. Acclaimed journalist Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett) built her reputation revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others. When she receives a novel from an unknown author, she is horrified to realize she is now the main character in a story that exposes her darkest secrets. As Catherine races to uncover the writer’s true identity, she is forced to confront her past before it destroys both her own life and her relationships with her husband Robert (Sacha Baron Cohen) and their son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee).
A slow burn isn’t for everyone, but with the strong mystery and psychological thrills presented in each episode, audiences will have a hard time walking away.Disclaimercleverly plays with the audience’s expectations through its non-linear storytelling by frequently muddling the truth about the life of Blanchett’s character.Disclaimernot only boasts a powerful all-star cast, but it is also engaging and incredibly rewarding for audiences willing to give it a chance.
8The Corner (2000)
A Powerful Miniseries About Addiction And Poverty
A few years beforeThe Wire, David Simon created a similarly gritty miniseries based on his 1997 book, co-written with former homicide detective Ed Burns.The Cornerwas adapted as a miniseries by Simon and aired on HBO. Throughout its six episodes, the miniseries examines the life of a family living in poverty in Baltimore, addressing the subject of drug trade and addiction.
The Corner
The Corner is a six-part HBO miniseries that premiered in 2000. Directed by Charles S. Dutton, the series is based on the non-fiction book by David Simon and Ed Burns. It chronicles the lives of a family living in a drug-ridden neighborhood in West Baltimore, depicting the struggles and daily challenges they face in an environment overwhelmed by addiction and poverty.
The show’s quality and authenticity are often overshadowed by the success ofThe Wire.ThoughThe Cornerhas its limitations as a miniseries, and can be seen as mostly practice for the latter show, it’s still worthy of attention. Regardless of whether audiences are familiar withSimon’s other TV shows,The Corner’s harrowing depiction of addiction and its unique documentary-style interviews in each episode, result in a poignant watch.
7The Patient (2022)
A Therapist Is Held Captive By His Patient
Starring a dramatic Steve Carell alongside Domhnall Gleeson,The Patientis a tense psychological thriller that provides insight into the topic of mental health while serving up an absorbing drama.The miniseries follows the complex relationship between a therapist (Carell) and his patient (Gleeson) after the latter holds him captive in a desperate attempt to suppress his homicidal urges.
The Patient
The Patient is a limited series that follows a psychotherapist, played by Steve Carell, who is held captive by a serial killer, played by Domhnall Gleeson, who demands therapy sessions in exchange for his life.
As summed up byThe Patient’s best quotes, the miniseries puts forth a considerate perspective on mental health, which encourages audiences to engage deeper with the series.Earning positive reviews from critics, Carell and Gleeson’s intense performances carry the show.Though the actors did not win the major awards they were nominated for, it’s their dynamic on screen that greatly contributes toThe Patient’s palpable tension.
6Swarm (2023)
The Obsession With A Pop Star Gets Dark
Differing in tone from the other miniseries mentioned,Swarmaddresses obsession and toxicity within fandoms.Created by Janine Nabers and Donald Glover, the Amazon Prime Video miniseries stars Dominique Fishback as Dre, a young woman with an unhealthy obsession with world-famous pop star Ni’Jah. The series blends suspense with sharp social commentary, producing an all-around engaging series worthy of more attention.
Swarm
Swarm is a horror series created by Donald Glover and Janine Nabers. Dominique Fishback plays Dre, a woman obsessed with a pop star with a fanbase collectively called the swarm. As Dre’s obsession with her dream icon intensifies, the show will explore how deep - and dark - fandom can go.
ThoughSwarmisn’t based on a true story, its writing and real-life inspirations help blur the lines between reality and fiction.Dre’s increasingly dangerous behavior is unsettling, but impossible to look away from due to Fishback’s fantastic performance. Earning widespread critical acclaim for her work, Fishback is fully committed to the role, and with every episode, she continues to reveal yet another layer to Dre’s dark turn.
5Candy (2022)
Inspired By A Real-Life Axe Murder
InCandy, Jessica Biel delivers a career-defining performance asthe real-life Candy Montgomery, a woman accused of murdering her neighbor and friend, Betty Gore, with an axe.The series covers Candy’s life leading up to the murder and the shocking trial that came as a result. Admittedly,Candy’s structure doesn’t differ too much from other crime series, but it does have a compelling exploration of themes of rage and trauma.
