Are you one of those people who like to watch series but find it daunting when it is too long to finish? No worries as you can find out the top miniseries for your holidays.
The New Year is almost here and the season of festivity has already started. Christmas and New Year offer the best time of the year when one can do the things that they never get time for. While some people enjoy going out, others might want to curl up on their bed while binging a series. Holiday offers the best opportunity for binge-watching. However, if you feel daunted to end a long series; you can also find plenty of miniseries which are available on online streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Peacock, and others. These series are somewhere around 25 episodes or less and can offer a wonderful experience for everyone.
Top 20 Mini Series to Enjoy in Your Holidays
- American Crime Story
This miniseries was started back in 2016 by Ryan Murphy and it offers a distinguishing taste that is different than regular soapy projects. The story of this crime thriller is based on fact-based stories which are offered through an anthology of three seasons. It depicts some of the most notorious crimes in America for that particular time period and you will find yourself hooked for each episode. It mainly revolves around the protagonist, O.J. Simpson’s trial for the murder case of Gianni Versace along with the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. Historical, engaging, and highly captivating, American Crime Story is a must-watch for everyone.
- Angelyne
Emmy Rossum’s Los Angeles look for this mini-series can make you fall in love with fear. Rossum gave an amazing performance in Angelyne where her character provides the perfect amount of sweetness that is wrapped around a barbed wire. She is no.1 celebrity with a lot of follies which makes her character real and hard-hitting. The series focuses on Angelyne’s growth which starts from nowhere and turns into global fame. This five-part series is emotionally truthful and can stir the viewers from the inside.
- Baby Reindeer
Netflix is best known for covering some of the most controversial projects whether it is about a sociopath killer or an obsessed stalker. Baby Reindeer revolves around the story of a man who becomes the victim of a stalker woman who gets obsessed with him. The miniseries comes with seven episodes only and this semi-autobiographical work can truly make you grip your seat. It falls under the genre of tragic-comedy which is often dark and realistic enough to intrigue people. Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning offered a fantastic performance which makes it more captivating.
- Band of Brothers
Band of Brothers was first telecasted in 2001 and it is one of the best projects of HBO in the 21st century. This miniseries is a dramatization of World War II which showcases many sides of the global mayhem. The show revolves around the situation of American Soldiers along with the devastating experience of the war. The project was created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks who are best known for their WWII works such as the movie ‘Saving Private Ryan’. The series is emotional, realistic, and brilliant considering its production and technicality.
- Dopesick
This distressing miniseries covers America’s opioid epidemic which spread from the Purdue Pharma headquarters and greatly affected a small middle-American community that became the victim of drug abuse. The presence of Michael Keaton and Michael Stuhlbarg makes this series even more engaging to watch while depicting the early 1990s crisis in America. The series shows the darker side of pharmaceutical companies and how they utilize humans as their genie pigs. It is definitely one of the most compelling dramas.
- Dr. Death
This is NBC’s haunting true-crime series that is much more than just a medical drama. It consists of a fair amount of crime, thriller, and mystery along with a villainous flair. The series is based on the podcast with the same name where the main character is played by Joshua Jackson. He played the character of a real-life spinal surgeon named Christopher Duntsch who was found guilty of maiming 31 of his patients. He also killed two of his patients and was sentenced to a lifetime. It is terrifying, twisted, and as real as it can get. You can enjoy this series on Peacock.
- One Day
David Nicholls’ 2009 novel has been used as the source material for this miniseries and it can be safely said that the director has done a great job than the film with the same name that featured Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess as the lead roles. The miniseries on Netflix includes Emma and Dexter as Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall who met each other at the University and embark on their romantic adventure. Emotionally engaging with ample sex and tragedy, it offers the most authentic picture of a romantic relationship which is not only flowers but also thorns sometimes.
- Fellow Travelers
This is a recent series from 2023 which is crafted based on Thomas Mallon’s 2007 novel. The main characters of two politicians namely Tim Laughlin and Hawk Fuller are played by Jonathan Bailey and Matt Bomer respectively. They offered a spectacular performance where these politicians get involved in an illicit affair while hiding it from their families and co-workers. The series is somber, rich, and emotive enough to captivate the viewers with a reminiscence of the bygone eras. Each episode is based on the memories of the characters.
- Feud: Bette vs. Joan
Ryan Murphy is quite versatile with his direction and choice of stories. ‘Feud’ is perhaps the best example of his love for drama where Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange go on an all-out war. The two sassy divas, Bette and Joan are the main characters of the story that gets into a never-ending feud. However, more than a fight between two women, the series also explores the difficulties of women that they face in a world dominated by men. Audiences can also find a share of eater eggs which makes it an enjoyable and fun watch.
