15 Miniseries That Can Be Called Masterpieces, Ranked

Miniseries have a unique opportunity to tell compelling stories in a short amount of time. These series are often accessible because they are easy to invest in. The fact that miniseries feature fewer episodes than other TV shows means that they can tell tighter, more impactful stories. Because they feature fewer episodes, miniseries can focus on character development in a way that longer TV shows can’t.

The best miniseries use their limited time to tell innovative stories with characters who are worth investing in, and who are worth re-visiting over time. Some series, like Angels in America, are adaptations of established works of art. These series revitalize literary works so they can be introduced to new generations of fans. Other series, like North & South, are cultural commentaries that resonate with viewers.

15

‘Generation Kill’ (2008)

Generation Kill is a seven-part miniseries based on the memoir of the same name by Evan Wright. The series recounts Wright’s experiences as a journalist embedded with American troops during the Iraq War. Generation Kill focuses on the chaos of the early days of the war, and how unprepared many American soldiers were for the realities of war. The series contrasts the idealism many soldiers had with the brutal realities of war.

What makes Generation Kill such a notable miniseries is the fact that it offers a raw and often unfiltered look at the experiences of American soldiers who found themselves directly in the line of fire during the Iraq War. The series provides an authentic portrait of the almost immediate loss of idealism that many experienced, and the fact that these soldiers had to rely on one another to survive.

14

‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)

Sharp Objects is based on the novel of the same name by Gillian Flynn. The story centers around journalist Camille Preaker (Amy Adams). Camille struggles with alcohol abuse disorder and a traumatic past. When she returns to her hometown to report on and investigate the murders of two young girls, she comes face-to-face with her own past and confronts family secrets that have impacted her life. Sharp Objects is a slow burn that sees Camille’s personal and professional life unravel.

Sharp Objects is a masterpiece of a miniseries because it leans into its dark subject matter and story without becoming inaccessible. The brilliant performances, led by Adams in particular, stand out. Adams creates a deeply relatable character whose pain is easy to empathize with. In a short seven episodes, the series delves deep into Camille’s psyche without ever overdramatizing what she’s been through.

13

‘John Adams’ (2008)

John Adams chronicles the life and career of its titular character, one of America’s Founding Fathers. The series is based on David Gaub McCullough‘s 2001 biography of Adams. The series specifically chronicles the first five years of America’s existence following the American Revolution. John Adams showcases Adams’ (Paul Giamatti) complex nature, his commitment to the law, and the challenges he faced keeping a new country together.

John Adams can be considered a masterpiece as a miniseries since it humanizes one of America’s most iconic historical figures. This could have so easily been a miniseries simply designed to educate. Instead, John Adams brings Adams to life for a modern audience. In addition to highlighting Adams himself, the series gives a new perspective on the challenges he and his peers faced in building a new nation.

12

‘The Haunting of Hill House’ (2018)

The Haunting of Hill House follows five siblings who have paranormal experiences during a brief stay at Hill House. The miniseries focuses on the fact that, years later, the trauma the family experiences resurfaces and they each have to deal with it in their own way. The Haunting of Hill House takes place across two timelines as the siblings remember their horrifying experiences as children while confronting a family tragedy in their adulthood.

This is one of the most notable miniseries because it manages both psychological horror and compelling family drama. While The Haunting of Hill House uses paranormal events to set up its story, it really highlights how trauma shows up in its characters. This mix of authentic, character-driven stories with a side of the paranormal is what makes this miniseries a masterpiece that can be revisited time and time again.

11

‘Baby Reindeer’ (2024)

Baby Reindeer is a semi-autobiographical account of series star and creator Richard Gadd‘s experiences with a stalker when he worked as a bartender. Gadd plays Donny, a struggling comedian whose act of kindness toward a vulnerable woman named Martha (Jessica Gunning). Martha becomes obsessed with Donny and puts him in increasingly uncomfortable and ultimately dangerous situations. While dealing with this, Donny also has to confront his own traumatic past.