Candy
Candy is a film set in the 1980s, centered around housewife and mother Candy Montgomery. As she navigates societal expectations and conformity, her quest for personal freedom leads to unforeseen and deadly consequences.
The miniseries also manages to hold the audience’s attention with its well-crafted tension and added details.A year later,Candywas followed byLove & Death, another miniseries based on Montgomery’s actions, but the former still manages to positively stand apart. Compared toLove & Death,Candyis much darker, with Biel’s portrayal of the title character heavily focusing on the psychological components of the case.
4Black Bird (2022)
A Man Must Befriend A Suspected Serial Killer In Prison
Based on James Keene and his 2010 autobiographical novel,Black Birdtells the story of the FBI deal he accepts in prison. Hoping to regain his freedom, James (Taron Egerton) must befriend convicted serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) and extract a confession. Unlike other true crime miniseries that merely retell the events of real-life tragedies,Black Birdseeks to go deeper.
The miniseries largely lives within the complexity of the human psyche, producing a thought-provoking and engaging viewing experience for audiences.Paired withBlack Bird’s perpetual tension and unexpected plot twists are an examination of James' morality and some fascinating insight into the motives of each character.Hauser and Egerton are fully committed to their roles and have earned a positive response from critics for their performances.
3Escape At Dannemora (2018)
A Real-Life Prison Escape Inspires The Series
The 2015 Clinton Correctional Facility escape, in whichconvicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweatescaped from prison with the help of a prison employee, is the inspiration for the Showtime miniseriesEscape at Dannemora.Benicio del Toro and Paul Dano portray the real-life murderers, and it’s their compelling performances and on-screen dynamic that help push the series along.
Escape At Dannemora
Escape at Dannemora is a crime drama based on a real-life prison break in upstate New York. The series explores the complex relationships and manipulations among two convicted murderers and the facility’s staff member who becomes entangled in their escape plan, revealing underlying themes of desperation and vulnerability.
Several crime series inspired by real-life events exaggerate the truth for the sake of entertaining audiences,butEscape at Dannemoramanages to avoid this for the most part. The miniseries is still thrilling but takes its time to lay out the prisoners' escape plan, while simultaneously providing a look at the interpersonal relationships between Matt, Sweat, and prison employee Joyce Mitchell (Patricia Arquette).
2The Night Of (2016)
A College Student Is Accused Of Murder
Based on the 2008 British seriesCriminal Justice,The Night Ofis centered around Riz Ahmed’s Nasir Khan, a Pakistani-American college student who is accused of murdering a woman.The show starts with a straightforward story about a man who appears to be innocent before meticulously implementing plot twists and a complex narrative that comes together with each additional episode.
The Night Of
The Night of is a TV mini-series revolving around Nasir ‘Naz’ Khan, a young college student who, after partying with a woman, finds her stabbed to death in his room the following morning. Riz Ahmed stars as Naz alongside John Turturro as his lawyer and Michael K. Williams as Freddy Knight, an influential inmate at Rikers Island.
The Night Ofcleverly combines the familiar procedural format with thought-provoking themes about class and racial division. Each episode depicts Nasir and his lawyer (John Turturro) as they navigate the justice system, bringing attention to the flaws within it. Ahmed’s performance and the journey of his character throughout the miniseries' eight episodes are fully engrossing and deserving of much more attention.
1The Virtues (2019)
A Man’s Traumatic Past Is Revisited
Stephen Graham recently starred in the Netflix miniseriesAdolescence, which earned widespread acclaim for its writing and directing.A few years prior, Graham led another miniseries that unfairly earned less attention. InThe Virtues, Graham plays a man named Joseph whose wife and child move to another country, leaving him behind.
Such a drastic life change prompts Joseph to reunite with his long-lost sister in Ireland, and it’s there that he must face the traumatic events of his past that he had suppressed up until this point.The Virtuesis a heavy watch, but it’s one that’s easy to feel good about thanks to the respectful writing. The dark subject matter throughout the show is handled with an immense amount of care and portrayed by Graham with great consideration.