- Five Days at Memorial
This miniseries by Apple TV+ is based on the Sheri Fink’s non-fiction book. John Ridley and Carlton Cuse have done a great job in crafting this project that depicts the terrible situation of a New Orleans hospital that was left after Hurricane Katrina hit the states. This series comes with only eight episodes and they are enough to stir your deeper emotions. It is a deeply agonizing project and consists of challenging material that questions the U.S. government’s reluctant response to a natural catastrophe that took many lives.
- A Gentleman in Moscow
If you like a series with a luxurious edge to it, then this might be the right one for you. Ewan McGregor played the character of a Russian aristocrat named Alexander Rostov who was exiled to an expensive hotel in Moscow. This story of a gentleman who got house arrest is adapted from Amor Towles’ 2016 novel. McGregor offered astonishingly good performance as Rostov and it seems like he is getting even better at it as he grows even older. Sharp, bold, and witty; this is the perfect series for your holiday season.
- Griselda
Sofía Vergara received the most attention as Gloria from Modern Family but her comedic persona reflects through many of the compelling characters that she played. She played the character of Griselda Blanco in this series who is better known as the “Cocaine Godmother” of Miami. Due to her amazing performance as Griselda, Vergara also received an Emmy nomination which she much deserved. The series comes with only 6 episodes it constantly moves forward with plenty of unpredictable moments. A perfect show for binge-watching, isn’t it?
- Lady in the Lake
If you are looking for a cozy comforter in the winter season, Natalie Portman has got you all covered with her powerful presence in ‘Lady In The Lake’. She played the character of Maddie Schwartz who was a journalist in the 1960s from Baltimore. She finds herself fighting against a community activist when she wants to reveal the truth about a culprit who killed a young girl. Based on the novel written by Laura Lippman, the series shows the darker side of society as well as the gender discrimination that she faces as a journalist.
- I May Destroy You
Michaela Coel is best known as a powerhouse of talents just like Phoebe Waller-Bridge. With her dynamic skills of writing, acting, and directing; Coel came up with this miniseries where she played the character of a young writer who is struggling hard to put her life together after a sexual assault puts her in a phase where cannot get over the fleeing memory of the incident which is not vivid but strongly affecting her. This autobiographical 12-part series expresses about troubles of dealing with unspeakable trauma. It is deeply authentic and heartbreaking at the same time.
- Midnight Mass
Mike Flanagan is best known for his works of horror and this Netflix mini-series is the perfect treat for his fans. It features Zach Gilford as the main character of a finance person who returns to his hometown after ample tragedy took place in his life. He comes across a charismatic priest at the church known as Father Paul Hill. However, the father is not exactly the person you are considering him to be. There are darker truths behind the walls of church and this ‘80s supernatural horror series offers the best depiction of that. It is safe to say that, Flanagan ate and left no crumbs.
- Sharp Objects
Sharp Objects is the series where you can find a peak performance by Amy Adams who played the character of a big-city journalist named Camille Preaker. She returns to her hometown in Missouri and comes across an unsettling case of child murders happening in the locale. Other than her crippling alcoholic attitude, icy mother, and creepy sister; she also has to deal with the grim society. Full of suspense, darkly comic, and greatly engaging; this eight-episode series can surely make your holidays better with a complete sense of entertainment.
- Shōgun
Shōgun is currently the most buzzing series that outperformed everyone at the Emmy’s. The series is an adaptation of James Clavell’s blockbuster novel which is set in 1600. The main character of Yoshii Toranaga is played by Hiroyuki Sanada, a Japanese lord who comes to a coastal village after abandoning his European vessel. The power play of the Council of Regents along with political and diplomatic ideas; the series can intrigue everyone. Its proper novelistic approach is what makes this series even more engaging to watch.
- Stateless
Stateless is one of the best twisted thriller miniseries available on Netflix which can offer an impactful watch. It is never easy to watch but definitely well-told to keep you hooked. The story revolves around the lives of a group of strangers who find themselves isolated in the same refugee detention center. It is a true story based on Australian citizen Cornelia Rau who was unlawfully detained by the country’s Government by putting them through a mandatory detention initiative. Yvonne Strahovski and Fayssal Bazzi’s natural acting makes this redemptive story even more engaging to watch.
- The Thing About Pam
This is a six-part series that is based on real-life murderer Pam Hupp. Renée Zellweger played the character of Pam and undoubtedly offered an amazing performance. After Betsy Faria’s death in 2011, the prosecutor comes to Betsy’s husband and her best friend Pam who were the last persons to see her alive. The dramatization of a notorious murder is offered in such an entertaining way that you might find it oddly satisfying in this genre.
- Beef
Ali Wong is best known for her charismatic personality that reflects through her characters as well Beef offers the perfect example. Along with co-star Steven Yeun, they played the characters of Amy and Danny who disrupt each other’s lives to a greater extent. Funny, tragic sometimes, and greatly amusing, this miniseries is exactly what you need to make your holidays better. It comes with low-level anxiety and full-level satisfaction.
Stay tuned and find out more about the latest series, movies, and upcoming releases.