Baby Reindeer is a masterpiece of a miniseries because it’s a unique take on an autobiographical story since the series is based on the star’s real experiences. The fact that Gadd portrays himself gives the story an added emotional layer. Rather than offering black-and-white depictions of victim and villain, the series paints its characters as morally complex. Baby Reindeer goes beyond being a stalker drama. At its core, it’s a raw exploration of shame, masculinity, mental health, and the long-term effects of abuse.

10

‘Angels in America’ (2003)

Angels in America is an American miniseries based on the play of the same name by Tony Kushner. The story follows six New Yorkers whose lives intersect in the 1980s. At its core, this is a political story that follows the emerging AIDS crisis and the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community living through the Regan administration. The story specifically follows Prior Walter (Justin Kirk), who is visited by an angel.

Angels in America is such an important miniseries because it builds on the themes of the source material and confronts the stigma of AIDS. The series is a powerful reminder of the realities of the AIDS crisis for a new generation. Angels in America also effectively uses its surreal and fantastical premise to create pointed political commentary on the struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community at the height of the AIDS epidemic.

9

‘North & South’ (2004)

North & South is a British miniseries that is based on the Victorian novel by Elizabeth Gaskell. The series introduces Margaret Hale (Daniela Denby-Ashe), a woman from the south of England who moves north when her father decides to leave his position as a church minister. Margaret and her family struggle to adapt to what feels like a whole new country to them with distinctive customs and a different way of life.

North & South stands out as a miniseries because it highlights compelling relationships in only four episodes. Specifically, the relationship between Margaret and John Thornton (Richard Armitage), a local mill owner. They have a complicated relationship, but one that’s worth investing in. Additionally, this series highlights the cultural differences that exist within England and how class impacts how people from the north and south of the country see themselves.

8

‘Pride and Prejudice’ (1995)

Pride and Prejudice is based on Jane Austen’s classic 1813 novel of the same name. This adaptation of the story follows Elizabeth Bennet (Jennifer Ehle), whose mother is intent on marrying her or one of her sisters to Mr Charles Bingley (Crispin Bonham-Carter). While Bingley falls in love with one of Elizabeth’s sisters, his best friend, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy (Colin Firth) falls in love with Elizabeth after initially expressing no interest in marriage.

Pride and Prejudice is notable as a miniseries because Firth’s Mr. Darcy is one of the most notable versions of this character. This is another example of a miniseries that effectively uses a small number of episodes to adapt a work of art that has appealed to generations of fans. This version of Pride and Prejudice is a faithful adaptation of Austen’s novel in that it captures the best of the romantic story and the source material’s social commentary.

7

‘Lonesome Dove’ (1989)

Lonesome Dove is a Western drama that is based on Larry McMurtry‘s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel of the same name. Like the source material, the series is set in the late 19th century, and follows two retired Texas Rangers, Woodrow F. Call (Tommy Lee Jones) and Augustus “Gus” McCrae (Robert Duvall), as they embark on an epic cattle drive from Texas to Montana. While on this journey, they face harsh landscapes, violent outlaws, and personal tragedies.

Lonesome Dove is such a masterpiece because it tells an emotionally rich story that’s about much more than cowboys and cattle. The series is credited with revitalising the Western genre, which, at the time, had fallen out of fashion. Lonesome Dove manages to transcend its genre, however, and tell a deeply human story about people facing extraordinary circumstances. The series uses its epic scale to allow its characters to explore themes like love, loss, loyalty, and mortality.

6

‘The Thorn Birds’ (1983)

The Thorn Birds is based on Colleen McCullough’s novel of the same name, spanning several decades in the early 20th century. The series specifically follows Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward), the only daughter in a struggling Irish-Australian family, and Father Ralph de Bricassart (Richard Chamberlain), an ambitious Catholic priest. The series chronicles the forbidden love that develops between them and the challenges they have to face together.

The Thorn Birds is a masterpiece because it asks tough moral questions and asks viewers to consider the conflict between faith versus desire, duty versus love, and the consequences of ambition. The series presents characters who are flawed, deeply human, and easy to invest in. The Thorn Birds‘ sweeping romance still stands out as one of the greatest love stories to be portrayed in this medium. Ultimately, Meggie and Father Ralph’s chemistry carries the story.