The 25 best TV miniseries of all time

Based on the novel from the late 1960s. Rich Man, Poor Man, the tale of well-off Rudy Jordache (Peter Strauss) and his rebellious brother Tom (Nick Nolte), is considered the first breakout TV miniseries. A sequel followed but the original still ages relatively well. 

Directed by the legendary Franco Zeffirelli, this was a massive television moment as the first mainstream visual account of Jesus’ life as told through a glorified synopsis of the New Testament. Those who attended Catholic school in the late 1970s and ’80s enjoyed a steady diet of this epic miniseries.

If we were ranking these miniseries based on popularity and acclaim, Roots would be vying for the top spot. This visual version of Alex Haley’s celebrated novel about the life of slave Kunta Kinte and his descendants was a true television experience. Starring LeVar Burton and featuring legends such as Ben Vereen, Lou Gossett Jr., and Ed Asner, Roots won nine Emmy Awards and led to a sequel, television movie, and 2016 remake.

The story of John Blackthorne’s rise through the shōgun was one of the most notable and successful miniseries of the 1980s. It was a smash for NBC and, as we will see, was the preferred means of employment for veteran actor and star Richard Chamberlain during this period. The miniseries and Chamberlain walked away with Golden Globe Awards.

For those who can’t get enough Richard Chamberlain, we got you covered. After Roots, no other miniseries was more highly rated than The Thorn Birds. Chamberlain starred as Ralph de Bricassart, a priest torn between his faith and feelings for the alluring Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward). Though it was based on a popular novel, the subject matter was still steamy for network television in the early 1980s.

This was heaven for science-fiction fans of all ages during the early 1980s. Visitors who look like humans from another planet embark on Earth and spew Nazi-like propaganda. Thankfully, a determined group of resistors led by Mike Donovan (Marc Singer) and Juliet Parrish (Faye Grant) know their true purpose and identity and fight to prevent the “visitors” quest for world domination.

Many of these miniseries, especially those from the 1970s and ’80s, are based on popular novels. An example is this World War II-theme story starring Robert Mitchum and Ali MacGraw, Hollywood staples at the time. 

The original miniseries was a massive hit for NBC but also left viewers wanting more. Fans were rewarded with this sequel that picked up several months after the original miniseries left off. There was more action in the finale, and the intensity grew. Not to mention Robin’s twins’ memorable and controversial birth following her brief fling with a “visitor.” A weekly series followed on NBC but never generated the same excitement as both miniseries.

There were three installments of the North and South miniseries, with the second part airing in 1986 and the final part in 1994. However, the original is still the best and one that earned the most acclaim (nominated for several Golden Globe and Emmy Awards). Starring Patrick Swayze, James Read, and Lesley-Anne Down, the TV take of John Jakes’s novel about friends who find themselves on different sides of the Civil War is still entertaining.

A bit of trivia. There was originally a Lonesome Dove movie intended, reportedly to star John Wayne and James Stewart, but that never happened. Instead, the western-themed story of former Texas Rangers got life on the small screen with Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones in the leading roles. The miniseries was so well-received and popular that it was followed by a weekly series that continued the story.

One of Stephen King’s most popular novels was well received on TV. With big names like Gary Sinise, Ossie Davis, Rob Lowe, and Jamey Sheridan, this miniseries was quite the event for ABC. The made-for-TV moment does not go as in-depth as the book but still offers a strong look into the complex lives and morals of the main characters when dealing with good and evil. 

During the 1990s, the network television miniseries started to fade away. However, premium cable outlets such as HBO became grounds for them to shine again with more bombast and detail. None more than Band of Brothers. Stephen E. Ambrose’s book about “Easy Company,” assigned to the United States 101st Airborne Division during World War II, was brought to life thanks to the creative vision of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. It won seven Emmy Awards and the Golden Globe for Best Miniseries or Television Film.

Another gem from HBO. Angels In America was directed by late legend Mike Nichols and starred Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, and Emma Thompson. The television version of the early 1990s play was about mid-’80s New Yorkers trying to navigate an unknown world of AIDS amid political and social conservatism. It won a combined nine Emmy and Golden Globe Awards.

First, Paul Giamatti is a great actor, regardless of the role. Giamatti shined in his portrayal of the second President of the United States. This HBO miniseries chronicled the life of Adams and won an astounding 13 Emmy Awards, including a Best Actor nod for Giamatti. Laura Linney and Tom Wilkinson also won Emmys for their work in one of the most celebrated miniseries in HBO history.

Following in the footsteps of the massively popular Band of Brothers. This time, the focus is on the U.S. Marines — three soldiers, to be specific — and their involvement during the Pacific portion of World War II. While it might not carry the same level of lore as Band of Brothers, The Pacific did win eight Emmy Awards, including coveted Outstanding Miniseries honors.

Fans of science fiction who have not seen this screen adaptation of Stephen King’s novel (with a hand from J.J. Abrams as co-executive producer) should track this down. James Franco, Chris Cooper, and Sarah Gadon star in this story about a school teacher who goes back in time to keep John F. Kennedy from being assassinated. It’s quite an entertaining trip and remains available to stream on Hulu.

To some fans of HBO, this might have flown a little under the radar compared to others from the network. However, this crime drama starring John Turturro and Riz Ahmed, whose character “Naz” is a college student charged with the murder of a young woman in New York City, is worthy of much praise. This version plays off the initial season of the popular British series Criminal Justice. Ahmed won an Emmy for his starring role — one of four awarded to the miniseries.

This was the first installment of FX’s popular true crime series and tackled one of the most publicized and controversial cases of all time. A star-studded cast included Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J., plus Sterling K. Brown (Christopher Darden), Sarah Paulson (Marcia Clark), and Courtney B. Vance playing Johnnie Cochran. Paulson and the miniseries were rightfully awarded Golden Globes.

More than a decade after Jonah Hill and Emma Stone starred in the hilarious Superbad, the pair was back together for this psychological dark comedy miniseries courtesy of Netflix. Hill’s Owen and Stone’s Annie are brought together during a rather unorthodox pharmaceutical trial run by a couple of questionable doctors. While the plot is interesting enough, the experience’s true greatness is Hill and Stone’s work in this unique setting. 

HBO just keeps banging out hit miniseries. That’s certainly the case here. Amy Adams stars as Camille Preaker, an alcoholic reporter who is also dealing with psychological issues while investigating the murders of two girls. Patricia Clarkson, meanwhile, won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress as Camille’s well-to-do but overbearing mother.

HBO struck gold with this five-part miniseries about the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster in 1986. Detailed and often graphic, the miniseries tells some untold stories of first responders and volunteers involved during and after the tragedy. The miniseries earned 19 Emmy nominations, winning for Outstanding Limited Series, among others. 

A well-detailed story of the Central Park Five case from 1989 and another in a long line of fantastic Netflix series. Ava DuVernay directed this gripping docudrama. Historical pieces, especially modern-day stories, can be hit or miss when showcased in this format, but DuVernay and her underrated but superb cast deliver to the fullest.

Technically, HBO’s Watchmen falls into the category known as a “limited series.” A little longer than the four-to-five episode miniseries we’re used to but rarely lasts longer than one entire season. Based on the DC Comic storyline, a sequel to the original story, Regina King and Don Johnson starred as cops/vigilantes fighting against racial and social injustice.

Mark Ruffalo won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his dual role as brothers Dominick and Thomas Birdsey. One is living with paranoid schizophrenia, and the other is trying to navigate his own challenging life. Playing one complex role is hard enough, but two? Ruffalo was able to pull it off brilliantly and effortlessly.

This more recent miniseries to turn heads and receive rave reviews out of the gate can be found on Disney+. In 1983, The Right Stuff brilliantly told the story of the Mercury Seven — the United States Air Force test pilots trained to be astronauts. The legendary tale is being retold in this miniseries format for a new generation of viewers to enjoy and learn from. 

There have been several Marvel miniseries come and gone over the past few years, but WandaVision remains the golf standard for the moment. The consistent homage to those classic sitcoms is a brilliant touch, but the chemistry between Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) is really what makes the show hum. There was a lot of human emotion displayed by two superhuman characters, and for better or worse, it’s a strength of the show. Not to mention, Kathryn Hahn, who is simply superb as the nosey neighbor/villain, and perhaps the highlight of the entire show.

Simply put, Kate Winslet is great in just about everything she does. Among her standout roles is Mare Sheehan, an emotionally tortured detective sergeant in rugged Easttown, Penn., from this emotionally riveting HBO miniseries. The single mom and grandmother has endured plenty of personal tragedy in her own life, and even more at work. But, she trudges on and is loyal, dependable, and easily likable despite her obvious flaws. The miniseries won four of the 16 Primetime Emmy Awards it was nominated for, including Winslet as Outstanding Lead Actress. It’s also worth noting the performance of the great Jean Smart, as scene-stealing Helen Fahey, the comically, yet concerning, mother to Mare. 

Of course there needs to be a Star Wars on this list. Set 10 years after what happened in the Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Ben Kenobi (Ewan McGregor reprising his role from the Star Wars prequel trilogy) is stuck on Tatooine, watching over a young Luke and searching for the boy’s twin sister Leia. There are plenty of Star Wars die-hards who can’t stand Episodes I-III, but this follow-up is quite good, notably because we truly get to know Obi-Wan. Meanwhile, his interaction with Anakin Skywalker, now-known as Darth Vader, in the final episode is certainly a series highlight.

Say what one will about Miles Teller’s selfness away from the camera, but he remains one of the great actors at the moment. He’s subtly captivating as noted producer Albert Ruddy, in this Paramount+ tale of how The Godfather was made. That said, Teller doesn’t carry the miniseries alone. Actor/comedian Dan Fogler surprisingly shines as The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola. Meanwhile, Giovanni Ribisi (who continues to be undervalued in Hollywood) delivers a strong performance as mob boss Joe Colombo, and Matthew Goode and Juno Temple each earned a Critics’ Choice Award nomination for their supporting performances.

For fans of The Wire, this should be right up their alley. However, it’s possible, this heralded miniseries, also from HBO, is somewhat darker and more depressing than the celebrated series. We Own This City highlights the systemic corruption within the Baltimore Police Department, notably its Gun Trace Task Force. The use of flashbacks helps to tightly bound the story together with present-day events. Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead), who plays the story’s central figure Sgt. Wayne Jenkins, was critically praised for his performance.